Alleged violations of state whistleblower laws
This story has been updated from its original version to include comments from the Philadelphia School District.
A Philadelphia state legislator is asking the Attorney General’s Office to investigate alleged violations of state whistleblower protection laws by Philadelphia Superintendent Arlene Ackerman.
State Rep. Michael McGeehan (D-Philadelphia) sent a letter to Attorney General and governor-elect Tom Corbett Tuesday asking him to investigate after five employees of the school district were suspended with pay Monday night. The employees were told they were suspended for sharing confidential school district information, according to Mr. McGeehan.
“We have a strong whistleblower law that protects public employees for disclosing suspected impropriety,” said Mr. McGeehan. “I’ve asked the attorney general to put the full weight of Pennsylvania law on the side of these whistleblowers.”
A spokesperson for the attorney general said the letter had been received but could not comment on whether the office would take up an investigation.
The individuals suspended provided information to Mr. McGeehan and the media about alleged violations of procurement policy on the part of the school district.
The school district declined to comment Tuesday on the reasons for the suspensions.
The controversy began last month when the Philadelphia Inquirer reported Ms. Ackermann directed a $7.5 million no-bid contract to a minority company to install security cameras in 19 Philadelphia public schools. The schools had been termed “dangerous” by the district.
According to sources which spoke to the Inquirer, the contract violated past practices of how contracts were awarded and raised questions about the role of the superintendent to award such contracts.
Following the report, Ms. Ackermann launched an investigation into the school district’s business and facilities operations, according to a statement from the school district Monday night. The five individuals suspended Monday night will remain suspended until the conclusion of the investigation.
Mr. McGeehan said he had little confidence in an internal investigation.
“I have no faith in an investigation directed by the superintendent. If the investigation does not include the superintendent herself, it’s not worth the paper it’s printed on,” said Mr. McGeehan. He accused Ms. Ackerman of changing her story numerous times during the past weeks.
The FBI has also been made aware of the situation and is actively monitoring the internal investigation, said Mr. McGeehan.
Earlier this month, Mr. McGeehan asked the state Department of Education to investigate the awarding of the no-bid contracts. The Department of Education did not return calls for comment on the investigation.
