DA stages early morning search of DeKalb school superintendent’s home. Why?
So why is the DeKalb County District Attorney searching DeKalb Superintendent Crawford Lewis’ home? In an AJC exclusive this morning, we learn that investigators came to his home this morning armed with a search warrant as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into multimillion-dollar school construction projects.
To get up to speed, please look at the recent AJC update on the allegations surrounding school construction manager Pat Pope’s actions in regard to her husband’s firm. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has reported that Tony Pope, an architect, worked on three of the six multimillion-dollar construction projects being investigated by the authorities.
Pope and Lewis have appeared adversaries in this ongoing drama, so it is unclear now why the investigation has turned to Lewis or why the DA felt compelled to go to his home as well as his office.
Please remember that the school system and DA’s office crossed swords not along ago when the system balked at turning over some information that the district attorney wanted. This may have been a strong rebuke to that foot-dragging by the system. In January, we reported then that the DeKalb County investigators filed an Open Records Act request that the school system rejected, citing attorney-client privilege.
At the time, District Attorney Gwen Keyes Fleming said, “The information we’re seeking is public record.” She said she found the school system’s rejection of the request “curious.” Maybe, she also found it annoying and this is her way of letting them know.
None of this is helpful at a time when the system is facing unprecedented financial woes. (I am going to a hearing tonight where hundreds of parents are expected to challenge possible school closings in DeKalb.)
There is a lot going on in DeKalb. This mess does not help. But it does reflect a lesson I learned early on as a reporter. Major projects – especially in construction and technology – deserve close scrutiny because there is so much detail, so much money and so little expertise among most school boards. There is ample opportunity for misspending.
According to the breaking news story now:
The DeKalb district attorney’s office served a search warrant at Lewis’ home in the Southland subdivision around 7:30 this morning. About 40 minutes later, investigators showed up at the DeKalb school headquarters on Decatur Road with a second search warrant.
The AJC was the only news organization on the scene as nine police officers and a prosecutor descended on Lewis’ home. A surprised Lewis, dressed in shirt and tie, opened the door and allowed the officers in. Several neighbors came out and asked officers what was going on and were told to avoid the area.
The district attorney’s office has been investigating construction projects in DeKalb schools. It’s unclear what searchers were looking for in Lewis’ home.
A spokesman for the district attorney did not immediately return phone calls and lion the scene declined to comment.
Dale Davis, Lewis’ spokesman, said he was unaware of the search or the reasons for it. “I don’t know. Call the DA,” he told the AJC.
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79 comments Add your comment
To Concerned Parent
February 25th, 2010
8:30 pm
I remember that IT person. You could never find him even though he was assigned to a school to maintain the computers. He hid out. Then he got 2 schools, and he would say he was at school #1, but if you called school #1 to find him, they would say he was at school #2. It would have been comical except the students and teachers never got anything fixed. DeKalb’s Information Systems Department promoted him to a central position as a network expert. I thought it was a joke when they said he was promoted to be a network expert.
Nikole Allen
February 25th, 2010
8:36 pm
Dekalb County Residents- Enough is enough. Vote out all incumbent School Board Members in the next election. We need new leadership in DCSS.
Dr. John Trotter
February 25th, 2010
8:37 pm
FLASH: The Circus is closing down. The Clown Must Go! CheatingGate. BullyingGate. GasolineGate. ConstrutionGate. $15,000Gate. What more? Beverly Hall is next. I hate to have to rub it in, folks, but MACE told you so.
catlady
February 25th, 2010
8:38 pm
I see that the supt. has decided to take a leave. Yet he will still be paid, and the BOE will pay for his lawyers. I would hope if there is something to this, the money will be recouped from him.
I am guessing if it were anyone else, they would not be on voluntary leave with full pay (plus $15,000). How much will his gas cost the county if he has even more unlimited time to drive around?
Dr. John Trotter
February 25th, 2010
8:42 pm
Dr. McGiboney would be another great choice. Dr. Williams would probably not come out of retirement but he might come on board (no pun intended) temporarily to help the school system. He is a fine gentleman and a fine educator, and I don’t know who would try to anonymously detract from his sterling reputation.
Dr. John Trotter
February 25th, 2010
8:44 pm
Dr. McGiboney would be another great choice. Dr. Williams would probably not come out of retirement but he might come on board (no pun intended) temporarily to help the school system. He is a fine gentleman and a fine educator, and I don’t know who would try to anonymously detract from his sterling reputation. But, like we have been saying for the longest time at MACE, “Crawford Lewis Must Go!” Also, wipe out the useless Office of Internal “Resolution.”
Dr. John Trotter
February 25th, 2010
8:49 pm
Two comments caught in the Legendary Filter. LOL!
Dr. John Trotter
February 25th, 2010
8:50 pm
Sorry, Dr. T., but we had to go to the mattresses against Crawdaddy. Pretty soon, he will be banned from the board room, eh?
Morgan
February 25th, 2010
9:12 pm
Dear Former,
You mentioned nepotism… It crosses district lines, too. The Decatur school superintendent hired the DeKalb superintendent’s daughter to her central office team and soon thereafter Dr. Lewis hired the Decatur superintendent’s husband to his central office team. In addition, a City of Decatur school board member serves as the senior PR person for DCSS. I would be interested to know if either of those two central office positions were included in the proposed 148 cuts. Of course, this kind of thing goes on everywhere, I hear. It just feels uncomfortable when it goes on with public dollars and circumvents processes that are supposed to ensure fair hiring practices.
Everyone is right about Garry McGibbony. He currently serves as a deputy superintendent under Kathy Cox at the state DOE. He is a good man and a wonderful leader.
Truth
February 25th, 2010
9:24 pm
I sure hope Ronald Ramsey will be picked up and questioned soon. He has all the answers since he is internal affairs.. The system cannot afford to keep any of those who are a part of the supt., cabinet. HR, Acctg., Finance, Internal Affairs, etc… In order to rebuild, the corrupt or cancer must first be removed. Afterwards, the healing begans. We have much work to do.
Parent that is Changing
February 25th, 2010
9:28 pm
Board Member Jesse “Jay” Cunningham needs to be investigated for his business deals with the schools under his supervision. Jesse “Jay” Cunningham has used his position and power to force schools under his supervision to allow his business Zo’s (Davito’s) to operate in the school buildings being an exclusive seller of food to students as students leave the school to board buses. I have two children in Dekalb County Schools under Jesse Cunningham and this is an everyday practice of Zo’s (Davito’s). Jesse Cunningham even forced Southwest Dekalb’s football team to purchase pregame meals from Zo’s (Davito’s). Jesse Cunningham may be worse than Pat Pope because he forces his business onto the schools. Jesse Cunningham doing business with schools under his supervision has to be a conflict of interest and needs to be looked into. I am encouraging Parents, Principals, Teachers, and Students to speak out about corruption in the Dekalb County Schools. It is time to fix the problem. We owe our children better than what we have given them, myself included. We can fix our schools, if we work to fix our schools! Let’s find the one’s who are not serious and replace or silence them, parents and students included.
Gwinnett Mom
February 25th, 2010
9:42 pm
Enter your comments here
Gwinnett Mom
February 25th, 2010
9:43 pm
Now you no why my kids go to Gwinnett county schools.
Wounded Warrior
February 25th, 2010
10:00 pm
YEAH!!!!!! FINALLY SOME COHONAS SHOW UP IN DEKALB. WHAT DO YOU MEAN WHY? SERIOUSLY? THIS MORON IS SO CORRUPT, AND THEY ARE GOING TO FIND THE PAPER TRAIL…
Brooke
February 25th, 2010
10:10 pm
ok AJC we know you were there first and the first to report it…my goodness can you also be first in hiring someone to spell check the countless mistakes you have online and in your paper. The other day you couldn’t get citizen spelled correctly. BTW, you also lied about breaking the Oxendine probe and that was something you stole from a georgia public broadcasting report. I don’t care about the AJC being first but, be accurate, truthful and spell the words correctly.
Wounded Warrior
February 25th, 2010
10:13 pm
Concerned black clergy are MIA!!!!!
Tasha Walker
February 25th, 2010
10:46 pm
Dr. Trotter….when are you coming back to Dekalb??? We are having another parent/citizen meeting this Sunday at the American Friends Service Committee Bldg located at 189 Sams Street (across from the DEFACS office near the Avondale Train Station at 4:30pm in Decatur regarding this and other issues in Dekalb County School System you have my number… ALL CITIZENS ARE WELCOME TO ATTEND….
A Realist
February 25th, 2010
10:54 pm
I guess Crawford’s not getting that raise, huh?
Is There School On February 26
February 25th, 2010
11:56 pm
[...] [...]
Mad Tax Payer
February 26th, 2010
12:57 am
So once again DeKalb tax payers will have to pay for legal fees, salaries and misc. while the investigation continues. I would love to know the amount of money spent for legal fees between DCSS and DeKalb Board of Commissioners. Now the police are angry since their pay is being cut. This should help our property values over the entire county! Even in Dunwoody. No one is entitled to a job. Pat Pope getting paid to do nothing, former BOE kids getting paid for doing nothing, DCSS 88 million in the red! You can’t spend what you do not have! The curriculum has changed so many times over the past three years, what has that cost? Gee Gloria Talley must have seen some writing on the wall to resign effective this summer. Can the Governor have the state take over the DCSS operations? This is OUR money being spent, BOE it’s not yours.
One more thing Zepora Roberts should be careful what she says on the record. Her sound bite tonight will definitely bite back if Crawford is found guilty of any charges. How many times does CL have to screw up before being shown the door? Guilty or not this whole situation is his fault, he hired Pat Pope and asked the DA to investigate then tried to take it back. His mere stupidity should be enough grounds for being fired.
jim d
February 26th, 2010
8:36 am
Gwinnett Mom.
You think Gwinnett with their billion dollar budgets could fare any better? NO DEAR, they just havent been caught yet.
jim d
February 26th, 2010
8:40 am
Gwinnett Mom,
I’d suggest one simply check out the teir system in Gwinnett. 6-7 teir contractors might create a lot of filtering for the money to flow.
jim d
February 26th, 2010
8:43 am
Anyone care to take a wild ass guess when the last time was that Gwinnett had a full blown state audit instead of a self audit?
Dan
February 27th, 2010
10:46 am
I guess cutting DeKalb’s budget to the bone while crying the blues about tax hikes being inevitable includes paying for the superintendent’s lawyers when his house gets searched because there is probable cause that information relating to criminal activity is on the premises.
Props to the geniuses who agreed to putting that clause in his contract – maybe the AJC can investigate that. If anyone wonders why there is such hostility, some rational and some irrational, to all levels of government look no farther than DeKalb County government for a reason why.
The DeKalb public education system is little more than a jobs program and patronage trough where hogs feed.
Delilah
March 1st, 2010
12:45 pm
There is a lot more corruption that goes on at DCSS. The new Teacher Assistant software that was adopted (for millions I’m sure) is a total joke. It is the worst system I have ever seen. I want to know who took the money under the table for this one!
Jesse "Jay" Cunningham Watcher
March 1st, 2010
5:13 pm
Dekalb County School Board member, Jesse “Jay” Cunningham is selling pizza in the cafeteria of M.L. King High School. I went to talk to my daughters teacher after school and witnessed a crowd of students purchasing pizza from the wife of Jesse “Jay” Cunningham. What is the difference between Pope and Cunningham. The pizza sale is suppose to be a fund raiser for the cheerleaders, but cheer season is over, since the Basketball team is out of the playoffs. I think it is Jayfundraiser. What is happening to Dekalb?
Gone to far
March 2nd, 2010
7:32 pm
Of course Lewis is corrupt, arrogant and beyond help. Such a shame. He was living a dream “humbled” at his success. Guess humble turned into egotistical and in his mind beyond approach. School Board paying his legal fees – unbelievable. He is a suspect in a crime. No different if he got a DUI. Missing the days when DCSS was a great system under the Freeman Administration. When it was not necessary to tell (convince) everyone you are premier. The proof was in the pudding!
More to the Raid than this!
March 3rd, 2010
11:03 am
Things are not always the way that they may appear to be! The Superintendent is being falsely accused.
Maureen Downey
March 3rd, 2010
11:06 am
More to this Raid, What is he falsely accused of in this case?
Maureen