Dick Haefner, WJR News
Thursday starts the parade of guilty pleas by a number of Detroit school principals accused of taking kickbacks from a contractor.
Clara Smith, former principal of Thirkell Elementary-Middle School, is expected to appear in court for her plea hearing.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 11 guilty pleas will take place, including deals with nine principals. The businessman at the center of the probe, 74 year old Norman Shy, is scheduled to plead guilty next month.
The educators are accused of taking kickbacks on inflated invoices for classroom supplies.
James Hearn, Nina Graves-Hicks, Ron Alexander, Gerlma Johnson, Wyllie Pearsall, Ronnie Sims, Tanya Bowman, Clara Flowers, Norman Shy, Tia’von Moore Patton, Beverly Campbell and Stan Johnson have plea dates scheduled, according to court records.
