BOARD CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS Alva Swafford Striplin Georgia Bowen iron munw smums Deevee Rasmussen BOARD VICE CHAIR Rosanne Wood Maggie Lewis?Butler Rocky Hanna March 9, 2018 Dr. Maril Rahmin Dear Dr. Rahming: As a result of recent allegation regarding you directing school personnel to complete a Title I Parent Survey, a preliminary personnel investigation was initiated. The area noted for concern was the number of surveys completed and submitted on behalf of Pineview Elementary School and the alleged directive given to staff members to complete and submit these surveys. Based on the preliminary investigative results, a full investigation was conducted as it relates to the survey. It was determined that you directed staff verbally and in writing to complete 5 to 20 surveys per day over a period of two weeks. In addition there were additional ?ndings. You directed a custodian to take care of personal matters while working for the district and assigning Lanell McCaskill, a former Assistant Principal, to be paid as a Substitute Teacher for teachers who were not absent. Both support staff and teachers were interviewed during the investigation. Most recently a meeting was held to discuss the initial concerns and those that were discovered as a result of the investigation. The meeting was called by Deana McAllister, Director of Employee and Labor Relations. You did not acknowledge nor did you take any responsibility for the violations in the areas noted above. After a review by the Superintendent, you are being reassigned to oversee the ESOL District Program for the remainder of the 2017?201 8 at the Adult and Community Education Facility. There will be no change in your salary. The District is hopeful that you will recognize the 2757 West Pensacola Street - Tallahassee, Florida 32304?2998 - Phone (850)487-7110 - Fax (850) 414?5194 - mJeonschoolsnet ?The Leon County School District does not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex (including transgender status, gender nonconforming, and gender identity), marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, color, pregnancy, disability, or genetic information. the Future Together severity of this matter and will adhere to and respect all District policies and procedures moving forward. By way of this communication you are also being formally reprimanded for violating LCSB Policy RIO-Principals of Conduct and Ethics for District Personnel. Should further review uncover additional violations, you may be subject to ?thher discipline, up to and including termination. Please contact me should you have any questions. Sincerely, Vac d/?m 6/ Rocky Hanna Superintendent Cc: John Hunkiar, Safety, Security and Professional Practices Chief Sue Kraul, Elementary Divisional Director Deana McAllister, Director Labor and Employee Relations Mary Nicholson, Director Human Resources 2757 West Pensacola Street - Tallahassee. Florida 32304?2998 - Phone (850) 487?71 10 - Fax (850) 414?5194 - ww_meschools.net ?The Leon County School District does not discriminate against any person on the basis of sex (including transgender status, gender nonconforming, and gender identity): marital status, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, national origin, age, color, pregnancy, disability, or genetic information. Building Together BOARD CHAIR BOARD MEMBERS Alva Striplin Georgia "Joy" Bowen DeeDee Rasmussen BOARD VICE CHAIR Rosanne Wood Maggie B. Lewis?Butler SUPERINTENDENT Rocky Hanna PRELIMINARY PERSONNEL INVESTIGATION Location: Pineview Elementary School Subject Employee: Dr. Marilyn Jackson-Rahming,? Incident November - December 2017 ALLEGATIONIS): It is alleged that Dr. Marilyn Jackson-Rahming, the employee, Principal of Pineview Elementary School authorized and directed non-instructional staff to complete the Panorama Education Company?s Title Parent Involvement Survey. These surveys were supposed to be filled out by parents and or guardians but instead were completed during the school day by paraprofessionals, support staff, and others who were told to do so by the principal. Employees were also asked to complete these surveys at home over the Thanksgiving break if possible. There were 444 surveys completed. In addition, there was information that surfaced which resulted in an Administrative Review. NARRATIVE: On Wednesday, February 14, 2018, the information in the case was reviewed and an investigation was authorized by Mr. Rocky Hanna, Superintendent. As the Director of the Labor and Employee Relations Department, I conducted the initial inquiry and subsequent investigation into this matter. On February, 13, 2018, Dr. Jackson-Rahming was provided an of?cial letter of notification as the subject employee of a preliminary personnel investigation. Dr. Jackson-Rahming was not asked questions related to the incident at that time and was informed there would be an investigatory interview scheduled for Monday, February 26, 2018. It was reported that there were discrepancies in the numbers of completed surveys brought to our attention by a member of the community, ?who reviews district Title and parent involvement data. In an email, her inquiry was sent to Ms. Gillian Gregory, Assistant Superintendent for Academic Services via email. notice the outlier in participation is Pineview! Wow! Aren't there only about 350 students? Are we sure there are not repeat submissions? I think it is very plausible to have this many one per parent, one per student even in families with siblings but given the much lower rate of return at almost all other schools (with the excepting of Sealy, but even that is much lower with a higher student pop) how do we explain this participation rate at Pineview?? In addition, district leadership who noticed the wide disparity in the numbers of surveys completed as well, worked in conjunction with the Panorama Company. The Panorama Company conducted their research and provided data and information to the Chief of Safety and Security for Leon County Schools, Mr. John Hunkiar. All of the surveys completed were done so during the instructional day. There were no surveys completed during evening hours. lt should also be noted that there were multiple surveys completed on the same day within minutes of each other. It was learned during our investigation that in over a period of two weeks, parent surveys were completed during the instructional day by three employees: Ms. Xiomara King and Ms. Vera McNeil-Norwood, and Ms. Alecia Bryant who are Instructional Paraprofessionals at Pineview Elementary School. It should be noted that Dr. Jackson-Rahming directed staff to complete this survey in person and via email. They were directed to complete between ?ve to twenty surveys per day. Ms. King stated the following: Dr. Jackson-Rahming asked me to do the parent survey. She said to do 5 a day for over a week for a couple of weeks. She also told me on February 8, 2018 that if anyone come to you from the district, you do not know anything. Dr. Jackson-Rahming also told me to try and do some surveys over the Thanksgiving Holiday. I did not do any surveys over the holiday. ljust did what she told me. She also told me to do this in email. Dr. Rahming came to me on Thursday and told me that if anyone comes to you, you don?t know anything. Ms. King was provided copies of two emails sent to her from Dr. Jackson-Rahming directing her to keep completing surveys (20 a day) and then when to stop completing surveys. The emails sent to Ms. King also included Ms. Bryant and Ms. McNeil-Norwood. In reference to the last statement about if someone comes to you, Me. Bryant stated that Dr. Rahming told her she meant anyone from the district. Ms. McNeil-Nomood stated the following: was told by Dr. Jackson?Rahming to complete the parent surveys. was told to complete 5 surveys a day. Ms. Alecia Bryant stated the following: I was emailed by Dr. Jackson?Rahming to complete multiple surveys. I know remember her asking me personally to complete but I do remember an email. I do not know how many I completed. Ms. Dawn Wilder, Assistant Principal at Pineview was also questioned in regards to this matter and she stated the following information: Parent Engagement Surveys were completed by Ms. King who completed over 100 surveys, Ms. Norwood, completed between 50 to 100 surveys. Ms. Bryant ?lled out some surveys but i do not know how many. I think these ladies were asked to complete at least ?ve surveys a day and to try and complete some surveys over the Thanksgiving Break. The survey period was open from 11l15/2017-12/08/2017. I also heard Dr. Rahming say to front office staff ?Alright get those surveys done!? I do not know if any of the front of?ce staff completed any surveys. I also believe that Ms. McCaskill, a former AP here at Pineview completed surveys but am not sure. I did see her sitting at the front desk where Ms. Reilly?s sits and it appeared that she was completing surveys. There were additional ?ndings brought forth by staff during this investigation. Teachers shared that there were essential classroom materials that were needed and not provided for instruction. For example, printer paper, ink cartridges, and projector bulbs. Teachers and staff Personnel Investigation ackson-Rahming Page 2 also shared that they have concerns about the following: the comments and the vote that took place in regards to Monies, academic data collection and how it is used, the 17 folders which are collected and stamped by front of?ce staff (which is a requirement), working for the school/district and not being paid, staff favoritism, disciplinary measures (that includes slapping hands), communication skills and the overall feeling that employees do not have a voice. Additionally, there was a 21st Century audit that was scheduled to take place on Thursday, February 15, 2018. As the team prepared for the Department of Education Audit, it was further learned that the assistant principal did not hold the appr0priate credentials to assist in collecting the needed data to comply with this audit. This audit was not rescheduled and required Ms. Ashley Scott to work with staff to prepare. Please see the attached documentation on audit preparedness. Also, it was shared with the investigator that teachers were uncomfortable with former Pineview Administrator, Lanell McCaskill conducting school business such a Data Chats with students and handling other administrative duties. It was learned that Ms. McCaskill is identified in the ?Skyward System? as a Substitute Teacher. She has been entered into the system as the substitute teacher of record for specific teacher absences. However, the days that she is coded as covering absences for select teachers, these individuals are not always coded as being absent. There are 61 legitimate absences that coincide with the specified teacher?s absence. However, there are 66 absences for teachers that do not coincide and are not legitimate and were entered into the system. Ms. McCaskill was paid for these days. Lastly, Mr. Richard Pounsel (RP) shared with the investigator that he was required to take care of personal matters for Dr. Jackson-Rahming while working on district time. He admitted that he was told to do certain jobs and tasks and he did so because Dr. Jackson-Rahming is his boss. On several occasions Mr. RP was asked to clean her car, clean out her garage, and repair a bay window in her home. Meetinq with Dr. Rahming held on Monday, February 26, 2018 The investigator and Dr. Rahming met in the conference room of the Labor and Employee Relations Of?ce to discuss the reasons why she was placed on "Administrative Leave with Pay.? Before the interview began, the investigator shared that this interview was an opportunity to be forthcoming and honest with Leon County School Board. Dr. Rahming stated that she understood and would not do anything else but be honest. The investigator shared that the reason that Dr. Rahming had been placed on Administrative Leave with Pay is because of the Title I Parent Surveys results which were brought to the district leadership's attention by a community member, Custodians conducting personal business on district time and the concerns of Mrs. McCaskill, the former Assistant Principal being paid out of the substitute teacher budget when she was not substitute teaching. What was provided to Dr. Rahming is that there were a total of 444 surveys electronically submitted however there are only 350 students at Pineview Elementary School. Dr. Rahming agreed that the number of surveys completed was very high but did not think anything was wrong. The investigator did provide evidence to Dr. Rahming as it relates to the Panorama data which shows that hundreds of surveys were completed at the school during the day within minutes of each other. ln addition, there are emails from Dr. Rahming that tell staff to complete at least 20 surveys per day. The investigator then asked for Dr. Rahming, Did she direct employees to complete the survey?" She stated, The investigator then asked how her school had so many surveys completed Personnel Investigation ackson-Rahming Page 3 and submitted whereas other title I schools range in the number of completed surveys from 0- 20. She was then asked to walk the investigator through her survey process. The results for the interview are as follows: The reason for the large number of surveys completed from Pineview is that I had a ?yer made with the survey link and distributed to all of her students and to community centers (including fast food places and churches). Also, every teacher had a device in hand so that when a parent brought their child to the school, they could immediately complete the survey. Surveys were also completed in the main office of Pineview by parents. I went to Subway, McDonalds and What a Burger and gave out the ?yers and told people to complete the survey. If I was wrong and not supposed to I am sorry. I then created a class list/phone list and assigned certain people to make phone to remind parents and guardians about completing the survey. The investigator then changed the line of questioning and asked about Mrs. McCaskill and her primary responsibilities at Pineview. The investigator also explained that there are instances where Mrs. McCaskill had been coded to serve as a Substitute Teacher but was assigned to a teacher who was not absent on that day. The results are as follows: Mrs. McCaskill only comes to work with students. She is excellent in Math. She has organized our students for the writing contest. She does classroom visits. Mrs. McCaskill will has substituted for teachers in the past but she is there for the kids. Mrs. Harley works with all of my budgets. time cards, etc. She does all of the entering of time. I got my hand slapped in the past for going over my Title I Budget $25,000.00. So I am very careful. I don?t do anything unless The investigator then asked about the custodians at Pineview and them completing personal errands and jobs at her home like ?xing a bay window, cleaning her garage and fixing an outside gate while working on district time. The results for the interview are as follows: Mr. Richard Pounsel (RP) will do things for Pineview. For instance, if we need batteries from the dollar store, he will go get the batteries and then ask if I have gas in the car and may take my car to get the batteries and ?ll my tank while he is gone. i may need various materials to get various items fixed and i would send him. I have taken money out of my wallet (maybe a $20.00) and given it to Mr. RP. have never asked him to do anything on district time. on his way in to report to work, he has stopped to complete things for me. Does this have anything to do with a conversation between, Sue Kraul, Dawn Wilder and myself? We talked last week about my car not being in the Principal's spot and Dawn was surprised to see me. In Summam The results of the interview with Dr. Rahming are in direct contrast to what was learned during the investigation. Dr. Rahming never admitted to giving support staff the directive to complete the online surveys, she blamed coding Mrs. McCaskill incorrectly on her bookkeeper and she did not admit to allowing/asking or directing Mr. R. Pounsel to conduct her personal business on district time. Personnel Investigation ackson~Rahming Page I 4 CONCLUSION: Based on the information, evidence and statements gathered during the investigative process, it can be established that Dr. Jackson?Rahming has violated the School Board Policy 1210 Principles of Conduct and Ethics for District Personnel, by her actions of knowingly supporting and authorizing falsified responses for the Title Parent Involvement Surveys during the 2017- 2018 School Year. The allegation against the employee, Dr. Marilyn Jackson-Rahming is sustained. These actions constitute a breach of trust and are contrary to the high ethical standards set by the Leon County School District and the Department of Labor and Employee Relations. Wm em Deana Y. Mc?Tl ire or Datei Attachments: School Board Policy 1210 Personnel Investigation ackson?Rahming Page 5