Thank you, Abby Freedman.
Freedman was reviled by some when she was on the Broward School Board because she was a sycophant of Superintendent Robert Runcie. But she was so much more important to Runcie than just another School Board lackey.
Freedman handed Runcie thousands of dollars in additional pension benefits during closed door negotiations in 2017. That generosity with our money came just two weeks before her position of chairwoman ended.
Freedman’s expensive gift requires Runcie to be superintendent until at least October to get a pension boost. It may explain why he continues to hang on in Broward despite increasing criticism of his leadership.
That criticism includes a new statewide Grand Jury investigation and a stinging editorial this weekend in the Sun-Sentinel.
Here are the facts obtained from School Board minutes and other documents:
Freedman and Board General Counsel Barbara Myrick negotiated the new pension benefits for Runcie in a few hours on Oct. 18, 2017.
