M1 Gmail Joseph Mua More information - Corruption in PGCPS. ‘messages Joseph Mua Ape 1.2011 at 52 PM To aalsobrookstBoo.pgm0.08 Ce: RVKorionofgo,pg.dus, Joseph Mua Be: Bryan Chapman , Lag Jackson Via email, Friday, April 1, 2011 Dear Ms. Alsobrooks Esq., Hope all is well. It was great meeting you on Saturday March 26" 2011. Please see attached documentation for your review conceming corruption in PGCPS and illegal termination of my ‘employment. There is an appeal to the superintendent and the board of education. Nevertheless, PGCPS management has refused to hold an intemal hearing to verify the issues. The last internal hearing scheduled on November 12, 2010, was cancelled the last minute, With the Union's ‘suppor, | have attempted to navigale the grievance system without much success. And while the union has been somewhat supportive — fling various grievances on my behalf of which Ihave ‘copies for your review — PGCPS' management team has been excessively non-responsive and they ere interfering with my lawyers to mess up the case. This lack of communication on PCPS part and uncertainty about my financial future has caused me a tremendous amount of undue stress. | have recently shared my concems with various senators and delegates including ‘members of the board of education (See exhibit 1 below) please read below for a more detailed account of exaclly what has been happening: |. Recently Mr Pier D. Dickson, Director of Telecom, has authorized over $1million to @ vendor ‘without proper authorization from PGCPS. This is a recent development and in an effort to keep things hush, hush the telephone service's function has been moved away from Mfr. Dickson to another ‘department (Network Operations). This information was relayed to me on Sunday, July 18 2010 by Mr. Barry Miles, Manager (Mac Computers) many TT Employees are aware of this white calor criminal activity, 2. Sometime in November of 2009, IT Directors Mr. Pierre D. Dickson and Ms. Lisa Spencer organized a ‘meeting of IT specialists and regional technology coordinators during which a contractor came in and ‘supplied the entire instructional technology group and the help desk team a home-cooked meal in ‘order to sway them to apprave software from the vendor. The contractor was to provide an application in which they were to charge $20 per head for each student inthe county (around $2 million). The Union got wind ofthis development and protested the potential conflict of interest sometimes in January 2010. PGCPS Menagement retaliation against me for so-called whistle blowing. IT directors ‘suspected that —I was responsible for notifying the Union. — On November 19, 2008, I received a letter of reprimand from Ms. Shanita Anderson - Help Desk Manager. I was accused of both inappropriate conduct and insubordination. Me. Richaed Putney who was representing me om this grievance asthe union representative was setup and terminated later in January this year and is now facing erininal charges on wespassing in order to silence him. ‘vapectnnal getgle corbmadiuitrhSeQRi\T TSB VecabdjovervnerWeiirelta an Achaegrecl_fo_1E0420.15_p2teiewspliq=adehecinoclarMAteopgmentqeerai: Mer inom Coupon PCPS. 3, In recent months, the IT Department led by Mr. Pierre Dickson and working very closely with the help desk and warehouse muanagers have boen involved ia schemes in which hundreds of laptops have been allegedly lost then sold for cash, Both managers are very close friends of Mr. Pierre D, Dickson. In around September 2008 alone, 30 to 40 brand new laptops were stolen from the warehouse. We reported this issue tothe internal audit andthe FBI. The internal audit did nothing to investigate the situation or to reprimand the parties involved. There FBI felt since the said machines were bought using local funds, it was ouside their control for now. They promised to continue investigating. There is close collaborative network to hide wrong doing in the county schools involving boerd staff. A Tot ‘OFT related equipment disappears every year and nothing seems to get done to addeess the situation. Ifyou talk about it, they fre you to cover up and continue business as usual 4, Ms, Michelle Tayler-Skinner, principal at Columbia Park Elementary School, is involved in pyramid scheme forcing staff to buy merchandise from her online business during working hours. This lunethiealissuc has etused alot of friction fr staffers that refuse to participate, This issue was brought tothe attention ofthe superintendent Dr, William Hites Jr in 2009 but instead of trying to resolve it, the involved partes sought retaliation against me for bringing the issue to the Union, Principal Ms “Michelle Tayler-Skinner has links with schools ia New Orleans, Louisiana and acts as @ major hub for other schoo! leaders across America through the "new leaders, new schools” initiative (See receipts fof some of the things I was asked to buy for the principal) 5. Overall, there’ been a staggering use of less qualified staff to manage the IT department, wich is responsible for tacking inventory among others The lack of knowledgeable employees allows for ‘easy manipulation of the staff and the system by management for selfish gains. Every year, many ‘adminstrators buy expensive equipment and there is no proper accountability measures to track it down. Whenever an audits is done, thousands worth of equipment is missing. We discovered Mr. ‘Thorton a senior adminstrator selling some ofthe IT equipment and was fired. However, Ms. Shanita Anderson and Me, Pierre Dickson are still here covering up things. 6. In addition to the above, during the lst general elections PCPS Management allowed or their sponsored candidates to use the county School system onder to campaign within the schools against the rues. This created unfair advantage over the rest of the candidates. When I complained about this from the help desk, got targeted by Mc Pierre Dickson. Later on after I was terminated in June 18" 2010, Superintendent Dr. William Hite Jr sent out an email in July to the entire stf¥ telling employees that they shouldn’t use the email system for such activities. However, this was to0 late, These activites, had been going on since February ~ March 2010 and bad enough time to influence thousands of employees and students to sway the campaign, In the early part ofthis month, there was a sory inthe Washington post about an Information, ‘Technology worker involved in pomograpic incidents during working hours at PGCPS. See the story here. > hitp:iwww.washingtonpost.comwp-dyn/contenUaticle/20" 1/03/03/AR2011030305358.htm!?f>_ refeNetworkNews. ‘The internal audit was notified and the investigation was done to cover up rather than punish the employee involved in this security issue. Rather than question the managers and the ‘employee involved, they chose to protect the said employee because he is a good friend of the Director of Tolecommunication Mr. Pierre Dickson. The same employee is known to sel IT ‘equipment and the issue has been brought to the attention of management several mes. This htprsimal google corneal hus 2hke7745 SeceSdjoversomtWOIDFeF's an clog 180420.15_pSRviewnpttqredeicbrookeiA0cospa nd utqankukind of cover up does not promote a culture of accountability. Several people have reported ‘wrong doing to the internal audit on several occasions on different things and the auditors don't ‘seem to take any serious steps to Investigate or address the problems presented. Instead they tend ta victimize and compromise the identity of people trying to report incidences. Their approach has promoted a culture of impunity which Is prevalent in Prince George's County Public schools (PGCPS). For Example — the IT management went behind the scenes and deleted emails which addressed the Tapsiru Conteh issue from Ms. Elaine Rankins email account. (Ms. Rankins is Mr. Pierre Dickson's secretary). They also changed her hard drive to ‘cover up their tracks, Unfortunately for them, she had already printed a hard copy of the email and leftt at home, Just yesterday March 30, 2011, Ms. Elaine Rankins was being harassed ‘and was written up by Mr. Dickson in retaliation. Piease assist with this issue if possible because this is what they do to caver up and continua with thaie enerupt activities. Its no ‘wonder that this behavior and conduct has gone unchecked for this long. Please investigate and let me know if you manage to get any meanful response from the administration and especially from Dr. Willam Hites Jr himself (Superintendent). Meanwhile | hear that the Information Technology worker involved in the above incident is going about his business and its business as usual. In addition to the above, the chief information officer —Mr. Wesley Watts Irwas also given credible information regarding the February incident by employees who ‘observed the said employee (Tapsiru Conteh) yet the CIO and the Director of Telecommunication chose to cover up rather than address the issue. This has been the problem within PGCPS, Ifa problem is identified, rather than address the Issues, there is @ Cover up in several levels to protect any staff member who is politically connected. 8. After I got terminated in June 18, 2010, the internal eudit weat ahead and used my ideas from the rebuttal to my termination inorder to update internal audit website. Iam ataching the following slides and some of the questions I prepared to question their activities, Please review exhibits intemal aut, Cover up exhibitions ~ AI ~ BI ete as attached.) 9, In addition, I have attached the union grievances filed on my behalf as a result of discrimination, retaliation whick I encountered while dealing with the management when I encountered these issues before my wrongful termination, (Please review Exhibits I-14 in order to get a better picture) 10, PGCPS has been interfering with every atomney I have hired since this case began. I have spent thousands of dollars to fight the termination and clear my name. Everytime I get a new attorney they Irustrat the case and the attomey either withdraws or does unprofessional things. The latest one ‘withdrew this week after he got more than $15,000 of my personal savings without any hearing. (See his motion to withdraw), In shor, the following lawyers have had very questionable interaction with PGCPS; Ms. Mindy Farber Esq., Ms. Laurel Anchors Fsq., Mr. Bruce Lunchasky Esq. M ‘Morris Fischer Esq. ad the Union Attomey Mr; Damon R. Felton Bsq. Maryland State Education Association who isin bed with management 1 Also the hiting of Mr. James R. Whatlam Esq, 28 the Director, Employee and Labor Relations during 2010 school year is very suspect. Mr, James R. Whattam Esq, used tobe a staff attorney for Maryland ‘State Education Association (MSEA), This appointment creates a conflict of interest. The same thing ‘200s for Mr, Shumate Frederi who used to be HR supervisor and now a union field representative in ACE/AFSCME, Local 2250, AFL-CIO. The management shouldn’t be allowed to be in “bed? with the tunion, This is one reason why many intermal grievances are being swept under the rg. Mr. Skumate Frederi asked me for my evidence in 2008, I gave him my documentation and [never heard anything back fiom him, Instead, retaliation intensified much more after that12, As explained briefly on Saturday, our dilemma has been that, Mr. PierteD. Dickson i a former police officer in the Prince George's County system, Besides the obvious suspicion in eriminal activity involving money and the IT equipment handling, Mr. Pieme D. Dickson is know to harass women employees and some have quit rather than take him head on. He isa bully andthe latest issue with him like I explained above involves his personal secretary this week on Wednesday. Dr. William Hite J. is aware ofthese allegations yet he has chosen to do nothing about it. One person who seems to protect him besides Dr. Williae ites Jr is Ms. Synth J. Shilling, Esq, (the chief human resources officer formerly in te legal department. They are said to be buddies. . In addition to being the IT Director, Me, Piere D. Dickson is also the PGCPS IT Technology security officer which makes him very powerful and untouehsble | would appreciate very much if you could help investigate this blatant misconduct and assist me in getting my job back with the county. While | should be praised for doing my job well, |have instead been targeted and subjected to inhumane treatment by Ms. Shanita Anderson Helo desk Manager and Mr, Pierre D. Dickson, Director of Telecom for reporting their ilegal activities to the Union. Ms. ‘Anderson and Mr. Pierre D. Dickson have been working closely with human resource representatives Ms, Synthia J. Shilling, Esq Chief Human Resourses Officer and Ms. Roslyn Hawkins HR Specialist both on their illegal schemes and to systematically and deliberately create {an unoomfertable work environment for me. They have also made obviously false allegations in thelr letters to justify terminating my employment without having the courage to (at the very least) address the grievances brought to their atfantion by the Union. At this point the Union lawyer is Involved as you can see from the attached but | don‘ know if anything will come out oft given the treatment shown thus far Once again, there seems to be a prevalent accurrence of cover ups and retaliation against staff who are trying to perfarm honast work. The PGCPS District seems to thrive in an atmosphere of lunaccountabiity and corruption. We the tax payers are left holding the bag and have to ball out ‘and pay for this corruption and Unethical practioe. Someone has to take a principled stand and bring this to a complete halt. | ook forward to hearing from and speaking with you. Let me know if clarification or additional documentation. Jou need any more Respectilly, Josephat Mua 301 919 4939, NOTE: ‘A summary of some of the deliberate and malicious actions taken against me are listed below: «+ Issuing illegal terminations, ‘+ Not mecting scheduled reviews. ‘Suspending my pay and claiming no knowledge of it. (Unusual occurrences relating to stoppage of pay), Altempting to illegally terminate health benefits Issuing half paychecks and claiming isa one-time accident and then not dedueting benefits Not replying in writing to legitimate issues in time Claiming dey are sending or including critical documents that are not included inthe correspondence. Denying deliberate acts performed to inmplement their termination agenda [Not responding to grievances fled by the Union and instead retaliating, ips gg comnasOrnctlke?1651SaceShiouerns Mare naman - Crain PCP. ‘+ Not presenting 2 performance review within stipulated 45 days. «Not receiving letter of warning nor documentation to support charges. ‘Purging and modification of data — was given low scores for help desk performance despite data to the contrary — to prove iaferior pecformance. Note: When I protested, Mr. Pierre D. Dickson and ‘Shanita Anderson said it was a management issue. “+ Authorized to attend a professional conference to help the county, all personal leave taken without being notified “+ Ms, Shanita Anderson and Mr. Pee D. Dickson using collesgues to cause me undue sufering and awarding themselves time off ‘Ignoring, Not understanding end not conforming to the FMLA act, «+ Falsly claiming a 45-day review agreed to by the Union. 1 Asking fallow emplayecs to make false testimony agsinst me; one manager (Mr Rarsington Miles) refused to testify and called to notify me. «Discriminating against me because of my Aftican Origin. Discriminatory treatment ‘Tempering with performance data- Was given low scares for help desk performance despite date to the contrary. + Failure of officials to follow their owa County procedures, false accusations, retaliatory actions against the Employes end laut cae fer cermin ing my employment and benefits illegally. 1 erering th lawyers to destoy he cae. ‘The above actions do much to prove beyond any reasonable doubt, the malicious and retaliatory nature of PGCPS HR and IT management, especially Ms. Synthia J. Shilling, Ms. Roslyn Hawkins, Ms. Shanita Anderson and Mr. Pierre D. Dickson. exXHIB Forwarded message From: Joseph Mua ate: Mon, Mar 14,2011 33:06 PM. Subject: Pease asit with Wrongfl termination situation within PGCPS. ‘To: peggy-higgins@pgcps org, verjeana jacobs@pgeps.org, donna-hathawaybeck@pgcps.org, rosalind johnson @pgcps.org, amber.waller@pgops.org, patricia. eubank=@pgeps.org, ‘carolyn.boston@pacps org, nenry.armwood@pacps.org, edward. buroughs@Pgcps org, Jonathan2.harris@pgops.org, veronica.turner@house.state.md.us, anthony. muse@senate.state.md.us, douglas.peters@senate.state.md.us, jim rosapepe@senate stale md.us,joanne.benson@senate.state.md.us, paul pinsky@senate.slate.md.us, thomas.vmike.miler@senatestate,md.us, Uysses.currie@senate state md us, vcorramirex@senate stale md.us, aisha braveboy@house state:md.us, anne.healey@hause state.md.us, barbara frush@house state.md.us, ben bames@house siate.md.us, carolyn howard@house slate md.us, dereck davis@house.state.md us, doyle niemann@house state md.us, goraldine.valentino@house.state.e.us, james procior@house state md.vs, james hubbard@house state.md.us, jay.waiker@house.state.md.us, jolene ivey@nouso.state.md.us, joseline,pena.melnyk@house. Stale md.us, oseph.vallario@house state.md us, justin ross@house stale.md.us, 1s. valderrama@house slate.md.us, marvin holmes@house siate.md.us, melony grfith@house state.md.us, michael summers@house siate.md.us, mmichael,vaughn@house.state.md.us, tawanna.gaines@house.state.md.us, tifany.alston@house.state.md.us, INTumer@eo,pg.md us, EO\son@co.0q.md.us, MALehman@co.pg.md.us, WACampos@co.pg."d.us, councicistrict5@co.pg.md.us, 12516, p.lieweptiqracalcbrookstiddc pg md sstientes gut googie arden det Sacajoversner WD cPaen Aching foGra Mere inomatn -Cougon PCS. CounciiDistrict6@co.pg.md.us, KRToles@co.pg.md.us, Councildistrict8@oo.pg.md.us, MFranklin@co.pg.md.us Ce: governor@gov.state,md.us Dear Honorable Elected members; ‘My name is Josephat Mus and I am a former IT Technician Il who was wrongfully terminated on June 18 2010. The reason for ths eter is to ask you kindly t oppose the recommendation of termination for cause by Prince George's County Public Schools daring 2009-2010 school year. ‘As a point of roferenec, Ibliove I have a strong evidence to show thatthe action to terminate my ‘employment with Prince George's County Public schools and the previous adverse actions and harassment taken against me are a result of 4. My discovery oillegal and improper activities of several school officials 2. My intent and actions to disclose these activities. ‘3. Retaliation for my disclosure efforts, 4 National origin discrimination, ‘5 Retaliation for claims regarding discrimination, 6. Retaliation against th use of the Grievance system per the union contract, Article VIIT 7. My refusal to aequiesce tothe activities that I saw as flawed, unethical, illegal and criminal ‘There was a concerted effrt to farce me to leave the PG County school System when I disclosed, what I believed tobe, very questionable activities regarding county equipment, Mr. Pierre Dickson the Director of Information Technology used pretext to support his recommendations of termination. ! am well prepared to show that every one ofthe allegations made by Me. Pierre Dickson was pre-textual and insubstantial In ight ofthe above termination last yoar on June 18", 2010, the county officials led by Superintendent Dr William Hite Ir. have filed to schedule a hearing to clear my name and address the issues we raised. I's row more than 10 moths since I was illegally terminated after I submitted a written response through counsel ‘on May 12, 2010 opposing the tenmination. Nevertheless on June 18, 2010, PGCPS issued a final decision affirming my discharge, effective as ofthe date ofthat letter which was retaliatory after I filed a charge of | ‘discrimination with Equal Employment opportunity Commission (EEOC) in April 2010. [appealed the final termination decision within five (S) days, as required by the Regulations for supporting Personnel (“RSP”), by submitting an appeal of notice of termination, Pursuant tothe requirements of the RSP, the Prince George's County Public schools system led by Dr. William Hites Irhad the contractual obligation to then schedule a hearing within thirty business days: “Inthe event of such a request, the Superintendent of schools shall arrange for hearing to be held not Less than five (5) or more than thirty (30) working days after the receipt ofthe request". have requested a hearing through several counsels to no avail, Almost 10 months have now passed since I requested the hearing to which [am contractually entitled In July 2010, my former attorney spoke with Mr. ‘Roger Thomas (General Counsel), who stated thet Ms. Colleen Prout —the individual who schedules appeal hearings and promised would notify me shortly of the hearing date. [heard nothing. On August 5,2010, my counsel wrote to Robin Shell Esq. an attomey in appeals unit, documenting the conversation with Mr. ‘Thomas. Counsel again complaiied thatthe thirty ~ day hearing period had elapsed without a hearing being scheduled and she demanded that a hearing be scheduled within a week, We still have heard nothing, ‘The procedures set forth in the RSP are mandatory, PGCPS failure to comply with the requirements set forth in the RSP constitutes a material breach ofthe partes’ contractual agreement. Asa result of this material hp:tina google cometh ur 7051SeceStnversanrWHIDFFe.on.tebi=pm 0042.15. p38sowepqrodolbeocks%40en pg nd uskosGra Mareen - Corson PCPS, breach, POCPS has forfeited the sight to sustain to my termination of employment, Iam requesting you as an, lected official to put pressure on Dr. Wiliam Hites Jr and ask pointed questions in order to reinstate me to ‘an equivalent positon of employment at PGCPS that is not under the supervision of Mr. Pierte Dickson (who wrongfully tenminated me in the frst place). ‘There were various violations in which the county prevented me from expressing my opinion ina way that did not harm the county. could not adequately defend myself against the charges, due to the county's prohibitioas. In addition to the above, Lam asking you to ask Dr. William Hites J. (Superintendent of schools) to put strong measures in place to fight caruption within the Prince George's County schoo! system. Many administrator are involved in running thei own illegal personal Businesses online during school working hours instead of putting the “children first. This has been going on for a quite while now despite a school board policy which makes such actions illegal. The school system will never improve unless strong -measures are putin place to address these unethical problems and affecting the students and staff. Taternal ‘Ault Department needs to be restructured to addvess issues of concem propeily. ook forward to your support and hearing from you, ‘Very truly yours, Josephat Mua ‘Tel:301-019-4939 ‘2a atechments| Cover up Internal Exhibit flow chart Exhibit,doe 3K Gover up.Exihit At Hotline policy doc ak Cover up.ExhibitA2 Hotinepolicy 1.132011 doe 20K Cover up Exhibit Bt Report violations.1.13.2011.doe ‘05K gh Cover upExhibit 2 investigatorResponsibiliys 142011. doc fore |) Cover up Exhibi.83.Mission statoment7.15:2010.doe 300K 5:2010.d00 () Cover up.exhibies4 Professional Associations. ‘30K Cover up.B¢hbiLB5.Repon vieations.113.2014. doe ‘ea \@ Cover un Exhibit 86 Investigator Responsibly. 1.142011 doc Se customer service Exh. doe tox ‘npedimaiooge cominatNn=28i-7 785 SocabjeverowWDIDFUFS on Atgmal_o_180420.48_pS&Wouspitq-adalscrooks Aden pj md uss