RICHMOND, Va. -- Richmond parent Cindy Anderson said she "can't imagine" why Dallas Dance, the former Superintendent of Baltimore County Schools, was hired as a consultant for Richmond Public Schools to the tune of $12,500 per month.
"I'd like to know what it was for, I mean it's all said and done but it still added up to $25,000 that could have gone to something else," Anderson said.
Dance's name was tossed around a few months ago as a possible candidate for Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools.
Dallas Dance
But, on Friday, the Baltimore Sun published an article alleging Maryland prosecutors are investigating Dance and his relationship with a company that did business with the school system.
While it's unclear if Dance was a legitimate candidate in Richmond, we now know he worked as a consultant for RPS for two months this year, and he received $25,000 for his work, according to Kenita Bowers, a spokesperson for RPS.
Richmond School Board member Liz Doerr said she had no idea the administration hired Dance as a consultant.
"I found out about it after the contract was signed and not in a typical, traditional way," Doerr said.
Dallas Dance
She now plans to make a formal request to the School Board to discuss how the board can have more oversight of consulting contracts in the future.
"I would have cautioned against that contract had I had the opportunity to weigh in," Doerr said.
Bowers said the superintendent has the authority to sign consulting contracts up to $250,000 without informing the board.
She also said Dance provided leadership and instructional advice to interim superintendent Tommy Kranz to help ensure a smooth opening of schools.
Anderson said she would like to hear directly from Kranz about the hire.
"Does it seem like a waste of money to you?" CBS 6 reporter Melissa Hipolit asked Anderson.
"Well, it does until I find out what he was really doing. I don't think anybody really knows what were you doing as a consultant for $25,000," Anderson said.
Doerr said she asked Kranz to part ways with Dance after she learned of the investigation. Bowers confirmed Dance is no longer working for RPS.
