Sunday, August 13, 2006

Weast signed suspicious no-bid contract for Abramoff school

Even though MCPS spokesman Brian Edwards says the school system had nothing to do with leasing a public building to a corrupt lobbyist Jack Abramoff's private school, the Washington Post reports that Superintendent Jerry Weast signed what looks like an insider scam.

According to the Post, "On March 28, 2003, school superintendent Weast, then-school board president Patricia B. O'Neill and Cohen signed the "stipulated sum" contract for $9.8 million, which was later increased to nearly $9.9 million. The no-bid agreement waived the county's right to inspect the work, apart from standard inspections required for building and occupancy permits."