Bobb -----"I'd be willing to consider an offer from the governor"

**R8RBOB** · April-08-11, 07:20 AM

When you are getting paid $425,000 a year and have absolute power to do whatever you like, why leave?

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...stick-with-DPS

**eastsidechris** · April-08-11, 09:43 AM

The thought of him leaving DPS makes ME drool!

He's so full of himself--he was hired to turn the district around financially. And while nobody can argue that many of the decisions he has made have helped trim off a lot of the fat from DPS, I'd like him to open up all the books and show that the district is actually in less debt than it was when he took over.

In fact, I bet he can't prove that at all.

Rumor is that Snyder doesn't want to keep him because the governor's people don't think he is the financial genius that some [[the media) make him out to be.

"PAY NO ATTENTION TO THOSE FINANCIAL RECORDS BEHIND THE GREEN CURTAIN! THE GREAT AND POWERFUL BOBB HAS SPOKEN!"

**ordinary** · April-08-11, 09:51 AM

Maybe he did some good for a while but it scares me when people start believing others or themselves to be "indispensable". He should probably go.

**maxx** · April-08-11, 11:01 AM

from the article:
"Bobb hasn't been perfect. Under his watch, the DPS deficit has actually grown, now standing at $327 million, largely due to declining enrollment and an unwillingness to savage academic programs..."

It doesn't sound like the rising deficit is Bobb's fault.

**Bham1982** · April-08-11, 11:11 AM

I have never gotten the Bobb mythology. Teachers [[of which I know a few) seem to despise him, and I don't know of any real metrics that have improved under Bobb's tenure.

Granted, he seems to be an intelligent and reasonable man, but I see nothing that warrants a half-million salary for a "public servant" and the constant adulation from the press.

I also scratch my head at all the new schools being constructed. MLK High is maybe 35 years old, and being demolished for a new school. Mumford isn't particularly old, nor Finney.

And some of these new schools are palaces. Have you seen the new Performing Arts High School? It has a massive auditorium fit for the DSO or MOT. The new Rennaisance has a parking garage, vast athIetic complex, and really overscaled dimensions. I mean, is this absolutely necessary given that there's no money for toilet paper?

**1KielsonDrive** · April-08-11, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by r8rbob

when you are getting paid $425,000 a year and have absolute power to do whatever you like, why leave?

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110...stick-with-dps

exactically!

**1KielsonDrive** · April-08-11, 12:37 PM

Bobb is "negotiating" [[what's that word?) for a pay raise from Snyder much like the raises given to Snyder and Walker's buddies with no qualms or scrutiny. The working class just had their "negotiating" [[what's that word?) rights stripped by those same people without a second thought. There's an old saying goes something like this: 'a hundred thousand here and a hundred thousand there and it starts adding up to real money'. But not when you put it in the pockets of your supporters, financiers and political friends.

**1KielsonDrive** · April-08-11, 12:40 PM

We need to keep in mind that Bobb was appointed by Granholm - a demican. His powers were originally vested in him by Granholm - a demican. He was left here for us to suffer by Granholm - a demican. All goes back to my main point; there's little difference between republicrats and demicans.

**R8RBOB** · April-08-11, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

We need to keep in mind that Bobb was appointed by Granholm - a demican. His powers were originally vested in him by Granholm - a demican. He was left here for us to suffer by Granholm - a demican. All goes back to my main point; there's little difference between republicrats and demicans.

You are correct. Jenny from the Block left Bobb as her parting gift to Detroit but somehow Republicans like Nolan Finley and L. Brooks Patterson fell in love with him and now Bobb is the darling of SE Michigan.

**Kevgoblue** · April-08-11, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

I have never gotten the Bobb mythology. Teachers [[of which I know a few) seem to despise him, and I don't know of any real metrics that have improved under Bobb's tenure.

I also scratch my head at all the new schools being constructed. MLK High is maybe 35 years old, and being demolished for a new school. Mumford isn't particularly old, nor Finney.

And some of these new schools are palaces. Have you seen the new Performing Arts High School? It has a massive auditorium fit for the DSO or MOT. The new Rennaisance has a parking garage, vast athIetic complex, and really overscaled dimensions. I mean, is this absolutely necessary given that there's no money for toilet paper?

People like Nolan Finley have a hard on for Bobb becuase he's out there towing the line, trying to sell the 'tear up union contracts' argument. Who are these private philanthropic groups subsidizing his pay? They're lobbyists for the charter school industry. The general public buys into it becuause when Bobb first got in, he made a theatrical production of firing a few peons for stealing lunch room monies. Thus rooting out the "Detroit corruption".

I believe initially Bobb was put in place because the business model DPS operates under is obviously unsustainable. There's been too much migration out of the district, thus severly compromising revenue. They also have the legacy cost associated with the historical size of the district, thus a huge and growing cost structure. With the long standing animosity that exists between the city and the suburbs there was no way the rest of the state would approve any type of addtional state funding. Bobb and his bankruptcy strategy was about the only option.

Finley and crew love it because it falls right into their privitization model. Now throw in the $500M school bond proposal that was approved in '09. That's an awful lot of construction work and school upgrades for some companies, who've got good political connections. A huge trough of public dollars to get their hands on. And the best part of it is that Detroiters will be the ones footing the bill to pay for it. After the schools are rehabbed and up and running then comes the endless stream of guarenteed funding from the state.
All of which, building and operating, will have a tidy little profit margin worked into the equasion.

**DetroitTeacher** · April-08-11, 03:32 PM

I am not thrilled about the prospect of Bobb staying any longer than June. I was all for him, at first. Get rid of dead people on payroll...great. Get rid of people stealing from the kids...great. He's overstayed his welcome and I don't see much improvement [[I do see much that has gone in the toilet, though) since he's come into power. There is NO stability for the kids. Shutting down schools [[particularly high schools) gives the kids no sense of "home". He could, at the very least, phase schools out so the kids start and graduate from the same school instead of being moved every year [[not to mention how far they have to travel to get to school). Our kids need stability. They need principals and teachers who are there for the long haul...not moved about each year. They have enough instability in their lives, the least a school could do is give them that sense of stability for the time they are there. Kids have no vested interest in their schools and the buildings and grounds. The way they feel is, "we'll be moved again next year so what difference does it make?" I've heard it with my own ears...and it's sad.

**Zacha341** · April-08-11, 07:33 PM

The number of high paid educational specialists, consultants and vendors Bobb has installed are impacting the deficit. These folks did not come to Michigan gratis. Education is big money [[federally, pubic and locally speaking) with many obscure and not so hidden feeder lines that have not been cut.

Originally Posted by maxx

from the article:
"Bobb hasn't been perfect. Under his watch, the DPS deficit has actually grown, now standing at $327 million, largely due to declining enrollment and an unwillingness to savage academic programs..."

It doesn't sound like the rising deficit is Bobb's fault.

**Zacha341** · April-08-11, 07:38 PM

Well stated! 'Imagine' taking into account the instability factor this has had on the students and student moral? But when you consider the students a wasteland anyway why should it be brought up. Thank you for doing so DT.

Originally Posted by DetroitTeacher

I am not thrilled about the prospect of Bobb staying any longer than June. I was all for him, at first. Get rid of dead people on payroll...great. Get rid of people stealing from the kids...great. He's overstayed his welcome and I don't see much improvement [[I do see much that has gone in the toilet, though) since he's come into power. There is NO stability for the kids. Shutting down schools [[particularly high schools) gives the kids no sense of "home". He could, at the very least, phase schools out so the kids start and graduate from the same school instead of being moved every year [[not to mention how far they have to travel to get to school). Our kids need stability. They need principals and teachers who are there for the long haul...not moved about each year. They have enough instability in their lives, the least a school could do is give them that sense of stability for the time they are there. Kids have no vested interest in their schools and the buildings and grounds. The way they feel is, "we'll be moved again next year so what difference does it make?" I've heard it with my own ears...and it's sad.

**Zacha341** · April-08-11, 07:41 PM

Precisely: Smoke and mirrors, ala an illusion to keep the masses sated that they are the right side of the bent 'partisan' coin right vs. left. This is but further evidence that the republican vs. democratic 'distinction' is not as clear as we're led to believe. The party of 'green' is the true functioning politic here. Clearly.

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

You are correct. Jenny from the Block left Bobb as her parting gift to Detroit but somehow Republicans like Nolan Finley and L. Brooks Patterson fell in love with him and now Bobb is the darling of SE Michigan.

**Zacha341** · April-08-11, 07:45 PM

Yep, is there any more confusion or doubt as to what the true motivator is in much of this? Withstanding the rhetoric...

Originally Posted by 1KielsonDrive

Bobb is "negotiating" [[what's that word?) for a pay raise from Snyder much like the raises given to Snyder and Walker's buddies with no qualms or scrutiny. The working class just had their "negotiating" [[what's that word?) rights stripped by those same people without a second thought. There's an old saying goes something like this: 'a hundred thousand here and a hundred thousand there and it starts adding up to real money'. But not when you put it in the pockets of your supporters, financiers and political friends.

**mwilbert** · April-08-11, 08:31 PM

I'm not an anti-Bobb person, but I haven't read of him doing anything that required any special level of competence or expertise, so I don't see why a particularly high level of compensation is warranted.

By the same token, I don't care if he stays or goes, as I doubt it makes much difference.

**Baselinepunk** · April-08-11, 10:18 PM

If EFM's are such a good thing why have DPS and Bobb failed so horribly?

[[clue: it's not the union, stupid.).

**jtf1972** · April-09-11, 01:32 AM

What is Rhee doing?

**Neilr** · April-09-11, 08:25 AM

Originally Posted by jtf1972

What is Rhee doing?

Trying to salvage her reputation, I expect.

http://www.usatoday.com/news/educati...ols29_ST_N.htm
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...-reform-star/#
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-a...atedstories2:1

**R8RBOB** · April-09-11, 10:09 AM

I remember when Bobb first arrived. His biggest move that made the name Robert Bobb a darling in Metro Detroit political circles was exposing what everyone has always known: there were thieves in the Detroit Public School system and he was going to bring them into the light for everyone to see. Anyone remember when Bobb had his hearings when he was chasing the money? People liked that because he "cared" and he became the best thing to happen to Detroit. What about when he had all the employees of DPS go pick up a paper check to determine who was DPS and who were not? Again, that left the people believing that he cared.

I admit that I was in support of Robert Bobb when he first got here but I realized that his two years in Detroit has been smoke and mirrors. No, I don't blame him for declining enrollment because that is the choice of the parents. I don't blame him for closing schools because operating schools cost money and if there are no students then there is no need to have the buildings operating. No, I blame him for hoodwinking the citizens of Detroit. He agreed to get that $425,000 knowing that DPS as it is is DOA. With charters schools all over the place and School of Choice allowing parents to send their children to suburban schools how could the DPS that I and many others were a part of could really survive? Mr. Bobb came in with his "I'm in" promotion and he was selling the same old DPS, the one that's broken and now he wants DPS to get in the charter school business. Yep, just smoke and mirrors.

**Wesley Mouch** · April-09-11, 10:57 AM

He's been doing a great job overall. Got problems w/ how he's doing some things, but given the scope of DPS, I say give him a chance without the school board spending 24/7 to thwart his every move.

[[The board had their chance. They blew it. That's what this law does. Only applies to those who blow it. Don't like EFM's, then don't blow it.)

**1KielsonDrive** · April-09-11, 12:35 PM

And Jenny ran off to California to rejoin the Corporate/Political/Academic establishment. Goes back to what I've said about politicians never having to worry about jobs, benefits and retirement. They scratch each others backs by hiring each other to boards, to think tanks and as CFO, COO and CEO. And that is TRULY bi-partisan.

**Bham1982** · April-09-11, 12:40 PM

The salary seems crazy, though.

The NYC school superintendent makes 250k. Should the Detroit super make nearly twice that? You really need to pay 425k to get a viable candidate?

I mean, I know plenty of really smart folks with PhDs and Ivy League educations and lots of management experience, and they make a fraction of Bobb's salary. Is there really some narrow skill set requirement that justifies such outlandish salaries for a public servant?

**R8RBOB** · April-09-11, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by Bham1982

The salary seems crazy, though.

The NYC school superintendent makes 250k. Should the Detroit super make nearly twice that? You really need to pay 425k to get a viable candidate?

I mean, I know plenty of really smart folks with PhDs and Ivy League educations and lots of management experience, and they make a fraction of Bobb's salary. Is there really some narrow skill set requirement that justifies such outlandish salaries for a public servant?

You should read Kevgoblue's post again. He explains why Bobb gets 425K. He is getting his salary from the state supplemented from outside groups. The state alone is paying him $280,000 and yet outside groups felt he deserved another $145,000. Wouldn't you like to go to work and said group contacted you and said that you deserved more so they were going to supplement your income? I would

**1KielsonDrive** · April-09-11, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by R8RBOB

You should read Kevgoblue's post again. He explains why Bobb gets 425K. He is getting his salary from the state supplemented from outside groups. The state alone is paying him $280,000 and yet outside groups felt he deserved another $145,000. Wouldn't you like to go to work and said group contacted you and said that you deserved more so they were going to supplement your income? I would

Excellent post and right on the money. Who in the hell is Bobb indebted too?