By Adam Pagnucco.
In a letter dated today, Board of Education President Karla Silvestre updated the county council’s Education and Culture Committee (Will Jawando, Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink) on the status of its sexual harassment investigation. The board is sticking with law firm Jackson Lewis PC, which has done previous legal work for MCPS, to do the initial investigation but has been in touch with county and state inspectors general for potential subsequent wok.
The school board’s letter is reprinted below.
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August 29, 2023
Dear Councilmembers Jawando, Albornoz and Mink:
The purpose of this communication is to further update you on the Board of Education’s decisions to address the conduct recently reported by the Washington Post.
As we shared in our letter to you last week and at a press conference on August 22, 2023, the Board has continued to communicate with the Montgomery County Inspector General and the Maryland Inspector General for Education on how to best structure the investigation into the allegations at William Farquhar Middle School. The board has heard the concerns of the community regarding the investigation and is committed to a transparent, thorough, fair and expeditious process.
Recently, the Board has asked the Montgomery County Inspector General and the Maryland Inspector General for Education to investigate the reported allegations. The Inspectors General reiterated what they have previously stated, that subsequent to the conclusion of the fact-finding investigation surrounding the promotion of Joel Beidleman, they will evaluate the appropriate next steps for their offices. As independent agencies they are charged with determining what investigations they undertake, when they begin those investigations and the scope of those investigations.
The Board will continue engaging with the Inspectors General as the first phase of the investigation is concluded. We appreciate our continued dialogue and your partnership as we steer the school system through this difficult time. We will continue to update you as to timelines, findings and reforms.
Sincerely,
Karla Silvestre, President
Montgomery County Board of Education
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Council President Evan Glass, who had previously signed a letter with Council Member Dawn Luedtke calling for an inspector general takeover of the investigation, tweeted, “This is a step in the right direction. We need the Inspectors General involved in this investigation.”
Council Member Kristin Mink, who is a member of the Education and Culture Committee, tweeted the following statement:
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The Education & Culture Committee has received a letter from the Board of Education confirming they have requested the county & state Inspectors General proceed with investigations of MCPS once the fact-finding investigation — expected to conclude by Sept. 8 – ends.
The sooner the shift occurs from Jackson Lewis, the firm hired by MCPS, to the Inspectors General, the better. The Committee has been supportive of a transition after the fact-finding investigation by JL, already underway and slated to end in early September.
The Inspectors General will not conduct a simultaneous, duplicative investigation, so the Sept. 8th conclusion of Jackson Lewis’ investigation opens the door for the IGs to launch investigations into potential Title IX infractions, harassment and other inappropriate conduct, as well as processes for promotions and complaints and any potential corruption, mishandling, or other flaws within the system. The IGs are the right entities to undertake these investigations and provide the independence, transparency, and public trust this moment calls for.
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The Education and Culture Committee (Jawando, Albornoz and Mink) released the following statement:
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From the Offices of Chair Will Jawando and Councilmembers Gabe Albornoz and Kristin Mink
Education and Culture Committee Applauds Board of Education’s Engagement of Inspectors General for MCPS Investigations, Announces September Committee Hearing
ROCKVILLE, Md., Aug. 29, 2023—Today, the Montgomery County Council’s Education and Culture Committee received a letter from the Montgomery County Board of Education confirming their intent to address community concerns for a “transparent, thorough, fair and expeditious process.” Upon the expected completion of the law firm Jackson Lewis’ fact-finding investigation on September 8, the Board has requested that the Montgomery County Inspector General and Maryland Inspector General for Education proceed with any related investigations going forward.
The committee supports the Board’s efforts to engage the inspectors general and echoes their request to investigate the reported allegations following Jackson Lewis’ initial investigation.
The committee will hold a meeting on this matter on Sept. 28, 2023. All committee meetings are open to the public and available to stream online. A detailed agenda and link to view will be released in advance.