As the Thanksgiving week school break nears, the La Vernia community awaits patiently for any information from police Sgt. Bruce Ritchey on the criminal investigation underway regarding expenditures from a junior high activity fund.
Sgt. Ritchey, well aware there are concerns about the investigation, has taken a cautious and tolerant approach as he leads the forensic audit.
Citizen concerns range from the speculation that the audit information handed over by Superintendent Dr. Thomas Harvey was given to the same accounting company who was thought to be certifying the integrity of the school district’s accounts all along; to thoughts of anyone who is alleged of wrong doings being protected by social fraternal organization partiality obligation, or other preferential treatment.
ALL THEY GET IS REPRIMANDS; THEY GIVE US SILENCE
“We can’t trust our school board,” one parent, who asked not to be identified, said, after attending the Oct. 17 meeting of the La Vernia Independent School District (ISD) board of trustees. “Teachers go to their leaders and all they get is reprimands and we (parents) go to the Board and all they give us is silence.”
During yesterday’s meeting at the Primary School Cafetorium school board members listened as parent Jennifer Moczygemba read the policy regarding the fiduciary obligations of the Superintendent and board.
Through her own investigation using the Public Information Act process, Moczygemba discovered and alleged that the account in question has ran a negative balance for at least two years.
The Examiner has learned the investigators have asked, and received, account data going back to at least 2009.
THEY HAVE BEEN BLINDLY FOLLOWING HARVEY...
Harvey and school board members Mike Jendrusch, Richard Schier, John Bilicek, Janice Gimbel, David Watson, James Barnett, and Eric Friedrichs have been challenged by parents and citizens about their apparent lack of communication, transparency, and accountability.
“It took Mrs. Moczygemba to tell the school board how bad things are that we all have been saying all along,” said the father. “They have been blindly following Harvey with this bad accounting right under their noses, and to top it off, none of them even bothered to look into our issues, just like when we raised concerns about that teacher who was finally arrested for drugs last year.”
Nearly 200 concerned citizens attended last month’s trustee meeting to voice concerns and get answers to questions about alleged corruption, mistreatment of teachers and staff, and the financial investigation probe.
Various news organizations, including television, print, and online media were in attendance school board President Jendrusch began that meeting reading a prepared document reminding of the rules of the meetings and warning the participants they are “advised to consult their attorney” should they become out of order or defame anyone by name.
Veteran and well-known San Antonio Express-News reporter John MacCormack attended the November board meeting and contacted Jennifer Hendrickson, mother of deceased La Vernia assistant junior high school principal Glenn Hendrickson, on Monday.
CONTROVERSY BEGAN IN OCT. 2010
Controversy began in Oct. 2010 after parents advised Harvey of a 7th grade teacher who was acting bizarre in the classroom, as reported by her students.
After months of discussions with school and district leadership, the teacher was arrested in March 2011 for drugs and resisting arrest.
Two weeks later assistant vice principal Hendrickson was found dead in his home of an apparent suicide by his mother.
Parents voiced opinions and tales of mistreatment of teachers and staff by district leadership and school administrators throughout the spring and summer, continuing into the beginning of the current school term.
WE NEED HELP
Numerous parents and teachers, some who are afraid to identify themselves publically, began contacting the Examiner with additional concerns and new information.
“Sadly, because of the nepotism and the fact that most of the school board members, administrators and law enforcement have connections and a loyalty of Doctor Harvey, we felt there was no one to go to,” stated correspondence the Examiner received from teachers who asked not to be identified for fear of their jobs or more.
“We need help,” stated the teachers' message. “Can you please investigate, please help us. We don’t know where to go. There is no one to go, please, please help us. We are tired and don’t have much fight left.”
Contact Jack Dennis at jackdennistexas@yahoo.com Twitter: Texasjackson
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