Governor orders probe of Dougherty County School System

ALBANY, Ga. — Per an executive order signed by Gov. Sonny Perdue, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s director has ordered the bureau to assist a group of investigators for the purpose of detecting violations relating to alleged Criterion-Referenced Competency Test (CRCT) tampering in two school systems, including Dougherty County.

The order, signed Oct. 13, allows GBI Director Vernon Keenan to determine the resources necessary to assist former Georgia Attorney General Mike Bowers and former DeKalb County District Attorney Bob Wilson in the ongoing investigation.

“This is just the next phase of the investigation,” said Bert Brantley, a spokesman for Perdue. “The GBI director offered assistance, and this allows them (the bureau) to get involved.

“It’s a matter of manpower. Mike and Bob don’t have (a large enough) investigative staff.”

John Bankhead, director of public affairs for the GBI, said officials began speaking with teachers working for Atlanta Public Schools Monday. When they are done with the Atlanta phase, Dougherty will be next.

“We have begun the APS part, and that will be going on for awhile,” he said. “We have a number of interviews to conduct.

“We will be (using) as many agents as necessary to make for as little interruption as possible. We are not interested in targeting teachers, but we do expect them to be truthful.”

It is not known yet when the GBI will be coming to Dougherty County, Bankhead said.

“That is up to Mr. Bowers and Mr. Wilson,” he said.

The order comes down after an audit conducted by the Office of Student Achievement found indications of possible test tampering in the Dougherty and Atlanta school systems. The state Board of Education directed the individual school systems to conduct investigations into the matter, which were found to be “insufficient in scope and depth.”

Shortly afterward, Bowers and Wilson were appointed to conduct an independent investigation into possible tampering after an executive order was signed by Perdue on Aug. 26. The same order also stated that Richard L. Hyde would assist in the investigation.

“I find that the scope and depth of the investigation into possible test tampering and related issues at the Atlanta Public Schools and Dougherty County Public Schools creates an unusual circumstance under O.C.G.A 35-3-8.1, such as that it is necessary that Bowers and Wilson have additional assistance from the state to conduct their independent investigation as required by the August 26, 2010 Executive Order,” the most recent executive order reads. “… The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s involvement is necessary for the prevention and detection of whether any laws of the state were violated.”

A message left at Hyde’s office at Balch & Bingham in Atlanta went unreturned Monday.

Brantley stressed that the GBI’s involvement does not necessarily mean state officials are out to get anybody.

“People have made the leap that the GBI getting involved means there will be criminal charges. That is not the intent,” he said. “We are just trying to determine what happened.

“If there is criminal activity, then obviously we can’t ignore that.”

Officials with the Dougherty County School System say while they are and have been willing to work with investigators, they are ready to move on.

“The Dougherty County School System is becoming concerned with the interruptions to the integrity of the testing process but welcome any and all investigations (for the good of) students in the school system,” said R.D. Harter, public information officer for DCSS.

“The Dougherty County School Board and the system’s administration have made it clear that we will make all records (available) to those investigating,” said DCSS Board Chairman David Maschke. “We’ve turned over all the records they have asked for and continue to be open and responsive.

“We hope this investigation will be conducted in a timely manner so that it can be resolved and we can move on.”