Washington DC (Map, News) - Montgomery County Public School officials Friday said they don't think that a former deputy superintendent accused of misdeeds in his current job in another district ever ran afoul of the rules during his tenure here.

John Q. Porter, a former deputy superintendent overseeing technology in Montgomery schools, was suspended from his job as superintendent of Oklahoma City Public Schools Monday. Among the most serious allegations against Porter is a claim that he submitted expenses for personal purchases and entered into a $365,593 contract between that system and Wireless Generation, which provides hand-held devices to assess student reading skills, without seeking competitive bids.

While he was still working in Maryland, Porter helped to broker a public-private deal between Wireless Generation and Montgomery's schools that provoked some County Council scrutiny in 2005 because the schools failed to put it out to competitive bidding. Brian Edwards, chief of staff to Superintendent Jerry D. Weast, said Friday competitive bids for that deal were not necessary.

"All the i's were dotted and the t's were crossed," Edwards said.

Porter worked for the county public schools for seven years. He left in July to assume his position in Oklahoma, Edwards said.

Porter could not be reached for comment Friday. His lawyer did not return phone calls.

School board members said Porter left on good terms, adding they have no reason to suspect any improprieties during his time working for Montgomery County.

Board member Steve Abrams, who chaired the audit committee during Porter's tenure, said he never saw anything amiss.

Board member Pat O'Neill called Porter a valuable asset to the county's public schools for introducing technological advances to help students achieve.

"The most significant thing he did was get us into a program of more technology at a greater pace," O'Neill said.

cmabeus@dcexaminer.com