tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post1095859841655569093..comments2024-01-08T03:21:35.616-05:00Comments on DeKalb County School Watch: The Heery/Mitchell BackstoryCerebrationhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-85850025873379069592010-02-11T20:53:26.794-05:002010-02-11T20:53:26.794-05:00If you click on the link to Atlanta Unfiltered in ...If you click on the link to Atlanta Unfiltered in my comment above, you can link to download some of the court filings. Jim Walls at Atlanta Unfiltered spends a lot of time, energy and money to bring these actual documents to us on the internet - for free!<br /><br />When you visit Atlanta Unfiltered, please make a donation to help defray the costs. We want to ensure Jim's ability to access and copy all of these public documents for us to view.Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-82875818734577136762010-02-11T20:48:26.376-05:002010-02-11T20:48:26.376-05:00Back to the subject of the construction lawsuit - ...Back to the subject of the construction lawsuit - you know - the one Dr Lewis has spent over 12 million dollars on so far? And it hasn't gone to trial? This - and then he wants all kinds of attention for his cuts to the schoolhouse budgets! Aaaaagh.<br /><br />Anyway - I wanted to ensure that this entire article from <a href="http://www.atlantaunfiltered.com/2009/11/16/dekalb-construction-probe-complicates-multimillion-suit-on-cost-overruns/" rel="nofollow">Atlanta Unfiltered</a> was included in this thread - the trial is set to start in March - so hopefully we will get some real info very soon.<br /><br /><i>atlanta mainstream<br />DeKalb construction probe complicates multimillion-dollar suit on cost overruns<br />November 16, 2009 --<br /><br />DeKalb County schools’ multimillion-dollar damage suit over construction cost overruns may be undermined by a criminal probe of school contracts.<br /><br />The school district has been locked in a court struggle nearing epic proportions since it suspended its construction management firm, Heery/Mitchell, in 2006. What began with the contractor’s claim for roughly $500,000 for unpaid invoices has escalated to the point that DeKalb, in a counterclaim, seeks damages of up to $125 million for mismanagement. The file for the court case is more than five feet thick.<br /><br />Now, DeKalb prosecutors are investigating possible wrongdoing by school employees involving construction contracts after Heery/Mitchell was canned. Agents last month seized school records for six projects from the office of the new in-house construction manager, chief operating officer Pat Pope.<br /><br />Cost overruns at five of those projects, Heery/Mitchell noted, are a part of DeKalb’s claim of mismanagement. These include: Columbia and Arabia Mountain high schools, McNair and Henderson Mill Elementary schools and the Mountain Industrial Center.<br /><br />DeKalb claims Heery/Mitchell allowed millions of dollars in payments for construction change orders that it should have flagged as unnecessary; the construction manager says school officials were ultimately responsible.<br /><br />Heery/Mitchell claims its dismissal was just a pretext to place the projects under a new construction manager. In court papers filed last week, its lawyers said ”it was terminated pretextually by the School District to facilitate fraudulent activity in the same projects Heery/Mitchell had been managing.”<br /><br />“… a key component of Heery/Mitchell’s defense is that its termination as SPLOST II program manager was pretextual, in that the School District’s actions to remove Heery/Mitchell from involvement in the selection, deployment, and coordination of architects and contractors and to facilitate the ascension of a DCSD employee now under criminal investigation over her role in discharging Heery/Mitchell’s former duties …”<br /><br />DeKalb County prosecutors served search warrants Oct. 13 at Pope’s office and at the home and business of her husband, Anthony Vincent Pope, an architect who has designed a number of DeKalb schools.<br /><br />Attorneys for Heery/Mitchell are scheduled to question Pope on Wednesday about the investigation. This time, Heery/Mitchell wants to hear what Pope knows about the criminal investigation by DeKalb District Attorney Gwen Keyes-Fleming. The lawyers are also pressing for copies of records seized at Ms. Pope’s office.<br />DeKalb’s lawyers opposed the request to depose Pope, noting that Heery/Mitchell had questioned her three times previously. But DeKalb Superior Court Judge Clarence Seeliger ruled in July that a deposition focusing on the DA’s investigation was OK.<br /><br />Last month, Pope was relieved of her duties overseeing DeKalb’s school construction program and moved to another school office five miles away to pursue unspecified projects. School board Chairman Thomas Bowen described the move as an appropriate precautionary step while the investigation is pending.<br /><br />The Heery/Mitchell lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March 2010.</i>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-34189453203920138522009-12-14T20:01:36.992-05:002009-12-14T20:01:36.992-05:00Probably a smart move -- considering their problem...Probably a smart move -- considering their problems here - and with Dallas TX as well -<br /><br />http://dallascrooks.com/heery/heerywatch.htmlCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-7896444353775967462009-12-14T19:17:20.133-05:002009-12-14T19:17:20.133-05:00Just so there's no confusion, George Heery has...Just so there's no confusion, George Heery has not been affiliated Heery International for over 20 years. He left in the 1980s and founded his own firm.Drewpropshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03016315071844030689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6958247269537262009-12-13T11:48:12.926-05:002009-12-13T11:48:12.926-05:00I have also created a thread here at the blog dedi...I have also created a thread here at the blog dedicated to discussing the AJC article.<br /><br /><a href="http://dekalbschoolwatch.blogspot.com/2009/12/ajc-brings-us-clue.html" rel="nofollow">The AJC Brings Us a Clue!</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-72895958832534415852009-12-13T11:46:47.497-05:002009-12-13T11:46:47.497-05:00The AJC has printed an in-depth report on the situ...The AJC has printed an in-depth report on the situation. It will bring you up to speed on the subject.<br /><br />Read it here -<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/dekalb/dekalb-school-official-faces-238420.html" rel="nofollow">DeKalb school official faces question of impropriety</a>Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-51608785632429591312009-12-12T23:11:38.169-05:002009-12-12T23:11:38.169-05:00If justiceindekalb@mpta.us inside information is t...If justiceindekalb@mpta.us inside information is truly accurate, it would most likely indicate that no funds where paid to Mr. Pope or Ms. Reid after her employment with DCSS.<br /><br />Really, are you serious.....Do you think she wasn't getting paid while being married to Vincent A. Pope....what he makes...she makes,,,,let's not be shady with the business....they both were getting paid with DCSS funds now accounts payable and the others are scrambling frightened to the gills that the real truth will come out and there will be some indictments of the director of finance and a few more top officials...they are playing a wall street corporate high stakes game in a small place like Georgia.....It won't end well for a lot of people...especially the little ones who actually see the invoices and question why checks are being paid to Vincent A. Pope in 2009....ooh yeah this is deep...look for folks to start playing Let's Make a DealAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-22627675270040415382009-12-12T17:43:01.787-05:002009-12-12T17:43:01.787-05:00Pat Pope stop working for her husband when she too...Pat Pope stop working for her husband when she took the job with DeKalb Schools. Corporate filings take place in April so her name would appear as an officer until 2006. The firm overlooked this during the re-filing in 2006 and finally corrected the document late 2007. If justiceindekalb@mpta.us inside information is truly accurate, it would most likely indicate that no funds where paid to Mr. Pope or Ms. Reid after her employment with DCSS.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76185784742798664872009-12-12T17:38:34.852-05:002009-12-12T17:38:34.852-05:00In speaking with Mr. Pope last week, he indicated ...In speaking with Mr. Pope last week, he indicated to me that the name change was to align with his Florida registered company. Now both offices fall under the name Vincent Pope Architects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6301594496367717802009-12-12T17:36:13.051-05:002009-12-12T17:36:13.051-05:00The Columbia High School renovations where part of...The Columbia High School renovations where part of a SPLSOT III CIP program that was reviewed and approved by the Board. The total project was to last four years. The construction was on target to be finished until the DA probe interrupted close out. The Fine Arts Building was actually part of the SPLOST III funds and the overall project cost is approximately $200,000 under the proposed budget.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-17749329533098104592009-12-09T09:47:31.294-05:002009-12-09T09:47:31.294-05:00The construction at Columbia High is still ongoing...The construction at Columbia High is still ongoing to this day. The original project dates back to when Pat Pope was hired by DCSS and her hubby was the architect for the school's addition/renovations. Columbia has been under some sort of renovation for at least the past 5 years. Is Pope also the designer for the new fine arts wing currently under construction? My guess would be yes. It appears that the Popes have been making $$$ off this school's improvements since 2005. There is not one tile from the floor to the ceiling that hasn't been touched in the building.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-58032713961731010702009-12-08T21:27:15.975-05:002009-12-08T21:27:15.975-05:00No--the DA got the GBI involved because they know ...No--the DA got the GBI involved because they know all of the bigger players that would be linked. GBI knows how to conduct the investigation in a limited fashion--control the file is the key to protecting the powerful.<br /><br />BTW--where did Pope work before her husband's business and what dates? When she was involved in Olympics?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-76550404230602711872009-12-08T20:33:00.253-05:002009-12-08T20:33:00.253-05:00Yes - great info Justice - thanks.
I find it asto...Yes - great info Justice - thanks.<br /><br />I find it astounding that Pat Pope was functioning as a SPLOST consultant while simultaneously serving as CFO and SEC of a major SPLOST vendor. Not only that - she was married to that vendor! And all the while, interviewing for the job as COO of the SPLOST program with DCSS. Are we to believe that Dr. Lewis had no clue about this? Did he not do his due diligence? <br /><br />Look at the dates - she was Vincent Pope & Assoc CFO and SEC in August of 2005. But she was officially hired as COO by DCSS in October of 2005 (apparently as the misleading, Patricia Reid) - having already worked as a consultant to the system. <br /><br />Come on! I am beyond disappointed. No wonder the DA had to get the GBI involved. Where oh where will this go next?Cerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-21102087460431688182009-12-08T20:21:27.343-05:002009-12-08T20:21:27.343-05:00Good work Cerebration. The name change throws peop...Good work Cerebration. The name change throws people off?<br /><br />Thanks to Justice too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-10690647144130898492009-12-08T17:50:03.409-05:002009-12-08T17:50:03.409-05:00It's there. I found it. Check the 2005 docume...It's there. I found it. Check the 2005 documents. <br /><br />Patricia Pope is SEC and CFO - and the submission date is 4/15/2005<br /><br />Same for 2007 - Pat Pope is CFO and SEC<br /><br />But the 2008 goes back to Vincent Pope (March, 2008 - well into the investigation, which began in early 2007) Same for 2009.<br /><br />Interestingly, then in October 22, 2009, Vincent Pope & Associates filed an amendment for a name change to Vincent Pope Architects, Inc.<br /><br />http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/imaging/14296206.pdfCerebrationhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11161868015604029471noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-28975725513369778832009-12-08T16:53:37.388-05:002009-12-08T16:53:37.388-05:00Sorry Justice--
Your SOS link doesn't work
AND...Sorry Justice--<br />Your SOS link doesn't work<br />AND<br />Sec State listing for Vincent Pope Architects shows Mr Pope as all officers.<br /><br />Justice? You better do better than this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-20391392695347910422009-12-08T14:47:26.053-05:002009-12-08T14:47:26.053-05:00Believe me when I say that this is only the TIP of...<i>Believe me when I say that this is only the TIP of the iceberg! Please feel free to pre-order my book at justiceindekalb@mpta.us</i><br /><br />Is there a charge for your book?Paula Caldarellahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05515215184962897541noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-80963565548602542542009-12-08T14:45:14.126-05:002009-12-08T14:45:14.126-05:00This is all public information regarding Patricia ...This is all public information regarding Patricia A. Pope & Vincent Pope. Check out the link below where it clearly shows Patricia Ann Reid Pope as the Chief Financial Officer of her husbands business...the very business that was contracted to Columbia High School. DCSS BOE and Crawford Lewis KNEW this prior to hiring Ms. Pope, and yet......check out the dates on this document....Man, were they getting paid, or WERE THEY GETTING PAID!!!!! <br /><br />http://corp.sos.state.ga.us/imaging/14296206.pdf<br /><br />Believe me when I say that this is only the TIP of the iceberg! Please feel free to pre-order my book at justiceindekalb@mpta.usjusticeindekalb@mpta.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-37705574969869895302009-12-08T14:32:48.953-05:002009-12-08T14:32:48.953-05:00Knowledge is Power!
Here is the link to the Heery...Knowledge is Power!<br /><br />Here is the link to the Heery Mitchell lawsuit against DCSS<br />(I personally went to the courthouse and meticulously went over darn near every document!)<br /><br />Have a look see for yourself!<br /><br />http://www.ojs.dekalbga.org/<br /><br />Case: 07CV2532 (Open) HEERY INTERNATIONAL INC. VS DEKALB COUNTY SCHOOL<br />Filing Date: 02/20/2007 Type: Superior General Civil<br />Judge: CLARENCE F. SEELIGER Superior Court<br />Secondary: Contracts<br />Tertiary:rasminoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-50933327243041777802009-12-08T14:20:14.477-05:002009-12-08T14:20:14.477-05:00Knowledge is Power. Truth is Forever!
Patricia A...Knowledge is Power. Truth is Forever!<br /><br />Patricia Ann Reid Pope DID NOT Cease the Change Order Summary requests. <br /><br />The number and amounts of the Change Order Requests went sky high under her reign. Albeit, to her "top 5" Construction Cronies. (so, yes, maybe the other companies did get a little peeved that they weren't amongst her Top 5)! <br /><br />Patricia Ann Reid Pope is not nearly as loved??? (as Stan Pritchet)?? You are hurting me here, Anonymous! Wow! <br /><br />Factually, to be loved is the expression of an emotion. There is absolutely no room for emotion when it comes to business. Thus, speaking from a strictly business perspective, Patricia Ann Reid Pope was/is about the business of enrichening her and her "Cronies" golden wallets through the vehicle of Construction/SPLOST monies! PERIOD. <br /><br />Patricia Ann Reid Pope came on board with questionable credentials - and as a matter of a fact, she did not even have an official job application on file with the DCSS until AFTER it was brought up in court during the Heery/Mitchell case..further, her job application does not have a date on it! <br /><br />Patricia Ann Reid Pope was hand picked by Crawford Lewis through the same employment agency that Mr. Lewis used when he hired Darren Ware (remember Mr. Ware was in charge of HR but was a convicted felon and also falsified information on his application).<br /><br />Truth lives forever. The Truth is that Patricia Ann Reid Pope cleaned house when she stepped her pretty little feet in the Sam Moss Building. She immediately FIRED Heery/Mitchell (giving them until 3pm that day to vacate the premises. Patricia Ann Reid Pope brought her own team with her. This includes Amy Sue Mann, Maria A-Washington (Pat's BFF who previously worked for Pat's husband Vincent Pope and who only had a high school diploma and was using DCSS resources to take online classes)! Patricia Ann Reid Pope is about her business when it comes to her money. The problem lies in the fact that it has done a dis-sevice to the constituents of DeKalb County and has robbed from the poor, innocent, powerless, voiceless students!<br /><br />Oh, this last little detail about our Beloved - Patricia Ann Reid Pope.....in an attempt to circumvent justice, inquiries, etc, they have her listed as Patricia REID under Salaries (not Patricia Pope)!<br /><br />I have documents to substantiate every single claim that I make. And then sum (some :))<br /><br />justiceindekalb@mpta.usjusticeindekalb@mpta.usnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-86314021175061181392009-12-03T17:46:47.916-05:002009-12-03T17:46:47.916-05:00I cannot believe that we are going to just let the...I cannot believe that we are going to just let them approve a $15 million budget to a firm that DID not, repeat, DID not publicly bid the work? If you are looking for contract irregularities, what do you call this? This is more than what Heery Mitchell was charging and more than twice the amount Pat Pope had allocated in her budget. I am SHOCKED that nobody is alarmed by this action.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-12004249668790196192009-12-03T10:10:02.400-05:002009-12-03T10:10:02.400-05:00--George Heery, tho not Heery/Mitchell owner, has ...--George Heery, tho not Heery/Mitchell owner, has had no love of "disEstablishment" administations.<br /><br />http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=3008Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-25506915885468044532009-12-03T10:04:45.357-05:002009-12-03T10:04:45.357-05:00"Pat Pope put an end to them and those compan..."Pat Pope put an end to them and those companies have been much less happy (and wealthy). She wasn't nearly as loved as Stan Pritchett." <br /><br />Deeper:<br />--George Heery, tho not Heery/Mitchell owner, has had no love of "disEstablishment" administations.<br /><br /> <br />http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/PrintFriendly?oid=3008Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-6169497382560796252009-12-03T09:24:21.492-05:002009-12-03T09:24:21.492-05:00https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMe...https://eboard.eboardsolutions.com/Meetings/ViewMeeting.aspx?MID=10525&S=4054Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-151096942903989101.post-11858124814645716092009-12-03T09:09:06.799-05:002009-12-03T09:09:06.799-05:00(It is for emergency generators at the new county ...(It is for emergency generators at the new county offices that are needed in case of, well, an emergency. The total cost is over 500,000<br /><br />So, you're saying our construction experts agreed to a plan for new offices and didn't plan ahead for emergency generators? And, they are just now thinking of this -- even after a gym has been built? (separate $$ I know, but still...)<br /><br />Our BOE needs to say absolutely not to this "new" expenditure.<br /><br />Our BOE needs to halt this insane management of our tax dollars. NO ONE builds/plans the way DCSS does -- which is: 1)Pay, 2)build, 3)plan, 4)think, 5)re-pay.<br /><br />If you want emergency generators in the admin offices, pull out your candles and wait your turn in the SPLOST line -- which is in the back!No Duhhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14462063673391668451noreply@blogger.com