Baltimore school board approved $21M contract that paid company owned by then-member

BALTIMORE (WBFF) — A potential conflict of interest involving Baltimore City’s school board is raising serious questions about oversight and accountability. This comes after a company founded by a then-sitting school board commissioner was included in a $21 million contract approved by the board in 2025.

Now, Project Baltimore is investigating whether other school board members knew about the connection before handing out your money.

On June 10, 2025, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners voted 8-0 to approve a three-year vendor contract, worth an estimated total of $21 million, to provide mental health services to students.

On June 10, 2025, the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners voted 8-0 to approve a three-year vendor contract, worth an estimated total of $21 million, to provide mental health services to students (WBFF)

The contract vendors included some of Baltimore’s biggest names in health care such as Johns Hopkins and Sheppard Pratt. Also listed among the 11 vendors was a company called KEYS Development – where the resident agent, according to online state records, is Mujahid Muhammad.

Last month, Muhammad resigned as a member of the Baltimore City Board of School Commissioners after the FBI raided KEYS headquarters on Liberty Road in Baltimore. But back in June of 2025, Muhammad was a sitting board member when KEYS Development was included in that $21 million vendor contract.

When the vote happened, Muhammad recused himself, though he did not explain why.

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“The fact that he recused himself does not solve the problem,” said Anirban Basu, a former Baltimore City school board member who served from 2005 to 2011. “There is still a significant conflict of interest. It’s very bad practice for the school system to be doing business with its own school board members. It also makes the city school system look very bad, somewhat corrupt, inept. And that’s not what you want.”

According to Baltimore City school board policy, “It is a conflict of interest for an employee to: Use their position” or “City Schools resources”, “for personal benefit.” School board members are subject to the same rules as employees.

“When you were on the board, would you have been made aware that a sitting board member was part of a contract that you voted on?” Asked Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst.

“Absolutely,” Basu replied. “We would never allow a board member to do business with the city school system, because it’s just such an obviously bad idea.”

Anirban Basu is a former Baltimore City school board member (WBFF)

The public deserves to know if the voting board members were aware one of the vendors from that 2025 contract was connected to a sitting board member? Keep in mind, Muhammad was very public about his work with KEYS.

In Muhammad’s school board biography online, which was removed following his resignation, states he’s the “founder of KEYS”.

In Muhammad’s school board biography online, which was removed following his resignation, states he’s the “founder of KEYS”. (WBFF)

In 2022, Muhammad hosted a groundbreaking to celebrate the KEYS Community Healing Village in west Baltimore. At the event, Muhammad was joined by Mayor Brandon Scott and Maryland’s then Lieutenant Governor Boyd Rutherford.

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“This is deeply problematic,” stated Basu.

Project Baltimore emailed City Schools asking, “Were any of the eight board members who voted for the contract on June 10, 2025, aware of Muhammad’s involvement with KEYS Development?”

The school system did not directly answer the question. In a statement, City School explained it has, “not identified concerns regarding improper actions by current Board members.”

“This is no good, and it’s a shame that adults play these games with money intended to benefit some of the poorest kids in the country,” remarked Basu.

Under the 2025 contract, City Schools paid KEYS Development $80,000 – according to district records. Another $40,000 purchase order was scheduled for 2027. But following Muhammad’s resignation from the board, that second purchase order was cancelled.

Follow Project Baltimore’s Chris Papst on X and Facebook. Send news tips to cjpapst@sbgtv.com