Backers of ProComp, the Denver teachers’ proposed pay-for-performance plan, have contributed almost $1 million to the campaign, reports filed this week show.
With a couple of high-profile business contributions – $100,000 from Benson Mineral Group, run by former Republican Party chairman Bruce Benson, and $250,000 from the Gary Williams Co. – the group Voters for DPS has garnered $908,533 total so far.
Denver Public Schools senior policy adviser Brad Jupp, who has worked on ProComp since its pilot days in 1999, gave $1,000.
Benson also gave $4,000 for local school-board races, $2,000 for Jeannie Kaplan, who is vying for the central Denver seat, and $2,000 for Brad Buchanan, an at-large candidate.
“We’re fortunate to have two people like that,” Benson said.
The biggest single contribution in the school-board race was for at- large candidate Jill Conrad, who received $20,000 from the teachers union. Conrad also received $5,000 from her father in New Hampshire.
“I’m pretty happy with my list of contributions,” said Conrad, who has raised $44,712 so far. “We’re really going after a broad base of people who care about education.”
Staff writer Allison Sherry can be reached at 303-820-1377 or asherry@denverpost.com.
