In a taped statement, Montgomery County Superintendent Monifa McKnight pledged, 鈥淚f there is any rot, we will root it out.鈥�
McKnight was referring to how the school system handled complaints of bullying and sexual harassment made against principal Joel Beidleman, now on administrative leave.
Despite numerous complaints made about Beidleman’s alleged conduct going back years, he was promoted in June to serve as Paint Branch High School’s principal.
McKnight said in her statement on Thursday, 鈥淭he independent investigation that鈥檚 underway will help us get an objective look into how the system may have failed, and who may have failed it.鈥�
Almost as soon as Montgomery County Public Schools announced that it had hired the law firm of Jackson Lewis, there were questions about how independent and objective the new probe would be. The school system has been represented by Jackson Lewis in the past.
On Tuesday, worried members of the Montgomery County Education Association contacted their union representatives after they were sent emails asking them to undergo new interviews about Beidleman鈥檚 case.
Susan Carle, a professor at the American University Washington College of Law, told 小萝莉影视 in an interview that鈥檚 not an unusual practice in cases like this, but that, 鈥淚t鈥檚 very important for all of the employees who are doing the interviews to understand that those lawyers in no way represent them.”
“Those lawyers represent the school district,” Carle added.
Carle also said that doesn鈥檛 mean the objective of the investigation is aimed at the staff members who made the complaints. Referring to MCPS, Carle said, 鈥淪omething went very wrong with their internal procedures and I鈥檓 very sure the law firm鈥檚 trying to work out what that was too.鈥�
She still added that the Jackson Lewis firm 鈥渋s well known as a very aggressive management side firm.鈥�
小萝莉影视 contacted MCPS to ask about the selection of Jackson Lewis. MCPS spokesperson Christopher Cram told 小萝莉影视 that, 鈥淭he firm Jackson Lewis was identified because of their expertise in education and employment law.鈥�
Carle said in cases of sexual harassment, a law firm will want to look into the processes and procedures that were in place by an employer. In the MCPS case, she said, 鈥淥bviously they did not handle it properly. If things were handled well, somebody with as many complaints against him as this principal had 鈥� that would be a real career stopper.鈥�
McKnight said that once the investigation is complete, 鈥淲e鈥檒l take all necessary actions to ensure accountability that reflects the core values of MCPS.鈥�
The allegations against Beidleman were
