FYI...
The Office of the State Auditor has issued a special review on accusations that the first section chief of the Department of Public Instruction and a Raleigh vendor for the Reading First program stole a portion of teacher registration fees for a 2003 state Reading First conference. Guilford County Schools uses the Reading First program in some elementary schools.
You can read more about the report here.
Comments (4)
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Small potatoes, but continuing evidence of the corruption that exists in education occurring with the coziness between educational vendors and public education. What we are seeing here and in construction in Guilford County is just a tiny glimpse of the huge iceberg. Does anyone care enough to do anything about it? It's only our hard-earend tax dollars in play.
Posted on May 2, 2006 6:12 PM
Stormy,
What corruption?
You have no evidence other than what the Rhino pukes out. The reason nothing's being done about "it", no DA investigations or SBI, etc., is because there's nothing being conducted in the Guilford County bid process that is illegal.
Vendor coziness? Tell me what industry in America, including our political system, is not COZY with it's vendors? It's a business relationship that in many cases has been in existence for decades. Vendors take their clients out to lunch all of the time, golf trips, bars, junkets, etc. It's the way business is conducted in order to get and keep the inside track.
Price isn't always the governing item when awarding contracts in any industry. There are many other factors that weigh in on the final decision.
Posted on May 3, 2006 11:06 AM
Bubba,
How do you know that nothing illegal or unethical is happening here? What do you know that the rest of us don't? This matter isn't settled quite yet. There are some interested individuals looking into the matter. And, why are you so intent on defending this matter? Do you have a vested interest in it?
The difference here is that this is public education which is supported by our tax dollars. Public education officials don't have the right to be cozy with vendors using our tax dollars. Some of this goes beyond a vendor taking a client to lunch. GCS' conflict of interest policy states that decision-makers such as board members need to avoid the mere appearance of a conflict of interest. Even the appearance of wrong-doing by public officials can result in the loss of public trust.
Posted on May 4, 2006 11:07 AM
Bubba,
If there aren't questionable dealings going on by some of our school officials, explain to me why the following has occurred:
Forsyth County Schools had a bond referendum passed in 2003 which included building two new high schools planned for 1,200 students at the cost of $23 million each. These two schools were completed on time and on budget, and they are up and running this school year. These schools are first class in quality and appearance.
Guilford County Schools had a bond referendum also passed in 2003 which included building one new high school planned for 1,200 students at the budgeted cost of $27 million. This new school has not yet been completed and the current projected cost is now $41 million.
Please explain to me how Forsyth can build two new schools on time and on budget for nearly the same cost to taxpayers that one similar school is being built (still in process) in Guilford?
The excuses given by GCS just don't wash with me. The similarities are too close in time and location. Is the current construction flap at the core of this? Are we paying contractors inflated amounts? Why is it taking GCS more than one year to complete one school when Forsyth has completed two schools? Is it just incompetence?
Posted on May 4, 2006 12:07 PM