Bobb and Walmart Eye DC

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Robert Bobb

Robert Bobb is not new to either the District of Columbia or Walmart. From 2003-2006, Bobb served as D.C.’s City Administrator under Mayor Anthony Williams and from 2006-2008 he was president of the D.C. State Board of Education. For the past two years, Bobb has been the Emergency Financial Manager of Detroit Public Schools. His tenure in Detroit has been marked by mass school closings, the promotion of charter schools and the forming of partnerships with corporations like Walmart, according to Tabrian Chas Joe, a Detroit high school student and youth organizer with B.A.M.N.

Last April, after protesting oustide the Department of Education, Tabrian Chas Joe said, “In Detroit, they have Walmart coming to our schools, our public schools, they’re not even charter schools yet. They’re public schools funded by and run by private companies like Walmart and other companies, whoever wants to make a profit off students.”

Robert Bobb’s Facebook page states, “As the Emergency Financial Manager of Detroit Public Schools, I am working to create Centers of Excellence in every school in every neighborhood.” Tabrian Chas Joe responded, “The key word was ‘Center of Excellence.’ And his Center of Excellence are charter schools. That’s what basically they are. So he’s creating charter schools in the public school district. So don’t be fooled… I’ve seen it first hand what he’s doing. He wants to close down one of our top three best schools in Detroit and build a new building which has connections with, basically Walmart again. Basically, Walmart is going to be the top funded investor in Detroit Public Schools by the end of 2012 if we don’t defeat Bobb, Duncan and Rhee.”

Walmart is considering teaming up with the University of the District of Columbia to offer a jobs training program, according to a recent Washington Post article. The company’s recent generosity towards the District of Columbia was noted by the Post: “Wal-Mart’s charitable foundation has provided grants and donations to D.C. nonprofit organizations in recent years, including more than $2 million in fiscal 2010.” Additionally, Walmart’s charitable foundation pledged $25 million of the $64.5 million in private funding for the controversial contract between former D.C. Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and the Washington Teachers’ Union (initially the contract stipulated that if Rhee left, so could the private money). Walmart’s largesse comes at a time when the multinational corporation is seeking to bring four of its stores to D.C.

January 2nd, Vincent Gray was sworn in as mayor of the District of Columbia. At the Convention Center, looking on, was Bobb, who is rumored to be in consideration for the position of D.C. Schools Chancellor. While Bobb’s return to D.C. may help further establish the DCPS/Walmart partnership, it’s not clear how students, parents and teachers will benefit from another Rhee-like reformer with ties to Walmart.

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