The FBI investigating the Wilkes Barre Area School district hiring practices discovered the "pick system." In today's Times Leader Jennifer Learn-Andes writes about the "pick system" employed(no pun intended,not)when looking at applicants for elementary teaching positions in that district.
As part of a federal investigation, Wilkes-Barre Area School Board members were asked to review a list of elementary teachers hired since 2004 and put their initials by the ones they recommended for interviews, according to board members Joe Moran and Jim Height.
Namey supplied board members with a list of teachers with check marks by all the ones hired for elementary school positions, the board members said. He asked board members to review the check-marked names and initial the ones they had recommended for interviews, they said.
The focus was on elementary positions because there’s little competition and sometimes a shortage of applicants for more specialized secondary education and special education positions, the board members said.
A recommendation to interview an applicant is important in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District because of the way the district’s unwritten hiring process is set up, said School Board member Lynn Evans. Hundreds of applicants apply for elementary teaching positions, so the administration relies primarily on recommendations from board members to decide who is interviewed, Evans said. It’s nicknamed the “pick system,” she said.
No one has been charged with any crime in this investigation.
Showing posts with label Namey. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Namey. Show all posts
Friday, April 10, 2009
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Grand Jury Looks At Wilkes Barre School District
Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Jeff Namey went before a grand jury yesterday looking into the hiring practices of the Wilkes-Barre Area School District. According to Jerry Lynott at the Times Leader Namey entered with a folder under his arm and left empty handed.
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Namey said he “went in and had to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did.” He estimated he was before the panel for 25 to 30 minutes.
He was seen outside the grand jury room around 9:35 a.m. and again in the hallway near the room’s entrances at approximately 11:25 a.m.
Two men left the room about an hour before Namey, but would not answer questions or identify themselves.
When reached later in the afternoon, Namey said no one else from the district went before the grand jury Tuesday.
As he left the courthouse, Namey spoke to reporters and shed light on other matters related and unrelated to his appearance.
Within the past two weeks, FBI agents interviewed district employees, Namey said. “It’s common knowledge that they spoke to a couple of teachers.”
Federal investigators are conducting a separate investigation into the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School, according to Namey. “I have some knowledge, but I can’t comment,” he said.
Dave Janoski at the Citizen's Voice who is doing a yeoman's job covering the Luzerne County Courthouse investigation and prosecution recorded this comment in his article today.
Namey, who appeared in federal court in Scranton without an attorney, said it was his first time testifying before a grand jury. “It was not pleasant,” he told news reporters afterward.
“I was asked to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did,” Namey said. “If anything inappropriate occurred, there needs to be a consequence.”
Speaking to reporters outside the courthouse, Namey said he “went in and had to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did.” He estimated he was before the panel for 25 to 30 minutes.
He was seen outside the grand jury room around 9:35 a.m. and again in the hallway near the room’s entrances at approximately 11:25 a.m.
Two men left the room about an hour before Namey, but would not answer questions or identify themselves.
When reached later in the afternoon, Namey said no one else from the district went before the grand jury Tuesday.
As he left the courthouse, Namey spoke to reporters and shed light on other matters related and unrelated to his appearance.
Within the past two weeks, FBI agents interviewed district employees, Namey said. “It’s common knowledge that they spoke to a couple of teachers.”
Federal investigators are conducting a separate investigation into the Wilkes-Barre Area Vocational Technical School, according to Namey. “I have some knowledge, but I can’t comment,” he said.
Dave Janoski at the Citizen's Voice who is doing a yeoman's job covering the Luzerne County Courthouse investigation and prosecution recorded this comment in his article today.
Namey, who appeared in federal court in Scranton without an attorney, said it was his first time testifying before a grand jury. “It was not pleasant,” he told news reporters afterward.
“I was asked to provide some information and that’s exactly what I did,” Namey said. “If anything inappropriate occurred, there needs to be a consequence.”
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)