The Board of Ed is falling apart. They don't know what's going on...but they never seem to ask Crawford Lewis any tough questions, almost like they don't want to know what's going on. Crawford keeps on Pat Pope at $200k per year, despite misgivings and "half-truths", takes away any responsibilities from her, and then Crawford proposes paying five consultants $1,000 per day to replace Pat Pope. What say you BOE? Ok, C Lew sure, no questions from us, just fork over the $1.1 mil per year.
This Board of Ed is a dysfunctional rubber stamp. Five seats are open this fall. Lets see five new competent, tough, responsible, and ethical board members (Ernest, Kim, Shayna, Ella, Marshall?)
Board Member Wants School Investigation
By Megan Matteucci
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A DeKalb County school board member said he is in the dark about actions by the district's embattled construction chief and wants the board to conduct its own investigation.< The board will meet behind closed doors Feb. 8 for an update on the district attorney’s investigation of Pat Pope, the district’s former chief operating officer, board chairman Thomas Bowen said.< On Wednesday, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Superintendent Crawford Lewis said in an interview taped in 2008 that he had concerns about Pope hiring her friends and associates for school construction projects.
After reading the story, board member Eugene Walker requested the board conduct its own investigation into Pope's activity.
“It’s very troubling,” Walker told the AJC. “I’m hoping as a board we can look at these things. We’ve seen all of this damaging information coming out in the media and we need to get to the bottom of it. The board will certainly look into it.”
Bowen said he is not aware of any call for an investigation by the board, but said the board will be updated about the case at its next session.
Walker said he had hoped to skirt the issue while the district attorney completed the investigation. But he became concerned after learning the extent of Pope’s involvement in pushing contracts to her associates.
“You’re handicapped and you don’t know what to do,” said Walker, who represents District 9. “But we can’t ignore all the information you are reporting.”
The district attorney is investigating whether Pope, who oversaw all school construction, broke the law by allegedly steering contracts to her husband Tony Pope's architecture firm and two other construction companies where she has connections.
While under investigation in 2008 for purchasing a school district car and questionable purchases on his district credit card, Lewis told investigators he was concerned about Pope’s management of construction projects.
“What we are finding out is that anybody that Ms. Pope has ever worked with ... in some form or fashion, they are architects now for the system, they are contractors doing work for the system, they are with management firms doing work for the system,” Lewis told an investigator.
Despite this misgiving, Lewis renewed Pope’s contract with the school system.
Walker, Bowen and board member Don McChesney said they have not heard Lewis’ taped interview.
McChesney said he could not comment on the investigation.
“I have no idea what’s going on,” he said Wednesday. “We are not at liberty legally to make any comments on that case.”
The board's vice chairman, Zepora Roberts, said she would only comment after the investigation is closed.
“I will not be a part of you running these stories,” she said. “Whatever I have to say, I will say it in my deposition and to the court. I’m not going to say it to the media.”
Board members Jim Redovian, Pamela Speaks, Jay Cunningham and Sarah Copelin-Wood did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday.
Lewis did not return a request for an interview.
Pope has declined to talk to the AJC and her attorney said Lewis’ statements were “self-serving” and without merit.
"The board's vice chairman, Zepora Roberts, said she would only comment after the investigation is closed.
ReplyDelete“I will not be a part of you running these stories,” she said. “Whatever I have to say, I will say it in my deposition and to the court. I’m not going to say it to the media.”
Paranod much, Zepora? She all but admits she can't stand the heat anymore. You put your time in Zepora. It's time to go. You'll have more time to hang out with your buddy John Evans, the former county commissioner/convicted felon.
Thanks for your years of service, but you are example 1A on why there should be term limits for the Board of Ed.
How long has Zepora been on the board? And Copelin-Wood? Do they think they are entitled to be on the BOE as long as they want?
ReplyDeleteMcChesney said he could not comment on the investigation.
ReplyDelete“I have no idea what’s going on,” he said Wednesday. “We are not at liberty legally to make any comments on that case.”
The board's vice chairman, Zepora Roberts, said she would only comment after the investigation is closed.
“I will not be a part of you running these stories,” she said. “Whatever I have to say, I will say it in my deposition and to the court. I’m not going to say it to the media.”
Board members Jim Redovian, Pamela Speaks, Jay Cunningham and Sarah Copelin-Wood did not immediately return phone calls Wednesday.
Lewis did not return a request for an interview.
Pope has declined to talk to the AJC and her attorney said Lewis’ statements were “self-serving” and without merit.
Please revisit the cartoon in the post below -
Dr. Lewis and "The Answer"
McChesney has done nothing, absolutely nothing. He looks old and out of touch. He ran for one reason: To make sure the high school district lines changed in his neighborhood. Don't even thin about running for a second term, because you're a one-termer, Don.
ReplyDeleteGuys, as school board members these school board members cannot talk about legal situations going on. Pope is an employee and this information is confidential information until the investigation is over.
ReplyDeleteSpeaking to the press about such items would be a horrible thing for any of these school board members to do. However, the problem is why are we in this situation to start with and why does there have to be all this client-attorney priviledge stuff that has to be protected. The school board does have this right. But why are we in this situation to start with?
Zepora is a fine person. She just does not like all the publicity about the school system in the newspaper. I do not like it either. I am embarassed by all the scandals.
However, the tape exposed shows many problems itself which need to be looked into. I am not for sure that this information should have been shared about Pope unless an investigation had been done in the school system and the school board had found that these behaviors had occured and discipline action had occured. I think administratively employment issues have a process and this was definitely not the procedure showed bias regarding the leak to the DA possible before the process was complete. IF the process was complete Ms. Pope would propable not be employed.
"After reading the story, board member Eugene Walker requested the board conduct its own investigation into Pope's activity."
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the story, I wanted to look into Lewis' paying off Pope! Obviously Walker is covering for Lewis.
This investigation should now be viewed as an investigation of Lewis....and that' what Walker should have said.
So I have to now take issue with "Justice" saying Lewis is abit player.
Ella, we're all very aware of the fact that the board can't talk about these issues. That's what the "cartoon" infers.
ReplyDeleteOur frustration is that we are now saddled with an entire board of education, a superintendent and a COO of construction who are frozen, distracted, unavailable and ineffective. IMO, our school system has basically been shut down. The entire system is frozen.
Teachers and students are the ones suffering. Teachers and students are the ones who keep marching on - getting the job done - in spite of essentially no leadership - or leadership who is basically looking for ways to cut costs - by looking to the very people who are getting the job done.
We are in purgatory, my friends.
The board's vice chairman, Zepora Roberts, said she would only comment after the investigation is closed.
ReplyDelete“I will not be a part of you running these stories,” she said. “Whatever I have to say, I will say it in my deposition and to the court. I’m not going to say it to the media.”
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So Zepora are you implying this mess is the media's fault? It's time you look in the mirror. You're a board member, it's YOUR fault.
And don't forget...our tax dollars are funding this maddness.
ReplyDeleteLet's be honest about something. When Eugene Walker is the leading voice for ethics, the group is in BIG trouble. Just sayin' ...
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteNow that just wasn't nice...
ReplyDeleteThere needs to be an investigations in the following. It is clear that there was nepotism going on between Crawford Lewis and Patricia Pope. Crawford Lewis first hired her to send out notices on First Class to tell employees when someone was ill or had passed away. Then her next job was to work in textbook inventory and then on to her last job.
ReplyDeleteHowever, Celeb why is Lewis spilling the beans on Pope before an investigation is even presented to the school board. This is a problem in itself and is what needs to be investigated.
ReplyDeleteCeleb, you know it takes me a little longer to get things also sometimes. As my mother used to say, "Ella you have too many arms in the fire." I am from Ky. This is a hillbilly saying.
ReplyDeleteElla, you are hilarious! We all love you here at the blog. You're right too - what made him suddenly turn on Pat Pope during his interview? That wasn't even the topic of the questioning.
ReplyDeleteHey Board, you're not very open and transparent (sorry for the reference blogger O&T, nothing personal). You either won't talk, or you say you don't know anything about it.
ReplyDeleteWell think about that. You should know about it, shouldn't you? Isn't it time you start asking the questions? If it's something you're proud of then talk and let us know why. If it's something you're ashamed of, then talk and let us know why you made the decisions you did. Being quiet is a coward's way out. We elected you to represent us, coward.
You're still the ones ultimately responsible for the budget, aren't you? Step up, or step aside so someone can adequately champion education for our kids.
This is a big deal to teachers, staff, bus drivers, taxpayers, security persons, and even a bigger deal to our kids who are trying to get educated with smaller and smaller funds due to all this craziness.
Now where is SACS in all of this? Aren't we up for reaccreditation next year? isn't this making Clayton look tame?j There really is a good novel in here... pot calling the kettle black.
ReplyDeleteWhere do you get info re: BOE seats? Last time I checked there were only 2 open next election and more in 2012. Also, does anyone send their child/ren to any of the IB primary years programs?
ReplyDeleteDale, go to the BOE site and you will see that FIVE seats are due to expire this year.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.dekalb.k12.ga.us/board/members/
Click on the individual names to see details of their terms - these 5 end in 2010.
Jim Redovian
Sarah Copeland-Wood
Zepora Roberts
Jay Cunningham
Gene Walker