Riverview Gardens SD (St. Louis) board seeking independent inquiry
Catherine
571FE0013EDFF?OpenDocument
School district board seeking independent inquiry
By David Hunn
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/04/2006
Riverview Gardens School Board members on Wednesday called for an independent
investigation into recent parent complaints that district staffers have interfered
with a police investigation at the high school.
Last week, Bellefontaine Neighbors police Chief Robert Pruett confirmed that his
department was investigating allegations of misconduct by Riverview Gardens High
School staff members involving students. Those allegations were referred to his
office by the state's school violence hot line.
Also last week, board members reported that James Gant, an associate principal at the
high school, and James Garrett, the band director, had been suspended.
Administrators, board members and teachers in the troubled north St. Louis County
school district have been at odds for the past year. Many have brought allegations of
nepotism, no-bid work contracts, favoritism, money mismanagement and retaliation
against whistle-blowers. But this is one of the first times complaints have surfaced
that directly involve students. Advertisement
Board President Gilda Hester said the board needs to know whether district procedures
were properly followed.
"We are going to make sure that this investigation is not interfered with by anyone
in any way," Hester said at a news conference Wednesday.
Pruett said again Wednesday that, until his investigation is complete, he would not
say who was involved. He also would not say whether district staff or others had
attempted to interfere with the investigation.
Riverview Gardens Superintendent Henry Williams would not say why Gant and Garrett
were suspended. He said he knew of no staffers interfering with the police
investigation. If he learned of any interference, he said, that person would be
fired.
Board member Tommie Pierson said he had reports of someone interfering. He said the
person was threatening students and telling them not to talk to police.
Hester said she had received phone calls from parents voicing similar complaints.
Marlene Terry, the lone board member who said she did not approve of an external
investigation, said the accusations against Gant and Garrett, as well as the charges
of interference, are ridiculous.
Other staff members have been the subject of hot line calls, she said; the board
didn't call news conferences at those times.
Terry said Garrett and Gant are close friends with her and Williams. Board members
such as Hester and Pierson simply want to attack the two high school staffers to get
at her and Williams, Terry said. She said administrators have handled the allegations
properly, and she doesn't think police will find wrongdoing on the part of Garrett
and Gant.
Terry said hot line calls have been a problem at the high school recently. Calls have
been made without going through the proper chain of command, Terry said. At least two
were made regarding Gant last year, she said, and the district couldn't track down
who the calls came from.
Ana Compain-Romero, spokeswoman for the state Department of Social Services, which
handles such calls, said anyone can call the school violence hot line: teachers,
students, parents - anyone with a concern about something they saw on school grounds.
The hot line handles "a variety of school violence concerns," according the
department's website, from bullying to assault to sexual misconduct. Callers can
report their concerns anonymously.
On Wednesday, board members Hester, Pierson, Selena Melton and Michael Person called
for a special board meeting to be held tonight to approve the external investigation.
ple...@yahoo.com
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