Rhee Hires "best and the brightest" Paper Pushers

Wonder how much was spent this year to get the lead out of the water fountains in D. C. schools. From the Washington Examiner:

D.C. Public Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee is spending nearly $1.6 million in taxpayer funds to pay 13 of her top aides.

According to figures obtained by The Washington Examiner, Rhee is paying an average of $122,000 to each top aide.

Rhee is paid more than $275,000 to lead the troubled school system.

The top salaries in the new school administration include Lisa Ruda, Rhee's chief of staff. She's being paid $200,000 along with Kaya Henderson, the deputy chancellor of the school system.

The salary chart shows a "transition assistant" in Rhee's office will be paid $150,000.

D.C. Council member Phil Mendelson says the high salaries for school officials is cause for worry.

He says the schools shouldn't be paying private sector salaries.

Mafara Hobson, a spokeswoman for Mayor Adrian Fenty, says they have to pay top dollar to attract "the best and the brightest" candidates to the school system.