Detroit (WWJ) -- Former Detroit Public Schools Reform Board Chairman Freman Hendrix testified Wednesday before the DPS District's panel on questionable real estate transactions during the first state take over of the district.
Hendrix testified about the Board's limited role and he denied having knowledge about an up front multi-million-dollar payment by DPS to the city for a 99 year lease for property for school construction.
“I don't recall any public discussion about real estate transactions and certainly there was no private discussions about that,” Hendrix said.
Hendrix also defended the board's decision to make Ken Burnley the highest paid public employee in Michigan at $240,000 reported WWJ Newsradio 950's Florence Walton.
“I was anxious to come up with a contract that would work for him, but at all times having this benchmark of what other major, urban school superintendents were being paid and compensated for,” Hendrix said.
However, Hendrix testified that he couldn't recall the details of the district's $220,000 loan to Burnley to entice him to take the job.
What's in the News: 03/10/10
New research has found that nearly half the births in this country last year were minority children. Today's 'What's in the News' with CBS News Correspondent Nick Young.
Monica Conyers Sentence Handed Down 03/10
WWJ's Marie Osborne live on WWJ as soon as the ruling came down in the sentencing of former City Councilwoman Monica Conyers.
Education Minute 03/10
WWJ's Pat Vitale gives education tips beyond the classroom. A joint production of Eastern Michigan University-Education First! and WWJ.
WWJ Newsradio 950 is Detroit's only all-news radio station and is the leader in Detroit radio news. Listen online to WWJ-AM 950 for live, local Detroit news, up-to-the-minute Detroit traffic, Detroit sports, Detroit business and Detroit community information. WWJ Newsradio 950 is an award winning radio station and you can listen online and podcast on demand Detroit news, Detroit Construction Alerts, Detroit School Closings, Winter Survival Guide and learn more about our Business Breakfasts.www.wwj.com CBS Radio: 104.3 WOMC - Greatest Hits | 98.7AMP Radio - All the Hits | Smooth Jazz V98.7 HD2 | WWJ - News, Traffic, Weather | WXYT - 971 The Ticket - Sports Talk | WYCD - Detroit's Best Country | Psychic Radio