Thread: TX: Lewisville ISD cancels complaint service after News inqu

Lewisville ISD cancels complaint service after News inquiry

Officials didn't want unproven violations made public


08:15 AM CDT on Thursday, June 7, 2007
By JAY PARSONS / The Dallas Morning News
jparsons@dallasnews.com

In January, Lewisville ISD contracted with an outside vendor to offer an anonymous way for tipsters to report ethics violations by district employees. District leaders hailed the project as a "commitment to high ethical standards."

But last month, Lewisville ISD pulled the "HotLine" system from its Web site after The Dallas Morning News requested – and received – copies of the reports under state open records laws.

District officials said they did not want the information reported publicly, as some of the tips were never substantiated. No replacement program is planned.

"The problem we have with it is sometimes we have accusations that are unfounded," Superintendent Jerry Roy said. "And if that will be a media event, I'm not interested in that."


The district paid EthicsPoint $9,885 to use the service for a year but is seeking a prorated refund.

Katherine Garner, executive director of the Dallas-based Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, said the public has a right to know if complaints are made.

"Not only have you deprived the citizens of a legitimate service," Ms. Garner said, "you've now spent their money on a service they no longer have access to and you're punishing those who would use it responsibly."

Dallas ISD also uses the service run by EthicsPoint, an eight-year-old Oregon company that claims 1,400 clients from the private and public sectors. The company declined to comment.

The service allows tipsters to file reports online or by phone. EthicsPoint assigns tipsters an ID number so they can be contacted without any identifying information.

Most of Lewisville ISD's tips involved minor violations. Of the 19 reports filed between January and April, few were significant, and many were not substantiated.

One report, dated March 30, tipped off Lewisville ISD that an illegal immigrant was using a false Social Security number to work as a substitute teacher. That person was dismissed, and the district asked its attorneys to review verification procedures for substitutes.

Lewisville ISD officials redacted a report dated April 4 listed as a policy violation at The Colony High School. The release of information in that report is being appealed with the state attorney general's office.

"I'd like to have had [the HotLine], but when you guys [the media] get access to it and can print anything you want to, I don't think it's a good way to hang out some people to dry, especially if the allegations are untrue," school board president Fred Placke said.

That hasn't been a concern for Dallas ISD, which budgeted $15,000 for the service beginning in January and has taken in more than 100 tips.

Dallas ISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said the district hasn't had any requests for the reports but wouldn't cancel the service just because releasing the documents could activate the rumor mill.

"We're a big school district, and we have rumors floating around all the time," he said, adding that it's too early to gauge EthicsPoint's effectiveness. "You can't control the rumor mill."

Lewisville ISD started the program largely because of reports of numerous ethics violations in Dallas ISD, despite protests from teachers, who were worried disgruntled students and parents could abuse the HotLine with false tips.

Dr. Roy said he believes district attorneys advised him in January that the reports were subject to open records law, but said he couldn't remember for sure.

"I'd like to have had it as that failsafe," Mr. Placke said. "But you print [allegations], and somebody's career's ruined, and there's nothing to it."

Ms. Garner, whose nonprofit group advocates for public access to records, said: "If it's the press that's digging this up, I assume the press will be responsible and investigate the complaints properly."

Dr. Roy said tipsters can now report violations the same way they used to – by contacting a district employee.


SAMPLE REPORTS

Here is a sampling of reports to Lewisville ISD's HotLine between January and April:

•Jan. 10: Two maintenance workers were accused of not working while on the clock. A supervisor was asked to make surprise visits to the workers, who were not named, and no disciplinary action was taken.

•Jan. 23: A tipster accused an employee at Ethridge Elementary in The Colony of using the Internet for personal reasons. A supervisor verified the woman was participating in online chats, and she was told to stop.

•Feb. 12: A man filed a complaint about the district's purchase of the HotLine system, calling it a "waste of money." He was referred to the district's communications staff.

•March 14: A tipster reported that a printer was labeled with foul language at Hedrick Middle School in Lewisville. The label was changed, and the school's principal took what was called "appropriate disciplinary action" against a teacher.

•March 21: An employee was accused of receiving money and free trips from Aramark, a company that manages school cafeterias and facilities. The district's Internal Audits department said there was no evidence of wrongdoing.



http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcont...1.43983d0.html

One report, dated March 30, tipped off Lewisville ISD that an illegal immigrant was using a false Social Security number to work as a substitute teacher. That person was dismissed, and the district asked its attorneys to review verification procedures for substitutes.

I would say the system WORKED! -- Jaded

it sounds to me like the system was working

The system is working!!!!

Let's throw a party!!!