Financial Scandal Hits Seattle Schools
I copied that headline from the Seattle Times story. I take no happiness in this news. I knew about this, warned about this, and Dorothy and I were trying to ferret out the whole story. Apparently, documents got leaked and this report got out before the SAO was quite ready to release it.
To let you know, earlier this month I wrote a white paper and sent it to the Mayor, the City Council, and the entire Seattle state legislative delegation. I called it "Approaching Storm: the Coming Crisis in Seattle Public Schools." I did not include any information on this story as I had to make sure I had the facts in hand. This just adds to what is in the report.
Coincidentally, I have a meeting today with Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw.
When I first became aware of Silas Potter and the Small Business Program, I was suspicious. As we were told, the money spent over the last two years on this program had to be paid back to the Capital fund from the General Fund. That is one reason we have such a large gap - $1.8M got shipped over from our General Fund. We might not have lost our elementary counselors.
If you had looked at the list of classes and other public entities involved in this program, you had to ask what was going on. How was this part of the purpose of SPS?
You have to know that there is NO WAY Silas Potter did this on his own.
Fred Stephens knew and likely so did Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. (Did they know about Mr. Potter's plan for the business on the side? Maybe not but they knew what the SBP was doing and okayed the funding.) There are multiple players in this whole affair.
How long the Board has known of the investigation, I don't know. I do know that I warned the Board about this more than a year ago.
Okay everybody, deep breath. If you have been around awhile, you've been through this before with Joseph Olchefske. If not, well, it's painful and worrying.
But most of our schools run well in spite of the district. Your children will go to school and find the same teachers, principals and staffs that they know and you know.
I know what I believe should happen.
Lastly, the Board needs to take the Moss-Adams report in hand AND the SAO audit from July 2010 and make a plan to follow those words to the nth degree.
To let you know, earlier this month I wrote a white paper and sent it to the Mayor, the City Council, and the entire Seattle state legislative delegation. I called it "Approaching Storm: the Coming Crisis in Seattle Public Schools." I did not include any information on this story as I had to make sure I had the facts in hand. This just adds to what is in the report.
Coincidentally, I have a meeting today with Councilwoman Sally Bagshaw.
When I first became aware of Silas Potter and the Small Business Program, I was suspicious. As we were told, the money spent over the last two years on this program had to be paid back to the Capital fund from the General Fund. That is one reason we have such a large gap - $1.8M got shipped over from our General Fund. We might not have lost our elementary counselors.
If you had looked at the list of classes and other public entities involved in this program, you had to ask what was going on. How was this part of the purpose of SPS?
You have to know that there is NO WAY Silas Potter did this on his own.
Fred Stephens knew and likely so did Dr. Goodloe-Johnson. (Did they know about Mr. Potter's plan for the business on the side? Maybe not but they knew what the SBP was doing and okayed the funding.) There are multiple players in this whole affair.
How long the Board has known of the investigation, I don't know. I do know that I warned the Board about this more than a year ago.
Okay everybody, deep breath. If you have been around awhile, you've been through this before with Joseph Olchefske. If not, well, it's painful and worrying.
But most of our schools run well in spite of the district. Your children will go to school and find the same teachers, principals and staffs that they know and you know.
I know what I believe should happen.
- Dr. Goodloe-Johnson should leave.
- Don Kennedy should leave.
- Dr. Enfield should be appointed interim Superintendent.
- They should hire an interim COO.
Lastly, the Board needs to take the Moss-Adams report in hand AND the SAO audit from July 2010 and make a plan to follow those words to the nth degree.
Comments
He was between Stehens and Potter. If he knew (and how could he not) he should be gone and if he did not know, he should be fired.
Also, how could Don and MGJ NOT know what Potter was doing, he had his OWN WEBSITE and featured a glowing testimomonial from her about how great it was.
C'mon people, lets all admit the "Emperess has no clothes".
We would'nt want Enfield, she is a MGJ hire and would be more of the same.
Absolutely FABULOUS work on this. I am sick to my stomach when I think of the good this money could have done.
I hope this doesn't affect public sentiment on the upcoming Families & Education Levy.
"NWEA contract? Why, uh, yes, I'm on that board. I swear I'll get off their board as soon as we've renewed the contract. (The MAP training, btw, is going swimmingly: ALL educators now use MAP regularly, of course, because they are highly trained in this system, and they are being evaluated using its spewed numbers, uh, data. Furthermore, the individualized supports MAP 'data' points to are in place: Counselors are working hard, career advisors are helping students, IAs are assisting teachers, library assistants work with students, custodians are keeping the schools clean for better learning, Oh, wait, we cut those jobs, didn't we...Well, uh, teachers are differentiating!")
The problems of privatization via contracts...Buy MAP and TFA; fire support staff.
There are numerous retired Supt's around the country that would likely step in to steer SPS for awhile. How about that guy from Vancouver, WA that retired recently?
If MGJ survives this we are going to start calling her the "Teflon Superintendent."
And great work!!!
PO3
I vividly remember Olchefske, and the head of finance who resigned, and the budget hole and the Board's weakness in the face of it all. The only notable memory was Mary Bass as the lone voice of reason. At this point, who on the Board can come out of this with any credibility?
http://www.sao.wa.gov/auditreports/auditreportfiles/ar1005180.pdf
http://westseattleblog.com/2008/02/two-days-till-a-key-public-meeting-on-denny-sealth-but-wheres-the-online-info
I knew I recognized the name and googled Fred Stephens Sealth. Hasn't been honest for a long time.
Its not "scapegoating", its called (wait for it) "Everyone Accountable". REMEMBER?
grumpy
I agree with the other poster (you forgot to sign your name up there) that the current Chief Academic Officer would be a poor choice even in the interim. Talk about smoke and mirrors. Does the board ever get a straight answer out of her on anything?
Poster
Phil Brockman. Former Ballard Principal, now Northeast Regional Director. From Seattle. Knows Seattle. Loves SPS, and is very well respected. Knows teaching and learning.
Teachers respect him.
Principals respect him.
No taint from administration because he's so new to his position.
Highest integrity.
I respectfully disagree with you. MGJ hand-picked her buddy, Don Kennedy to head up finances for the District. If Don Kennedy didn't know what the hell was going on, then he should be fired. If he did know, and did not share it with MGJ, he should go to jail. This scandal will go deeper and implicate more people than we could ever imagine. Le's see shall we call it Seattlegate, or Mariagate?
"I hope this doesn't affect public sentiment on the upcoming Families & Education Levy."
That had not occurred to me, but the second I read this, I realized that of course it will. We all knew how tainted SPS was on money matters, but now everybody does, and it's simply not possible that this won't change some "yes" votes, either to "no" or simply no vote. How sad.
This is a CITY levy. The CITY controls ALL the money. The City has accountability and transparency about where all the money goes.
The District was part of the discussion over what might be in the levy but the Levy Committee had the final say. The district WISHES it could control the money but the City is pretty firm on the "no" to that question.
But yes, this is what I worried about back with the Supplemental levy.
Sign this petition and send it to other concerned friends and family.
I remain concerned about central handling of funds. I also remain concerned about Dk's non-sense babbling.
I've seen MGJ and S. Enfield ignore the needs of middle school students that are already three years behind their peers. I vote Phil Brockman. Would love to see Kay Smith-Blum as Superintendent, but I believe she isn't available.
It's the board, top tier administration, even their former lead counsel.
Wondering where I first read about the Small Business program, I went back to Mel's post from 8/18/2010:
http://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2010/08/school-board-testimony.html
"Next, to the finding about the Small Business program in SPS. This program morphed into a $1M a year program with over 40 classes, some of them being taught by SPS staff. And, the district’s own lawyer admitted at a BEX Committee meeting that most of those people who took the classes never even placed a bid for an SPS project."
Note: This lawyer would be Ron English?
More:
"After the audit came out, we saw the dismissal of the head of the program, Silas Potter.
"Then that same lawyer tells a group of people at a Facilities meeting that Mr. Potter is starting his own private company doing the same thing with the same name and somehow got an SPS contract to pay for his offices. And, that the district will pay for it because the district doesn’t want the former head to take them to court."
Mel goes on to ask:
"Why would the district pay an obviously bogus contract? Or the bigger question, why is it the more financially prudent choice to pay off this contract rather than take it to court? What is it that the district doesn’t want aired in court?"
The last question from the archive post was this:
"Last question, according to the auditor, the money used over the last two years for this program, which is roughly $1.8 M, most of it has to come back to the capital fund from the General Fund. I would like to know where the district is finding over a $1M to move from the General Fund to the capital fund.
"You talk about 'every dollar going into the classroom' during teacher negotiations but it seems clear the money goes in all directions and there really is NO attempt to rein in spending."
So now it's out in the open. In terms of the levy, how is this scandal going to play with the City? I'll be somewhat surprised if certain heads don't roll, but which ones?
http://www.petitiononline.com/NC_MGJ/petition.html
otherwise, cut and paste this into your browser
http://www.petitiononline.com/NC_MGJ/petition.html
What is it the pro-democracy protesters in Egypt shouted; "LEAVE,LEAVE,LEAVE!".
If I had a picture of MGJ, I would throw my shoe at her.
So, while I am preparing these emails, a random-seeming question. Does anyone have any information linking the district to the "First Thursday" of May 2010? Is there anything named First Thursday other than the monthly art event where galleries are open with new exhibits? (I have a weird email linking two players and this event.)
I definitely think we should get someone respected from in house to replace her and then hire an outside financial person for the COO to go in and clean house before the next budget is set. Imagine, someone actually holding district staff accountable for disclosing real information.
Helen Schinske
I'm not worried about the money so much because there's nothing that can be done at this point. I want a forensic report about how this came about, who knew and then where we go from there.
As I said on KIRO, I don't believe that Don Kennedy OR Dr. Goodloe-Johnson did anything illegal or were trying to profit in any way BUT they did not provide the oversight they should have. Bells should have gone off when this much money was being spent.
Time will tell if Mr. Potter or Mr. Stephens have done anything actionable in a court of law.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3qdWxMJFLA
That link also gave me a photo to throw my shoes at.
MGJ was in this from the start and NEEDS to be gone NOW.
No waiting for a trial by her cronies.
Can someone tell me where Ron English fits on there (under Noel Treat? Or inside Facilities?)? Fred Stephens used to be the head of Facilities and supervised Silas Potter. Has that position been empty since he left for DC?
On the Former Broad Resident Resigns thread, "Paul" says:
The wholerogram (sic)was a dirty little secret and no less than Cordell Carter was one of the enforcers who made sure that even talking to anyone that might talk about it, got you a quiet warning to "keep your mouth shut or work elsewhere".
So does that help explain Carter's very recent resignation?
Possibly a respected and seasoned principal who many admire for their judgement and understanding of what works and doesn't in terms of educating our children.
I don't have anyone in mind but it should not be Enfield. She has been indoctrinated and probably has already developed ties with Broad, et al.
Remember how it became Enfield's personal project to get Teach for America into our schools?
And a link to a Puget Sound Business Journal article about the Small Business program. Note this excerpt:
In 2004, $11,500 worth of Garfield contracts were awarded to small and women- and minority-owned businesses, while in 2008 the total had grown to more than $2.2 million.
The $800,000 New Tech Network School Board Action Report, submitted by MGJ with Enfield as the lead was based on a forged memo not the original. Enfield signed off on the submission of evidence to the court, which contained the incorrect copy of the memo not the original.
Give me someone, who actually has the ability to improve the system with the intelligent application of relevant data.
Sorry altering versions of "supposed truth" to submit to the court... Enfield style just will not cut it.
Forgery is a class C felony.
I've requested that the Board file a police report in this matter.
MGJ -- FIRED with CAUSE.
Notice how all of these folks are being allowed to resign? Notice how everyone connected with the scandal is getting dis-connected from the District? There won't be anyone left to fire when it comes time to hold people "accountable". There won't be any firings because there won't be anyone left to fire.
Mr. English, Mr. Kennedy, and Dr. Goodloe-Johnson all need to go.
Now.
YESTERDAY.
Isn't this why we have the SBA and numerous other trade groups already? Don't we already have millions of incentives and programs to assist small business folks, minority or not, in place? This is nothing but a "hookup" plain and simple, and just another program that fleeces taxpayers and siphons dollars out of the classroom.
What did their pamphlets say? "Come and learn how to put tax and school levy dollars in your pocket!"
This is unreal, but yet another example of what happens when everyone confuses the mastery of jargon with actual competence and leadership. Could you believe that jargon-stuffed "systems, controls, procedures, Hal: do you read me? letter from MGJ? What a joke! She speaks and writes like a robot from the old third-rate Dr. Who episodes.
We closed schools and laid off teachers to save dollars while crap like this was still going on? Immoral and indefensible. How many of those dollars supposedly helping minority business owners were meanwhile being stolen from struggling minority kids who really needed it? Nice priorities.
Something is very, very rotten in SPS. The whole mentality and mission needs to be purged, disinfected, re-programmed, and reoriented. They've completely lost their way.
And apologist Board members deservedly look like utter fools right now. When will they ever learn?
"wholerogram" was supposed to be "whole program".
What Mr. Carter did was spy on anyone whose loyalty to MGJ was in question and report it when they were seen talking to anyone else suspect (1984?). Then the message was made clear "Keep your mouth shut or look for work elsewhere".
Thats the motto around headquaters and his whole function.
Oh, and the "ethics policy" she now makes a big thing about? Please note that there is no appeal process on claims of retaliation.
Nothing has changed, they will fire "leaks" and say there was no retaliation and then we are simply out.
Thats her way.
It's really too bad, because now any small business that was affiliated with this program will be tainted, no matter their actual involvement in the nefariousness.
The article also states the classes were being taught by volunteers and people from the district. if this is the case then why did it cost 1.8mil?
This happened on MGJ's watch as well as the Boards, they all need to be accountable. meanwhile the schools struggle to maintain the classroom.
grumpy
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/11/10/story15.html
Bring in the best person from the outside for COO but we need someone who knows our district to be Superintendent.
Folks, this is a long and winding road with more to come. There's more to flesh out (and sadly, maybe more money lost). Have faith, though. We are going to, as God is my witness, going to come out the other side a better district.
I'm minding my manners.
When others refer to them, I need to be able to see what I said.
I wish I could believe that she would go - but I just can't. (And I remember the Olschefske days)
Go Phil Brockman for interim Sup. A man of great integrity and real concern for students and teachers.
begin repost/
As a district employee I am outraged by this misconduct. It makes me ashamed to say I work for the district. With the money that was mishandled we could have provided summer school for many deserving children. Now we are dealing with greed and corruption at the highest level. I am sick of MGJ and her ideas!!
Go Phil Brockman for interim Sup. A man of great integrity and real concern for students and teachers.
/end repost
signed,
concerned parent.
Not saying these 3 people did anything wrong. They may not have known a thing. But definitely saying that this was a game, played with taxpayer money, that targeted and benefited Insider organizations and people. It's exactly what little ol Outsiders like me fear. It makes me ill. I am DISGUSTED by our district, and yes, that is even with remembering the Olchefske debacle.
-skeptical-
He isn't the same man now as an Ed Director as he was a Principal. While a still a good man he has demonstrated in multiple ways, including key roles representing the District in recent CBA negotiations, that he is a full member of MGJ's team now.
Contributor
from the audit:
[i]Environment: District program staff stated, although they had concerns about the program, they did not bring them forward due to fears of reprisal. We found many District employees were unaware of the District’s whistleblower and anti-retaliation policies or did not trust the policies.[/i]
If the Superintendent was not directly aware of the fraud taking place she should still be fired for promoting a climate where employees are/were scared to speak up against top staff. She nominated these guys for awards and publicly endorsed the newly formed company. From the School Beat Oct 29, 2009
Seattle Public Schools receives award for role in helping small businesses
Superintendent Maria L. Goodloe-Johnson, Ph.D., accepted the "Pillar Award" for Seattle Public Schools at the first annual 2009 Regional Small Business Development Program (RSBDP) breakfast held October 13. This program assists small business owners and their employees in developing the knowledge, skills and capabilities to compete for government contracts. Also receiving the Pillar Award are program partner-sponsors Sound Transit, Port of Seattle, Washington State Department of Transportation, City of Seattle and Tacoma Public Schools.
There is a picture of all three crooks together:
http://www.seattleschools.org/area/news/sbnews/sb_staffcomm_102209.html?wrapper=0
I had a huge debate with her during one of the election forums where I asked her to explain how this program could do anything other than take money out of the classroom. She didn't have a good answer then and so I voted for Peter Maier.
What does it take to get someone that can do the job on the school board?
- ne parent
Seattle School Board should be pressured to resign. We put the screws to another Board and all but one left. But not much has changed - I'd like to see every one of them go to jail.
One of our new board members has proposed turning vacant farm property, the district bought at $65k per acre into a state prison.
This town is so broken financially that it will probably cease to exist in the not to distant future.
Its a terrible shame that we've got lying, stealing crackpots running all over teachers and the largest numbers of high school dropouts of any industrial nation. Anyone want to emulate Wisconsin or Indiana, first go visit Louisiana's school system.
This links to a list and description of classes offered, and also a list and bios of presenters.
Were presenters paid? How much?
Potter and Friends
"Just a reminder....
The $800,000 New Tech Network School Board Action Report, submitted by MGJ with Enfield as the lead was based on a forged memo not the original. Enfield signed off on the submission of evidence to the court, which contained the incorrect copy of the memo not the original.
Give me someone, who actually has the ability to improve the system with the intelligent application of relevant data.
Sorry altering versions of "supposed truth" to submit to the court... Enfield style just will not cut it.
Forgery is a class C felony.
I've requested that the Board file a police report in this matter."
Yer kiddin' me, right? The PA, police, and state AG could give a sh*t about any crimes parents or teachers report. Their response is "it's not my problem/job/purview."
grumpy