More problems are reportedly unfolding at the Metro Nashville School System, according to various reports.
According to The Tennessean, more inquiries into Nashville’s school spending are likely.
“Board member Amy Frogge said during a Tuesday night board meeting she has plans to craft a motion outlining next steps to address further allegations of misspending by Director Shawn Joseph’s administration,” the paper reported.
Frogge, the paper went on to say, asked for an independent investigation.
“While the Metro Audit investigation was able to debunk many of the numerous allegations of district misspending, it also left open some questions that Metro Auditor Mark Swann said weren’t part of his investigation,” the paper reported.
The Nashville-based NewsChannel 5, quoting a confidential report, said the school system, under Schools Director Shawn Joseph “faces seriously low morale and other issues that threaten the district’s ability to keep qualified employees.”
“The 11-page report, prepared by the Nashville law firm of Bone McAllester Norton, also warns that a key Human Resources official hired by Joseph is viewed as ‘extremely divisive, dismissive and, in their belief, incompetent,’” the station quoted the report as saying.
“It suggests Sharon Pertiller either be terminated, transferred or retrained.”
The law firm, according to the station, says its investigation encountered “nearly unanimous expression of over-arching concern regarding lack of communication from the highest levels of administration.”
“If these issues regarding communication are not resolved, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for the district to retain qualified and exemplary employees,” the station quoted members of the firm as saying.
According to the station, one passage of the report tells of a meeting between Joseph and principals who wanted to meet with him “to discuss hiring and communications issues.”
“Joseph demanded that the principals ‘turn off their cell phones and other electronic devices,’ apparently so the meeting could not be recorded, the station said, quoting the report.
Joseph refused a copy of typewritten notes, NewsChannel 5 reported.
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Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Shawn Joseph” by Tennessee State University. Photo “Amy Frogge” by Amy Frogge.
[…] As reported last month, The Nashville-based NewsChannel 5, quoting a confidential report, said the school system, under Schools Director Shawn Joseph “faces seriously low morale and other issues that threaten the district’s ability to keep qualified employees.” […]