APS Ethics Commission Votes to Review New Courtney English Complaint
(APN) ATLANTA — At last night’s meeting of the Ethics Commission for Atlanta Public Schools, the Commission voted to initiate an investigation into new allegations that Board of Education Member Courtney English defrauded the public regarding his misuse of an APS credit card.
If found guilty of fraud–one of the seven “deadly sins” according to the APS Charter–the Commission would have to recommend removal of English from the Board.
Three Commission Members voted affirmatively, including Julie Neighbors, Charmaine Ward, and Karen Woodward. Two Commission Members did not vote affirmatively, including Dr. David Dorsey and Dwayne Price. Commission Member Hunter Pearson was absent, and Chair Susan Pease-Langford did not vote.
As previously reported by Atlanta Progressive News, Buckhead parent Kim Kahwach filed the complaint early last week after learning that Courtney English apparently misled the public. APN had first raised the issue of fraud last month, which prompted Kahwach to file the complaint.
Mr. English had issued a press release in July 2010 through the Alisias PR firm, stating he had misused the credit card but that he did not know better and he did not understand the rules.
However, the January 2011 report by AdvancED/SACS CASI revealed it was in fact English’s second time misusing the credit card, and that after the first time, he was counseled by APS regarding the rules governing the credit card.
The Ethics Commission previously investigated his misuse of the credit card and Mr. English received a reprimand, a 2,500 dollar fine, and had his credit card privileges revoked.
However, the Commission did not reference this being his second time misusing the credit card, nor any issues of dishonesty, in the draft reprimand or accompanying legislation made public last year.
In the previous ethics investigation, English was represented by Glenn Delk, a pro-privatization Buckhead attorney who seeks to turn APS into a complete charter school system.
At last night’s hearing, Commission Members debated whether to initiate a new investigation focusing on the issues of fraud and dishonesty.
Commission Members stated they had the information available to them during the previous investigation–specifically English’s misleading press release–that would have allowed them to review the matter at that time.
However, the Members agreed they did not discuss any issues related to misleading the public in their previous investigation. They noted that they did discuss issues involving English’s contradictory initial statements to APS when confronted about the credit card purchases; English had at first said his mother used the credit card, and then said it was his 16 year-old cousin. But they did not discuss the misleading press release.
They all agreed the evidence of misleading the public was both substantial and quite troubling.
Chair Susan Pease-Langford said she felt it was “unfortunate” the Board did not look into the fraud issue during the previous investigation, and that it was incumbent upon them to use their “intellectual capital” to pursue any ethical violations the first time around. She opposed re-visiting an issue they could have,
but failed to act upon, last year.
Kahwach, and another Buckhead parent Allison Adair, said this appeared to be an admission by the Commission that they failed to do their job the first time.
Some Commission Members expressed the AdvancED report had provided new information to the public, which put English’s credit card use in new light.
The Commission has 60 days from the filing of the initial complaint to complete their investigation, which means it should be done by late March 2011.
The Commission has its next meeting on February 09, 2011, at 7pm.
APN had inquired with the Commission as to whether the public could make comments or provide testimony. Upon conferring with legal counsel, the Commission decided not to accept public comment at last night’s meeting.
However, they said they would accept testimony at the hearing, if they decide to schedule a hearing for the matter. They also said members of the public can send information in writing to Commission Members that they feel may be helpful in the investigation.
(END / 2011)