Simmering tensions among the D.C. Board of Education spilled over Tuesday as member JoAnne Ginsberg leapt to the defense of a whistle-blower who was criticized by board President Peggy Cooper Cafritz.
“He didn’t do anything wrong,” Ginsberg said of Steve Kapani.
Kapani, a financial analyst, came to Ginsberg earlier this year with allegations that his boss, charter schools executive Brenda Belton, was channeling money to herself, friends and family through a series of companies.
His allegations now make up the backbone of a grand jury investigation.
In Tuesday’s Examiner, Cafritz said she was angry with Kapani for not coming forward sooner.
“While I am very happy that he eventually came forward, I frequently asked him if everything was going well with the money and the answer was always in the affirmative,” Cafritz said of Kapani. “My beef with Steve was, ‘why didn’t you come forward sooner?’ ”
Cafritz also defended herself and board Vice President Carolyn Graham for writing a memo to obtain funds for suspect contractors month after Kapani brought his allegations up.
Carfritz said that neither she nor Graham knew all the allegations against Belton.
Ginsberg disputed Cafritz’s account.
“Board members knew what the issues were because I told them,” Ginsberg said.
Earlier this year, the ad hoc Board of Education subcommittee that was supposed to supervise Belton’s office held a closed-door meeting. Ginsberg said she relayed Kapani’s allegations while Kapani waited outside.
Graham, members William Lockridge and Jeff Smith and Cafritz herself were there, Ginsberg said.
“I did tell them about what was going on and she was in the room,” Ginsberg said.
The charter schools scandal has divided the board, but until recent days members had spoken privately about their disputes.
Ginsberg, members Tommy Wells, Victor Reinoso and Robin Martin have been urging Belton’s firing for months. Cafritz, Graham and Lockridge often defended Belton.
Last week — seven months after Kapani came forward — the board voted to fire Belton. Lockridge abstained.
