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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

This is It...The BOE has no choice but to let Lewis go

The DeKalb County School System Board of Education has no choice but to let Crawford Lewis go as superintendent. His answers to the District Attorney's Office investigation of his gas purchases are simply so impossible to believe, that there is no way to keep him employed as the administrator of a billion dollar enterprise. It is amazing that he would even attempt to answer questions from authorities with responses that would strain belief by even his most strident supporters. Here it is BOE. It is time to let him retire, or go to another system, as he has publicly stated his is being recruited by other districts. The BOE can not let him continue on with losing its own waning trust.


DeKalb schools chief used school card to buy gas multiple times a day
AJC investigation: Lewis bought gas at same Chevron 3 times in one day
By Tim Eberly
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
5:07 p.m. Tuesday, February 2, 2010

DeKalb County schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis visited the same Chevron gas station three times on June 22, 2008.
Each time, he used his school district credit card to buy gas, spending $32.83, $32 and $50, records show.
Lewis provided a two-part explanation for the purchases. First, he said he accidentally put premium gasoline in the tank, then, when he realized the error, pumped the gas from the tank and replaced it with regular gas. He attributed his third fill-up to a drive to Monticello to visit his elderly mother.
Lewis explained those purchases — and other clusters of gas purchases — during a November 2008 interview with a District Attorney’s Office investigator, obtained by The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
Authorities had called Lewis in to answer questions about purchases on his district credit card and about his purchase of a school district vehicle. Prosecutors say they have closed both cases without filing charges, but the interview provides the first details about credit card purchases that authorities considered questionable.
An AJC review of Lewis’ credit card purchases from January 2007 through May 2009 showed 14 instances in which Lewis made purchases at services stations on the same day, including three times in which he had three such transactions in the same day.
The number could be higher. The data, obtained by the AJC from the state Department of Administrative Services, was missing two months.
The newspaper also found 16 instances in which Lewis had transactions at service stations on back to back days, according to the data. On two other occasions, Lewis made a service station purchase the day before or after making multiple purchases on the same day, data shows.
In 2007, the last year for which the AJC has complete data, Lewis spent more than $3,200 at service stations. Lewis also gets gas for his vehicle from the school district’s service station.
His pattern of making multiple purchases at service stations on the same day — or on back to back days — appeared to come to an end after Lewis interviewed with the DA’s Office on Nov. 26, 2008. The AJC could only find one such instance that came after that date.
Lewis declined a request for comment for this story through the school district’s spokesman, Dale Davis.
During Lewis’ interview with the DA’s Office, investigator Clay Nix focused on several instances in which Lewis purchased gas multiple times on the same day or within a short period of time.
“All I can tell you is when you look at the records, my first thinking is that’s a lot of gas in a row,” Nix told Lewis during a conversation about one of those instances. “And multiple purchases in one day, that’s a lot of driving.”
At one point, Nix asked Lewis whether he was using his card to fill up anyone else’s vehicle.
“Just so we’re clear on this, you’re not putting gas in your wife’s car?” he asked.
“No I’m not,” Lewis said.
“Your son’s car?” Nix asked.
“No...Every single use of the card is for gas that went into the vehicle that I am using for the county,” Lewis said.
Lewis’ contract at the time of the gas purchases allowed him “full-time use of an automobile furnished and maintained by the board.”
Davis said the school system does not have guidelines that specify that the superintendent may use his district credit card to buy gas, but he said that privilege has been given to Lewis and previous superintendents.
“It is the practice and it has always been the practice of former superintendents,” Davis said.
In Lewis’ interview, Nix asked about a string of purchases in early November 2007. On a Thursday, Lewis got fuel from the school district’s service station. He fueled up again on Saturday and Sunday, using his county credit card, according to Nix. Then, on Monday, he fueled up at the county gas station. During that time, county mileage records showed that he traveled 384 miles.
“That just seems like a lot of fuel for 384 miles,” he said. “Can you tell me why you would be fueling up three times in three days?”
Lewis does not address the recorded mileage issue, but explained his frequent gas purchases by saying that he often stopped for gas when his tank got half-empty.
“I generally always had a habit of re-filling my car up when it got halfway,” he said. “Because I do a lot of meetings at night, I don’t like stopping at night.”
Lewis also said he also often made the drive to visit his then-79-year-old mother in his hometown of Monticello, which he said was 140 miles round trip.
“Sometimes I would go after hours, like at six in the evening just to check on her,” he said. “But most of the time, it would be on weekends.”
During the interview, Lewis offered Nix another general explanation for his frequent need for gas: driving to schools all over DeKalb County.
“I travel all over the county. I’m in and out of schools,” he said. “I’m just everywhere.”
When Nix asked Lewis about the three gas purchases on June 22, 2008, he said they looked “very odd.” Lewis first told Nix that he accidentally put premium gas in his tank.
“I grabbed the pump, the pump got halfway through it and I thought, ‘Oh my God, I put the wrong gas in there,’ ” Lewis said.
Once he noticed the error, Lewis said that a man helped him pump the premium gas from the tank, so he could replace it with regular gas.
“He took some hose and helped me to get the gas out of the tank,” Lewis said.
Nix asked Lewis whether he was afraid that premium gas would damage the car.
“I was mortified, quite frankly, that I had done that,” Lewis said.
Dan Edmunds, director of vehicle testing for automotive information site Edmunds.com, said Lewis’ mistake would not damage his vehicle.
“That’s absolutely unnecessary,” Edmunds said of removing the gas. “You’re not going to hurt anything except your wallet.”
When Nix asked about the third fuel purchase on that day, Lewis attributed it to a visit with his mother.
Nix also noted the other incidents of Lewis buying gas in bunches, but he did not ask Lewis about each one after confirming that the superintendent would offer some of the same explanations for all of them.

78 comments:

  1. But hey C Lew's son got some free gas.


    (It is common knowledge among Sam Moss staff that the DCSS vehicle Lewis purchased from the school system for one-third its book value, Lewis gave to his son).

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  2. June 22, 2008 was a Sunday. Three gas purchases?

    If the DA really pushed this invetigation, and got videotapes from the gas stations, how much do you want to wager that it wasn't just his DCSS vehicle that was filled up?

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  3. Did the DA check his official schedule for the day? I'm sure his admin asst, who's paid almost $100k per year, has his daily schedule written and recorded, as you would for any executive of a billion dollar enterprise.

    Crawford "Weasel" Lewis sure must have been squiming during his interview.

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  4. Lie, Lie, Lie.....Deny, Deny, Deny...this seems to be the M.O. for all top ranking officials at DCSS...At some point they all will be held personally accountable for the actions of their peers. CLewis will not have anyone left to pass the buck to if he continues to blame others for his poor excuse for leadership. We have all found what true leadership DCSS Does Not Have....We all deserve better for the future of our children. How can they lead when they have set such poor examples. This school system should be held accountable, as they hold students and parents accountable for failure to comply to rules.

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  5. BOE: Fire him. For cause. No buyouts. This is asinine.

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  6. I think Nix missed some softballs to nail this scumbag.

    I had a friend in high school and college who used to buy all sorts of food/drinks/etc. at gas stations because his dad gave him a BP card to fill up and it only showed up on the card as a purchase at 'BP.'

    Has anyone seen the receipts? Do we really issue cards for expenses and not require receipts?

    I've got $20 that says he wasn't just filing up other cars, but that he was buying food, 'drinks' and other items at the gas station with his card.

    Regardless...that story is so full of holes.

    #1- Why would the guy at the station help him 'unpump' premium? I don't think they even have the capability to do that and certainly the person would have told Mr. Lewis that it wouldn't hurt his car. I've never been to a station that I think would help take gas out of my car if I purchased the wrong type.

    #2- If gas was roughly 3.50 a gallon in June of 2008, giving him the benefit of the doubt that he filled up the car with the first charge on the first charge on the 28th, that would mean he spent $82 on gas for miles driven that day. That's roughly 23.5 gallons used on the 22nd. Assuming 15 mpg...that is 352 miles. If he really traveled to Monticello...(this was a work day, right?...and why the H--- are we paying for his trips to Montecello as a business expense?)..his mpg would presumably be much higher.... even at 15 mpg, he would have to average 44 miles per hour to cover that amount in 8 hours...anyone have the time stamps on the charges to give us a better idea of how fast he would have really needed to drive?

    #3-Regardless...this is key...What order were the charges? If he filled the tank with premium, then refilled it with regular...the second charge would be LOWER. Not just a little lower but a good .20 per gallon lower. None of the charges listed in the article possibly explain paying for premium, removing it, and replacing it with regular.

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  7. no just fire him for being so ignorant so as not to know that premium gas won't do a thing to his car. the guy who pumped the gas must have thought he won the lottery.

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  8. The man in charge of an entire school system wants us to believe he put the wrong kind of gas in his car, realized his error, removed it and refilled again. My God, this man makes decisions that impact children! How stupid does he think we are?

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  9. Yeah, hey buddy, just pump that gas into my car. Here's a hose.

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  10. DeKalb taxpayers have been "hosed".

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  11. Having handled a P card for DCSS, I know for a fact that you have to sign a document stating that the P card can only be used for authorized DCSS purchases and business. Further, if there is a mistake on a purchase, you are required to notify the accounting office of the error or risk disciplinary action that could include dismissal.

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  12. Dekalb county taxpayers have the power to remove the Dekalb BOE. I suggest we vote them all out because they are the ones responsible for putting in people like Johnny Brown and now Crawford Lewis. Fire Lewis and let's get somebody decent and honest to run this school system!

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  13. I don't have a good memory anymore but if someone does, it would be interesting to see a list of this incompetent's missteps.

    Let's not forget one of his first: Hiring Darren Ware, the convicted felon, as CFO and entrusting him with the full billion dollar DCSS checkbook. Classy. (Remember that Ware was recommended by Crawford's personal friends at the Lanta Group, then hired.)

    If Ware isn't in jail, we need to turn the turret to Gwen Keys our District Attorney. If she won't go after him, or Lewis, or the former school board chair who sold goods against the law to principals, it looks like it's a free-for-all in the DeKalb School System Friends & Family Plan.

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  14. When I have had a business credit card, I had to send receipts for each purchase made with the credit card and had to justify the expenses. When I had a car given to me as part of my job I had to document the miles that I drove to show that they were work related. This included the date the mileage at the start of the trip, where I was at the start at the trip, the mileage at the end of the trip, and where I ended the trip.

    I read this article earlier and couldn't believe his answers. They make no sense and make me angry that he is able to use the car for personal use. With his high salary, he should be able to afford his own car for his personal use. I am not sure why tax payers are paying for his personal car use.

    People usually get fired for mis-use of the P Card. I am not sure why Lewis is still working for DCSS. Another reason why the teachers, bus drivers, and teacher assistants and the rest of the people who work in the schools have no use for Lewis and his lying ways.

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  15. omg, omg, omg. I laughed out loud when I read that he pumped the premium out of his car and replaced it with regular!! What a joke! Can you even do that? Why would anyone do that? Such a liar - is there anyone in the world that would buy that story???

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  16. (If the "I got premium and then I realized my mistake" story is true, I believe a previous comment got it right - some GENEROUS, HELPFUL person at the gas station got out a hose and syphoned the offending gas directly into a gas can and then chuckled all the way to his car (or the back of the station). Otherwise, why are BOTH of the fillups on the card? If you could really "unbuy" gas, the first charge would have been removed.

    What I want to know is WHY THE HELL they closed both cases without filing charges.

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  17. What's even more amazing is that the DA's office seemed to believe him?! It's easier for them to turn the other way, and accept his non-sense answers.

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  18. I must remind everyone that Ms. Littlejohn was doing her best to raise these issues and was being shut down. She was criticisized left, right and center. She tried to get it to everyone's attention at every meeting. She went to the DA. The rest of the Board got mad at her. The DA dismissed the charges (they probably have bigger fish to fry) -- anyone want to go to someone else... Attorney General or GBI? I don't know who would have authority to prosecute (who nailed the folks mis-using p-cards at Georgia Tech?).

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  19. http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-chief-used-289403.html

    I'd like each and every DCSS BoE member to explain (1) why they extended Crawford Lewis's contract (2) why they gave Crawford Lewis a raise and (3) why Crawford Lewis is still employed by DCSS.

    http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-schools-chief-used-289403.html

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  20. Wow - - enough is enough!!

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  21. I love DCSS Schools

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  22. Did you read the other day that Lewis made the first accusations against Pat Pope during these interviews with the DA about his gas purchases? No wonder! He was desperate to get the focus off of his squiffy behavior and onto someone else. What a weasel is right!

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  23. Demand.Integrity.Now.February 2, 2010 at 9:43 PM

    CLew-less must be prosecuted.

    I work for a State of Georgia agency and I know that misusing a P-card is an offense for which a state employee will be fired -- regardless of the reason for misusing the P-card. A Georgia Tech employee misused a P-card and she was fired, prosecuted and is doing time in jail, I believe.

    CLew-less has abused his position and, in so doing, has committed fraud with both federal and state funds, as well as with taxpayers' dollars. Yes, he must be fired -- no buyout. And then he must be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

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  24. This is just SHOCKING. Especially from someone who'd send a district-wide memo supporting principals who cheat.

    Nice leadership Crawford. And nice leadership BOE who not only extended his contract knowing all this in advance, but also giving him a raise.

    You all are great examples for DeKalb's next generation of criminals.

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  25. Sometimes people ask how I come up with so much material for this blog and I answer, "The thing just writes itself!" This is a case in point. I couldn't make this stuff up if I tried.

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  26. Does his contract have a "termination for cause" clause in it? If not, as a taxpayer I do not want to buy him out of a contract that goes through 2013 (Gee, thanks BOE).

    But it would be appropriate for Mr. Lewis to gracefully resign or retire. I can't imagine this article will help him get a job with another school system.

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  27. His arrogance will not allow him to retire or admit the truth.....he and his entire staff deny and lie through their teeth...they will be prosecuted...those same folks prosecuted for illegal use of p-cards can have their cases overturned which in effect will cause the state to push the local DA for another investigation with charges to follow......

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  28. Gracefully retire?!! Ha ha ha ... he'll never retire.

    And the board won't take action. They are weasel-lovers. For example - what about check fraud criminal - DCSS business teacher at DOLA - Sharon Barnes Sutton? Check out her bad check writing story and her flimsy - it wasn't me - excuse!

    Jim Walls has the photos of the signatures online for the world to see - at Atlanta Unfiltered -
    Was ID theft to blame for DeKalb commissioner’s fraud charges?

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  29. "Does his contract have a "termination for cause" clause?"

    Bells are ringing - this very well could be! Does anyone have a copy of the contract? I'm thinking I heard something about a new termination clause that only provides 4 months severance... true? If so, then Paul Womack really is the wily guy I had hoped!

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  30. I am a government employee. I have a government issued credit card. If I ever used it the way Crawford Lewis has used his, I'd be terminated immediately. No debate. No delay. I'd be gone as soon as my misuse was discovered. Period.

    There is NO excusing this behavior. He should be terminated immediately.

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  31. Son of awcomeonow, reporting back from Edmunds.com
    Wonder if the car Lewis was driving in June 2008 was the 2005 Ford Five Hundred that Lewis got the way cool discount on.
    According to Edmunds. com the car has a 19 gallon gas tank, and is EPA rated at 19mpg city, 26mpg highway. Almost everyone writing in their owner reviews of the car state that they routinely get 26 mpg on the highway, with some getting as high as 30mpg.
    There's no way that a 26 mpg car would burn through ninety six
    dollars worth of gas in one day's time. What was gas running in June of 2008? Even at four dollars a gallon you could buy 24 gallons of gas. He'd have had to travel close to 500 miles in one day to burn through all that gas at the INTOWN
    19mpg figure. If it was at the highway figure, it would be enough gas to travel 600 plus miles.
    How much time was spent between the three purchases? Doubt that it was enough to cover five to six hundred miles.

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  32. Crawford was just driving back and forth to the very fancy and elitist Commerce Club:
    http://www.thecommerceclub.org/

    None other than the BOE's own Gene Walker sponsored Lewis' membership into the tony Commerce Club.

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  33. What boggles the mind about this is that this is the very issue that Cassandra Anderson-Littlejohn brought up before she left. In fact, she found one instance, which he attributed as a mistake and he reimbursed the school system for that.

    So, why on earth would he continue this behavior (after having his hand slapped)?

    If he was only purchasing gas, then when you look at the figures for 2007, it is possible that all those purchases were legit. However, we also know that he got gas from the system service center.

    And the story about pumping gas three times -- very peculiar. Could it be so outrageous that it is true?

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  34. I'm beginning to think that the School Board would rather keep Lewis, warts and all, than have to go through a search process as most of their terms end. They elevated an inexperienced person into a leadership role and perhaps think that explains most of his "errors in judgment." Never underestimate the power of denial.

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  35. I think the problem is that behaviors are being brought to the service that have been happening so long in Dekalb County School System possible that it was thought to be appropriate.

    I do think that the superintendent gets so many perks like the credit card. I think instead he should be able to fill up his gas tank at the service center as many times a week as he needs to.

    I also think that the expenses spent by the administration need to be reasonable. We all need to tighten our belts. I do not think the tax payers should be paying for gas money for the superintendent to go check on his mother on the week-end. I do think there should be some guidelines regarding using company cars and gas expenses. This probable should be the superintendent's nickel and not the taxpayers. However, this is left up the our school board and not us to decide.

    I know Dr. Lewis does go to many social events during the week and probable does use a great deal of gas. However, this does seem a little excessive. It does seem like more than one car is involved in the fill-ups. He normally travels with other cabinet members so it may have been to fill up their cars also.

    I do remember Ms. Cassandra Little-John having a fit about situations like this and the other board members turning a blind eye. Now I think it was not appropriate that the school board members turned a blind eye. Regardless of the amount of the money it is important that every dollar of taxpayer dollar be spent correctly.

    I am hopeful there is some misunderstanding and we will finally know the facts about all of these situations. I wish there was more transparancy in the school systems actions.

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  36. Time to audit all DCSS purchasing cards. How many do there really need to be, anyway?

    Crawford Lewis needs to visit his mom in his own darn car and pay his own damn gas.

    Anyone know if Ron Ramsey uses his DCSS car as he drives down to the State Senate? Are we paying his gas? it's bad enough taxpayers are paying him twice, as DCSS' Director of Internal Affairs, and then as a state senator. Unbelievable that he doesn't take an unpaid leave of absence during the legislative session.

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  37. Actually, the majority of this board did not hire Dr. Lewis. In fact, if I recall correctly, only Ms. Woods and Ms. Roberts were on the board at the time.

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  38. Assuming Lewis has a 15 gallon tank and gets 20 miles to the gallon in town and filled it 3 times - holy guacamole! - he drove 900 miles on Sunday all over the county. Driving 900 miles at 45 mph (pretty fast in town) would mean he was in his car 20 hours just driving.

    My math:
    15 x 20 x 3 = 900 miles
    900 miles/ 45 mph = 20 hours

    I wonder if he could pass the GHSGT in math?

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  39. "possible that it was thought to be appropriate"

    Therein lies the problem, Ella. I think that Dale Davis or someone even stated this in an article - same for the discounted car purchase - "that's the way the "other" superintendents always did it." There's a racial implication in that statement of course, but the bottom line is - even if others have done it in the past, it doesn't make it right.

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  40. Crawford has to go. Funny that something as comparatively trivial as p-card fraud will be the thing to do it, but whatever works.

    But let's not think that's a solution to our problems--the BOE needs to be replaced and beyond that there's a culture of corruption pervading DeKalb government (see Sharon Barnes-Sutton's case as the most current example, and the assasination of Derwin Brown as the most tragic example).

    We really need people who see government office as a way to serve the public rather than a way to serve themselves.

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  41. The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has its limits.

    - Albert Einstein

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  42. Lewis, Ph.D. doesn't understand the use of gas octane ratings!! He should be fired for STUPIDITY, if not stealing.

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  43. @Anonymous 8:37 AM

    I know the majority of this board did not hire him, but the majority of this board did renew his contract and gave him a raise at the same time they were furloughing teachers and planning to cut their pay.

    This board has done nothing about the fact that almost half of the employees in DeKalb County are not teachers, and that our salary costs as a percentage of expenditures (91%) is nowhere near the average of other metro systems (85%).

    This 6% differential of $900,000,000 is $54,000,000 annually. They could have brought this figure in line with other systems and we would not be trying to pack more kids into less classrooms and further demoralize the teachers who are teaching our children.

    So this board has much to answer to come election time. They really need to answer to the childen of DeKalb. Unfortunately, they don't vote, but their parents do.

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  44. I'm serious about this.

    Some of you folks are lawyers or know a lawyer. What is our recourse here as citizens and taxpayers? If the DA closed the cases without filing charges, can they be re-opened? Can the police investigate this if a regular citizen complains? After all it was OUR money he took. How does one begin a BOE recall?

    Even if all this stuff didn't exactly happen the way it looks, we need to know that, too.

    Post anonymously if you need to, but please, we need guidance. We can't just sit here and let this stuff keep happening.

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  45. For a good time, check this link to WSB TV regarding a $400,000 conference. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/22420829/detail.html

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  46. If somebody really wants to get a look at waste of taxpayers money, they should investgate the use of Title 1 funds.....what a cash cow for Dekalb!

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  47. http://www.wsbtv.com/news/22420829/detail.html

    That's what happens when a company play politics and you have willing partners. America's Choice hires a high ranking DCSS administrator, she bends C Lew's ear, and viola, here's an expensive new curriculum!

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  48. Why is this being held on school days?????

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  49. Because nobody who actually works in a classroom is going, maybe...

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  50. Someone or some group needs to go and visit the the U.S. Attorney with an entire collection of anything that has "fraud" and "misuse" of "taxpayer" and "Title I" funds on it that remotely smacks of Federal or State dollars (and bring up connections between CL and the DA).

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  51. I sent emails to every school board member expressing my outrage over this and asking for their explanation of how they will address this issue and how they could have renewed CL's contract after this. Jay Cunningham actually called me and said that this happened 2 years ago. CL was officially reprimanded over this incident. He said there were lawyers involved and the reprimand is recorded in CL's personnel file. I asked how they could have renewed his contract if all this was known and he said that there was a change in board membership from that time and most of the current board was not around when this happened. He said he was around back then, but intimated that he did not vote to renew the contract (I'm sorry - I can't remember his exact words) and said "that's all I'm going to say about that". I can't remember - was he out that day that the board voted to renew CL's contract? Mr. Cunningham also said that this incident happened a couple of years ago - that the AJC is picking apart the interview with CL and the DA and publishing bits and pieces every day. He said it is old news and that the board needs to get the word out to the public that that they were aware of all of this long ago, the issues have been addressed and have taken steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. Props to him for actually calling me.

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  52. I have a feeling that this could be suddenly important as to it points to Lewis' intent when he ratted out Pat Pope. Look for this to be a big issue on credibility when the trial begins in March. This is just the faint sound of the distant drumming.

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  53. Me again - "Anonymous at 2:59" - I'm not saying I'm buying everything Jay Cunningham is telling me, but I could tell he was really frustrated with the AJC. Well I say, good for the AJC....we have a right to know all of this when they are talking about cutting programs and increasing taxes and all this is going on. It may be small potatoes, but it all adds up.

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  54. So, those who were on the board at that time were too stupid to remember this incident and those who are new to the board were too stupid to look at his personnel file? Sorry, any way you look at it they are all a bunch of fools. And there is simply no way you can blame the absurdity of Lewis' statement about pumping high octane fuel out of the gas tank on media manipulation. The board does not get to blame this on the AJC, no way no how.

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  55. Hey Jay, it wasn't two years ago. It was a year and a quarter, and he only stopped after the DA Office's called him on it. It may still be going on if not for that. And he of course should have known better. A ten year old would have known better. It goes to his character and his judgement. And being the weasel he is he saw he was digging himself a hole and then he brought up the Pat Pope stuff. Weasel unworthy of our trust.

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  56. Well, I understand DeKalb is changing all its stationery to "Premium DeKalb - Getting a HiTest Education"

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  57. @ Anon 3:47 said "It goes to his character and his judgement."

    Anyone out there really believe the siphoning out premium fuel story? Anyone?

    When you're willing to lie to the District Attorney, you'll lie to anyone -- that includes you BOE Members. This speaks to character and judgment.

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  58. Others had it in their contract to do it though was my understanding.

    Some had it in there contract and others do not have it in their contract. It is all about the contracts.

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  59. Let's have a survey of school administrators and teachers regarding the DeKalb School leadership. Of course this assumes the Board cares. Don't hold your breathe, as the favors that have passed between Board members and Dr. Lewis will certainly result in nothing being done.

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  60. The five Board of Ed members up for re-election this fall have a choice: Keep C Lew, and lose the election, or fire his shameful butt, and possibly retain their seats.

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  61. @ Anon 5:16, good idea. The "former" board did just that -- a 360-degree review of Dr. Brown checking the pulse of his effectiveness as an administrator by asking feedback from the board, his cabinet, deputy superintendents, principals, administrators, and (limited number) a sample of parents. This board really should do the same -- hire a facilitator, and get the survey out.

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  62. This is why lewis gave pope a new contract, he is just as corrupt as she is. When all is said and done i bet you that she has something on him.

    As for the gas, what did he do with the gas he pumped out of the tank?

    The money that they are using for this trip, should have been used for equipment in the schools. It must not have did any good in the pass. Every year we have more failed principals.

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  63. Gee, isn't any personal purchase on a p card such as gas be taxable to the employee who makes it as income? The employee should receive a w-2 for the expense. Any failure to report said personal usage of the p-card (e.g. gas for personal use of the vehicle or vehicle miles to see mom or to run errands) would really translate to tax fraud that the IRS might be interested in -- further the State of Georgia Department of Revenue may also be interested.... (tax collections are down....).

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  64. Ella, I respect your opinion, but seriously I don't understand how you can tread so lightly w/regards to Lewis and his choices. WTF? What do you consider unacceptable, unethical behavior? And let me tell you, he may SAY he is driving all over the county, BUT HE ISNT!!! You have no problem with him filling up mulitiple times? So if he fills up 10 times a week no problem? I fill my tank 2x a month! Tell me why tax money should be used for him to visit his mother in Monticello?!?!?!?!?!!?

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  65. While reading an article about the Doughtery School System I was reminded of the DCSS mess. The story is interesting and is titled "School Board Flunks Again" http://www.albanyherald.com/home/headlines/83505892.html
    The statement below was taken from the article and I feel applies to our own DCSS except for school enrollment. The bell is ringing for the BOE...hope you are listening.
    "Unfortunately for the system’s 16,000 or so students, hundreds of school employees, taxpayers who foot the bill for the system and Albany/Dougherty residents in general, the description applies to the board, when given the opportunity to do the right thing, consistently doing what’s wrong — ethically, morally and legally."

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  66. " And let me tell you, he may SAY he is driving all over the county, BUT HE ISNT!!! "

    How do you know? Do you keep Dr. Lewis' calendar? He does attend a meeting, speaking engagement, DCSS sporting event, etc. most nights of the week...not to mention the meetings/appearances he makes during the day.

    While it's hard to imagine that he used as much gas as he charged, he does spend an enormous amount of time driving throughout the county.

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  67. Anon 8:25 am, you defending the indefensible. Lewis was caught in a bold faced lie, he realized it, and then forced the conversation to Pat Pope. it is no coincidence that Lewis' pattern of filling up his vehicle only changed after the DA's interview.

    Crawford Lewis is a man who lacks integrity, and has taken advantage of every possible perk. he's been with DCSS for over 30 years. it is high time the BOE allows him to retire, and brings in new management...management that focuses on students and teachers, not administrators.

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  68. A guy that uses that much gas should be driving a Prius.

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  69. Awesome compliment Anon 10:45 AM. Every DCSS vehicle should be a hybrid. Funny how Crawford's lackey/butler Dale Davis DCSS goes on an all out media blitz about the new LEED certifield Arabia High, but that's it. Recycling programs at DCSS schools and buildings is an ineffective hodge podge. Only Arabia is LEED certified, instead of every new and renovated DCSS school and building. If you're going to do something, do it system-wide, and not a one and done for the PR.

    Then again, there should be very few DCSS vehicles for administrators. Yes, C Lew should have one, and maybe Moseley and Talley, but double dipper Ron Ramsey can drive his own darn car to meetings and get mileage reimbursed. I'm betting that if we saw the list of every DCSS administrator with a DCSS owned vehicle, it would be another story for the local TV news.

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  70. Hey, everyone,

    DeKalb Schools is FINALLY training the teachers on eSHIT, six weeks into the 2nd semester during their planning periods during the school day! LOL. Read the message below teachers received at a Title I school in South DeKalb:

    ---------------------------------


    URGENT!!!

    Please read entire email.

    Please leave your teacher workstation turned "ON" before you leave tomorrow (Friday, February 5, 2010.) Thank you.


    The eSIS TA Form will be installed on your desktop. To help make the transition as smooth as possible a script has been created that will un-install all versions of Java and install only the one that is needed for the eSIS TA Forms.

    "Repeat:" Teachers, please make sure that your teacher workstation is turned "ON" and left on before 6pm on Friday, February 5, 2010.

    The script will force close any web browser that is open (Internet Explorer & Firefox). Any teacher using the internet at 6pm, the day of the script running, will have their browser automatically closed. Any work not saved will be lost.

    NOTE: Student machines will NOT be updated to accommodate eSIS TA Forms. eSIS TA Forms requires a specific, solo version of Java and student workstations may have other, multiple requirements that cannot be altered due to instruction. Teachers will need to use only a teacher workstation when using eSIS TA Forms.


    ALL teachers are required to participate in the training.

    The training dates for the eSIS Form are Monday through Thursday,
    February 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2010. The training window is from 7:30 am - 5:00 pm. on our assigned days.

    The sessions starts at 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm and 3:30 pm on the above dates. This is a live session, so you must be logged in before the session starts. Log in using your name.

    The session is about an hour and a half long.

    There will be a website, where you will go, to do your training.

    The website (TBA)

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  71. Tony Hunter, Executive Director of Incompetence, er, Info. Systems

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  72. Let me get this straight, because I have no computer at school because we are finally getting new ones and they took my old one today.

    Again, that was great timing considering grades are due tomorrow.

    We have to sit in a "live" training session next week for the new TA. I have used it on a friends computer. It is faster,(maybe because no one is on it yet) but it still is the same to me. Not a lot of difference. You just do not have to go and find a lot of the buttons that were hiding from veiw.

    But on another topic. I do not get 90 full minutes of planning a day. During all the training times, I am teaching.

    Our school does not have enough teachers to cover the ones that need to take the training.

    And I am sorry, but I WILL NOT come in early nor stay later than my contract time. Until CLEW is dealt with quit making your mistakes (CLEW AND HUNTER) MY PROBLEM.

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  73. I guess they don't realize that these times don't necessarily coincide with the teachers' plan periods since they vary from school to school and in some schools the school day runs past 3:30. Teachers have been told they must log on during these times and complete the training or they won't be allowed into eSis. Some teachers will just have to give their students seatwork and log into eSis. They are not too happy about using instructional time to be trained.

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  74. Tony Hunter, how is someone as f-ing clueless like you an "Executive Director"??? You are basically saying that teacher planning periods mean nothing. Why in the heck is this eSIS training happening not while school is in session, but when the school year is halfway over?

    You Tony, are an idiot for not rolling out eSIS to a few select schools for a year, and then training every teacher in the system before the next school year begins.

    Our elected BOE members are again out to lunch and don't give a darn about instruction. They should be furious that this training is going on during the school year. You scuk eggs Tony Hunter.

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  75. Tony Hunter came from the company who sold DeKalb Co. Schools our "superfast" fiber optics Internet connection - I believe it took almost all of our Splost II dollars. He has no educational background therefore he has no conception of what teachers in classrooms need. He does not ask teachers what they need. He communicates with Central Office personnel which is a huge problem. How do you think DeKalb got eSis? My son's teachers have nothing but complaints about the system, but hey the Central Office personnel wanted the data capture.

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  76. Correction to my previous post. The private network Tony Hunter sold to DeKalb did not take most of our Splost II dollars. Most of the Splost II dollars were taken by school construction (and we see how well that turned out). Most of the Splost II dollars that were allocated to technology for students went to building the network. Of course there are not that many student computers hanging off the network (no money left for that) but who cares about details.

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  77. Good post Anon 8:24 PM. I was wondering how Hunter got into the system. Sad he has no prior experience in the educational setting. Not surprised, but sad. he should be holding focus groups with teachers, surveying teachers, etc. but he doesn't. He knows Crawford is his meal ticket. I betcha a million bucks Tony has never asked a teacher: What can I do to improve how Info. Systems serves teachers?

    And Gloria Talley knows less than nothing on how to incorporate technology into the classroom. She is a dinosaur, should have retired five years ago.

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  78. Dr. Lewis has surrounded himself with his old cronies so don't expect any of them to leave. DeKalb "leadership" is made up of a collection of "yes" people to anything Lewis does.
    School Board is the same way. They have done so many favors for each other, if anyone expects things to change without a new Board they are dreaming.
    Lewis has not been in a classroom for so many years he has no clue what today's Principals, Assistant Principals, and teachers go through, but since he does not care, does not make much difference if he involves them in any decision that is made.

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