Two county councilmembers asked for a “truly independent” investigation surrounding reported sexual harassment complaints toward a Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) principal.
The letter, addressed to the Maryland Inspector General for Education and Montgomery County Inspector General, requested the offices investigate how MCPS handled allegations toward Paint Branch High School principal Joel Beidleman.
The Washington Post reported this month that Beidleman has had numerous complaints of sexual harassment filed against him and was recently promoted to principal. He was placed on extended leave as of Aug. 4.
“As the new school year is about to begin, our educators, staff, students, and families need to know that someone truly independent is tasked with conducting this investigation in order to restore public trust,” reads the letter from Councilmember Dawn Luedtke and Council President Evan Glass sent Monday.
MCPS has already hired the law firm Jackson Lewis to do an independent investigation.
In their letter, Luedtke and Glass requested that MCPS “halt” the law firm’s work and turn over what was gathered so far to both inspectors general. They believe the inspectors general offices are “best suited” to conduct the investigation.
MCPS Superintendent Dr. Monifa McKnight and School Board President Karla Silvestre were CC-ed on the letter.
On Tuesday, Silvestre said she already has been in contact with the county inspector general. “We welcome the support of the IG,” she said. “We welcome the collaboration.”
However, Silvestre stressed, “It is ultimately the Board of Education’s decision.”
In a video message last week, McKnight said, “The independent investigation that’s underway will help us get an objective look into how the system may have failed and who may have failed it.” She said the report’s findings will provide evidence to fix potential issues, which reportedly stretch back for years.
“In other words, if there is any rot, we will root it out,” she said.
Luedtke and Glass referenced allegations reported in the Post article that MCPS “failed to adequately act, and these complaints all predate the announcement by MCPS that Dr. Beidleman was promoted to the position of principal at Paint Branch High School,” the councilmembers wrote.
The Montgomery County Education Association also opposes using the contracted law firm. In a release, the teachers union stated, “MCPS has now chosen to conduct a second investigation of their complaints using a firm that specializes in protecting management from sexual harassment claims, not in ensuring safe working conditions for employees.”
Suzanne Pollak contributed to this article.
