Face of Corruption.

STATEMENT REGARDING USE OF PHOTOS ABOUT THE CORRUPT PUBLIC OFFICIALS.

Legal issues regarding the use of photos by Reform Sasscer Team movement belonging to public officials in a public gallery has been done properly. For clarification for those who might not know their rights in fair use, the exhibition of photos involves the following;

If you were in a public place when the photo was taken (a basketball game, the mall, etc.), then one does not need permission from anyone but the photographer. If the images were yours and taken without your permission, then you might have a case.  However, since they didn’t make any money from the pictures, you cannot sue for punitive damages. If they got your picture off of MySpace, Face book, websites or something like that, then you have no case. You put the images out there for public viewing and the only person that would have a case would be the photographer if he or she stood to make money off of the images otherwise.

Therefore, the use of the Superintendent’s pictures or any of his close public officials in the administrator union involved in harassment of female staff in our blog does not violate anything. (see the blog) We continue to support the fight against corruption and bullying in public schools both by students on students and administrators to staff members. In this regard, the bullying campaign does not negate Dr. William Hite, Jr. from taking personal, political and criminal responsibility, or otherwise. We must fight gross mismanagement, professional misconduct, and fraud, waste of public resources, gross incompetence, or gross inefficiency within Prince George’s County public schools (PGCPS).  (William Hite Jr. EdD is pictured below).

Why Education Matters.

Education is the most critical issue facing the county right now. We can’t create jobs if people aren’t educated for them, we can’t spur development with poor-performing schools, and we can’t reduce crime if we don’t educate our children out of a life of crime. We need to push for a fully transparent PGCPS budget (at the central office) this year. I agree we need more revenue too, as Dr. Hite says, but let’s make sure our own house is in order first. Join me in this fight. We’ll be circulating an online petition soon, which you can sign. Stay tuned, stay involved! ( Courtesy our sister blog)

http://pgd9politico.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/why-education-matters/#comment-328

While our sister blog continues to call for a fully transparent PGCPS budget, we are going for a Vote of No confidence on Dr. William Hite Jr. in the end. We must put on the pressure!

12 points why PGCPS needs a new Superintendent

What Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) – District Community needs in a new Superintendent;

1. Community needs a new Superintendent who has a vision, is able to communicate that vision and is able to make it come to pass.
2. Teachers in all schools are 100 percent focused on the children. “Our problem here isn’t funding, it’s some administrators,” one teacher said recently. “There are givers and takers in this world, and it’s sad that in this community we have too many takers.” How can one justify thousands of administrators making over $100,000 with nothing to show for it?
3. The community also needs a new Superintendent who is a team leader and a team player who can educate children on their individual level. William Hite Jr. EdD  (pictutered below) is neither a good team leader nor a good team player.
4. Administrators, Teachers and support staff need a new superintendent who can quickly gain the confidence of leaders within the system, inspire them, motivate them and re-energize them.
5. They also strongly favor a new superintendent as someone who can focus on one or two key areas of change; improve student achievement and be fair and consistent in his or her dealings with employees, students and the community.
6. Other Key suggestions made to the “Reform Sasscer Team” are; A new superintendent who could implement a system wide focus on all schools, meet the needs of students who aren’t college-bound and unify the school system and public behind one vision.
7. A new Superintendent who could assist students make AYP as well as staying focused on students and working on parental involvement. Many schools have been failing contrary to what William Hite has been saying lately as a cover up, (Read the news clip here).
8. The big superintendent goals/qualities that came out of the teachers’ input meeting recently are making data-driven decisions that are not one-size fits all, giving administrators the autonomy to use school data to identify problems at their schools and create solutions to fix them, and bridging racial divisions that exist in the school system.
9. Encouraging collaboration and creativity among teachers, being a visionary and having sensitivity for other cultures including southern and racial issues.
10. A new Superintendent who can work with all the board members without targeting those who do not toe the line by not supporting fraud and other corrupt activities.
11. The Business Community wants a new superintendent who can utilize sound business practices to achieve the outcome that everyone wants — or should want — and that’s getting the best results for our kids. Today, we spend a lot to get a poor product. No business can sustain itself with that model.
12. Finally PGCPS needs a new superintendent who can fight corruption and take heads on  Bully administrators who are sexually harassing staff in various locations, schools, central offices within the PGCPS District system with blind eye of embattled Superintendent Hite.  This issue has been compromising quality of service and has gotten worse under  him. (William Hite Jr. EdD). 

 

 

LARGO STUDENTS TAKE A STAND.

LARGO HIGH SCHOOL TAKE A STAND AGAINST THE BULLYING AND CORRUPTION

We see that Dr. William Hite Jr. has suddenly found a fondness and caring for children. He is appearing on every page in the website with children…. What’s next? Dr. William Hite as a Santa clause giving away Laptops and pencils to disadvantages kids in PG mall?? Please let the wishes come true. With children, a sharp departure from your past antics is most welcome. We applaud his reawaking and a new found central purpose and direction, like the Biblical Saul on his way to Damascus.

Dr. William Hite Jr., we welcome you as a born again if you come clean and confess to your misdeeds, shortcomings and inappropriateness in the past. There is always a second chance and the second act. It’s not too late to repent.

Dr. Hite, listen to the students of Largo High School. Stop the bullying by the administrators of underdogs. What’s next? You are looking good so far… (We hope this is genuine and not a gimmick) … One point for Hite and  five points for the other side. It is still a long way to catch up. Keep it up!

Hite’s Corruption.

PGCPS Corruption fights back.

Superintendent William Hite operates as if he is a sole administrator of the schools.  The law which established the board of education has not provided for sufficient checks and balances within the board of education (BOE) against the Superintendent who is the treasurer, the secretary to the board of Education and the CEO all rolled into one! If the Chairman of the BOE operates without the effective input of other members of the board of education, and is not under the supervision of another organ of government, such as the county council to question his activities, then abuse and the impunities which we complain about will continue.

In recent days, Teachers, staff and students have seen some students being victimized at Largo – Laurel High Schools for expressing their thoughts on the current events involving some administrators.  This is not fair to, Students who have been victimized for expressing their views.  Children have rights too!  Many of these students are aware of the adulterous relationship involving Mr. James Smallwood, – Assistant Principal and two teachers he supervised. (See the blog here). Many students observed and heard what appeared to be “noises of passion” coming from his office during and after work hours. The same thing applies to Principal Dwayne Jones and Ms. Debra Toppins who have been an item for years now creating a conflict of interest.  The change in policy to suspend students who talk about these issues appears to emanate from the superintendent Hite and it’s misuse of policy to hold on to power. Similarly, William Hite’s desire to hold onto power has gone so far as to create AN OFFICE OF CONSTITUENT SERVICES, which happens to be nothing more than a political tool to spread propaganda to the citizens of Prince George’s County on how “Good Dr. William Hite Jr. is”.

 There are many other issues  we have with Superintendent Hite among them is; scheduling of Board of Education meetings during the middle of the day at 1pm when most parents are working.  Chasitating staff and students who voice issues of concern against the 1st amendment freedoms is another issue.  This is dictatorship.  We can do better!  The NAACP has complained about the conflicts in scheduling of these meetings, but that too has fallen on deaf ears.   We can do better!   It appears as if Superintendent Hite has something to hide by scheduling these meetings at times to minimize concerned parents.  The time has come to impeach William Hite EdD, a fight for the future of our kids and their education.    

Corruption is the biggest enemy the public schools of Prince George County have; it is linked to so many other problems that challenge the schools and communities in the county.  

“Don’t ever give up,” one parent said recently. “When you fight against corruption, corruption fights back.” “They want you to back off.”  We agree!

Fighting corruption is first and foremost, about establishing the rule of law, so this has been the primary focus of Reform PGCPS Sasscer team’s anti-corruption campaign.

In a county that has seen very few convictions for fraud or corruption before the beginning of our reform campaign; we are yet to see any actions from the county concerning these issues. Cases brought up by several employees will be heard in the Federal and Circuit Courts in the following weeks and months.   

Prince George County’s reform efforts will end up being a success because they are home-grown; they are supported by the Prince George County’s people, and by some current Prince George County’s leadership. Prince George County’s citizens are sick and tired of being known the world over as scam artists. In credible polling throughout the county, the fight against corruption in public schools is measured as among the electorate’s top concerns, next to food and healthcare for their families.

But corruption fights back.

The process for identifying corrupt officials is open and transparent. However, those against whom we have laid charges use the resources they have stolen to fight back. They own radio and television stations, newspapers, email system, websites, and can hire the best lawyers. But they cannot run away from the facts, nor ultimately from the court of public opinion.

We have proven that we can tackle corruption on our own—but we are still asking for help and support from a wide range of citizens across the County and throughout the United States and abroad to guarantee that these efforts do not falter.

As Prince George’s citizens go to the polls to elect a new council member in a few days and in the future including 2012, we can only offer one piece of advice: whomever you choose, make sure that they are willing to wage a war against corruption in Prince George County’s public schools. Excuses made by those who collaborate with corruption, such as “it is not just me,” should no longer be tolerated. The same is true for all elected officials in the state of Maryland. We must get to a point where there is zero tolerance for corruption as the everyday way of life.

 The money confiscated from former county executive Mr. Jack Johnson that has been returned to the county government is money that ought to have been originally spent on healthcare and development. We hope the new county leadership will use it to improve our health sector, among other initiatives. Maybe one day those who are involved in corruption in Prince George County – Maryland will be treated like pariahs in all decent and civilized gatherings. Maybe then we can bid a permanent farewell to state and county kleptocracy across Prince George County – Maryland.

 It is our hope that by making such critical self-help information available to students, civil servants and publicly exposing state and county workplace injustices we can propel a CHANGE to improve the state and county government workplace culture.   Wrongdoing within the state and county sector continues to impact public program administration fairness, safety and efficiency.   Notably, the cost of discrimination to the public, the taxpayer, remains in the $100,000,000 millions of dollars.   To better protect our citizens, we must protect our state and county workers and the students.   For the state and county government’s treatment of its workers and students is inextricably linked to the quality of goods and services it renders to the public.   Without question, employees who work for the state and county sector serve on America’s first line of defense with regard to protecting our state and the county.   

BOE Member Edward Burroughs Censored

Reform Sasscer movement has learned  that there have been attempts to silence board member Edward  Burroughs for speaking out  the truth on what is right.  So what was the majority of the members of the Prince George’s County Board of Education doing when the stories of violence and truancy were really starting to heat up at High point High school? Well, they were not protecting the students if reports from several Maryland Delegates and a leader of the PTA are true.

After spending months and weeks trying to get Superintendent Dr. William Hite and Board Member Rosalind Johnson to move on reports of daily fights and high truancy at High Point High School, parents and community leaders turned to writing the entire board and even members of their delegation to the General Assembly. Of the nine elected Board members only one responded to their concerns, Honorable Edward Burroughs, and he paid the price for it after he was censured unfairly recently.

Several parents who are members of the High Point High School PTA reported and it was later confirmed by several members of the Maryland General Assembly that after people in the community sent numerous emails asking for help, only Edward Burroughs agreed to assist. The parents said their emails outlined documented instances of students seen arriving at High Point High School, getting off the bus and entering the community through the bush, and then returning to the school at the end of the day to take the bus home.  Burroughs who formerly served as a two-term student member of the board was elected as a full member from District 8 last year decided to see for himself if the reports were true when he went to the school a few months ago. After seeing that they had not misled the board but the board was being misled by Ms. Rosalind Johnson and William Hite Jr. EdD, parents said they had learned Honorable Edward Burroughs had been censored unfairly. The board took the vote in a closed meeting supervised by Hite after saying Burroughs violated board policy for going to the school without the approval of the superintendent Hite who controls the whole board with much sway.  This was shocking to the parents and students who regarded Edward Burroughs as a hero for saving the children.  Everyone reform Sasscer Team interviewed asked “how are board members supposed to oversee the school system if they need administration approval to go to the schools?” Board members should be free to visit schools and observe without any restrictions. After all, they are elected unlike William Hite EdD.

After interviewing the PTA leader, she indicated that she was told numerous times by her board member Rosalind Johnson and William Hite Jr. EdD that the situation at the school was under control and their concerns had been “over stated”.  However, according to our confirmed sources, the situation is still fluid months later even with the new Principal. She went on to say that Mr. Burroughs has not confirmed to them that he was in fact censored but they have confirmed the information much like we have from several members of the House of Delegates close to Mr. Burroughs and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP –Prince George’s Branch).

Prince George’s County Superintendent William Hite and District 1 Board Member Rosalind Johnson have been under fire for months from community leaders after a video of a hallway fight ended up on Youtube. School Board leaders Verjeana Jacobs currently on maternity leave chairs the group and Donna Beck who is the Vice-Chair have also been facing complaints for their lack of action to respond to the reports before they made television and media reports. Another parent reported being told my members of the board they wanted to come to the school to investigate their claims but policy prohibited them from visiting schools to observe without approval from the corrupt superintendent. The same applies to Laurel and Largo High Schools which are the epi center of corruption affecting the students and staff throughout the District with a blind eye of  the same Supritendent Hite. (Read the blog here).

Last spring, William Hite EdD announced he was replacing Principal Michael Brooks with Assistant Principal Rebecca Garcia. In a letter to the parents, the superintendent wrote the school system planned to conduct a national search for a full-time replacement who “has experience in addressing the issues at hand, and who will best serve the diverse student population at High Point High School”. The May 16, 2011 letter advised that Principal selection process was going to be done following a new Board Policy, administrative Procedure Number 4113, “to ensure that the community, including staff, parents, community groups and high school students (for high school principals) are involved and participate in the principal selection process.” However, this process is not transparent as William Hite EdD wants the public to believe.  He has much say on who becomes the principal no matter what the public wants. This is very unfair to the students, staff and citizens of Prince George’s county who are being blackmailed by William Hite EdD. This is how corruption spreads, one parent added. We agree with her! The next election cycles in 2012 as well as 2014 will be based on transparency and accountability issues.  Board members who have solid record in fighting corruption and for standing up for what is right will be re-elected.  We can not have situations involving a gang of senior management in PGCPS practicing professional misconduct, corruption and nepotism without accountability.  Citizens of Prince George’s county have had enough with this PGCPS mess and cover ups  with Superintendent Hite – another parent added.

Requests for comment from Edward Burroughs and school system administrators have not been returned. We held this story in order to work hard to get a comment from the board of education or Mr. Burroughs but none have been supplied.