Tag Archives: Julie Williams

The Update Is…THERE IS NO UPDATE

You likely remember the attack on a minor Jeffco student at a board meeting that we reported on in several articles – http://www.supportjeffcokids.org/remember-the-students-accountability/

 

Well, here’s an update on this investigation after 10 weeks of waiting:

The update is THERE IS NO UPDATE!

The community has NOT forgotten!

 

From: Wendy McCord
To: Jeffco Schools Board of Education <board@jeffco.k12.co.us>; twelliot <twelliot@jeffco.k12.co.us>; McMinimee Dan M <dmcminim@jeffco.k12.co.us>
Sent: Mon, Jul 13, 2015 7:51 pm
Subject: Re: Status of Investigation into Bullying Incident by John Newkirk, Ken Witt and Others

 

Dear Terry, Dan and members of the Jeffco School Board,

Thank you, Terry, for letting me know of your correct email address. It has become increasingly difficult to find email addresses on the Jeffco Public Schools website.
It has been nearly ten weeks since Messrs Witt and Newkirk intentionally and with malice aforethought subjected a minor Jeffco student to public humiliation and intimidation. To date, I have not heard any response to the myriad complaints, including the one I submitted on May 8, 2015. As I have mentioned, it does not in any way appear that this issue is being addressed with the respect or thoroughness that it deserves. 
I certainly appreciate that a comprehensive review was more important than expediency. Nevertheless, the longer the district remains silent, the longer it condones the blatant policy violation by its BOE President and Secretary, as well as the looking-the-other-way of the Superintendent. That Nina Pinto was allowed to resign rather than being held accountable for her part in these disgraceful events only solidifies the impression that the District does not take this matter seriously. This is most disconcerting. 
This matter needs to be resolved, with appropriate consequences for the involved parties, including Ken Witt and John Newkirk, who clearly had planned their verbal assault on a minor student. I look forward to hearing from you in the very near future with more information regarding the outcome of this investigation, and what steps will be taken to ensure that ALL of Jeffco’s students, even those who disagree with the BOE majority, are protected by the District, the staff and the BOE members themselves, and offered the FULL protection of District policies and state law. This is a disgrace and embarrassment to the entire school district (which, in and of itself, is also a policy violation by Ken Witt and John Newkirk).
Sincerely,
Wendy R McCord

On Tue, Jun 30, 2015 at 10:29 AM, Jeffco Schools Board of Education <board@jeffco.k12.co.us> wrote:

Dear Ms. McCord,

 

Thank you for your note.  Please note that the address you are using for me, Terry Elliott, is inaccurate and may explain why your notes have failed to receive a response from me.  My email address is: twelliot@jeffco.k12.co.us.  This may help to expedite future correspondences.

 

With regards to the status of the investigation, I am awaiting the final report from the outside vendor we secured for this matter.  As you know, our original plan was to conduct an internal investigation, however, given that some of the parties identified the general counsel and Superintendent in later complaints we deemed it necessary to hire an independent investigator not employed by the District.  As you might imagine, securing an investigator and setting the scope of the work took time.  Additional delays have occurred as additional individuals were identified as potential witnesses as well as the lack of timely availability of many witness outside the control of the district.  I received word on Friday from the investigator to expect the report in 7 to 10 days.

 

It is my intent to review the final report and issue a finding within 5 days of receiving the report.

 

I trust you know that this matter is being addressed with the respect and thoroughness it deserves and that a comprehensive review was our first priority over expediency.  I appreciate your frustration with the lack of response from me and hope that correcting my email address will address this concern moving forward.

 

Regards, –Terry

 

Where’s the accountability?