D.C. Public Schools fired the investigator they assigned to probe allegations of grade-doctoring and misspent funds at McKinley Technology High School.
Eastern Stewart, a former Metropolitan Police officer, no longer was employed by DCPS as of 4:30 p.m. Friday, school officials said.
“The DCPS Office of the General Counsel, in conjunction with the Office of School Security, will take appropriate steps to ensure that all Mr. Stewart’s pending investigations, including ongoing investigations into alleged misconduct at McKinley Tech, are completed in a timely and professional manner,” spokeswoman Safiya Simmons said.
The Washington Examiner first reported Friday that Stewart told interviewees that Chief of Staff Lisa Ruda was trying to make the investigation disappear. “I had to know who I could and couldn’t trust,” said Stewart, who believed someone he questioned was leaking information.
Simmons had confirmed that DCPS was considering disciplinary action against Stewart, and had handed over his current investigation on grade-doctoring at McKinley to the Office of the Attorney General.
Stewart’s tactic was not authorized by DCPS and “could possibly jeopardize the investigation,” Simmons said.
McKinley Principal David Pinder was removed by DCPS and placed on paid administrative leave following a series of investigations.
Stewart was assigned last fall to investigate a $100,000 award that AARP gave McKinley in 2008. When a program to help senior citizens use the Internet never materialized, Stewart began interviewing current and former McKinley employees.
After he wrapped up, Acting D.C. Attorney General Irvin Nathan handed the case over to federal investigators, saying “these funds may have been mishandled.”
Stewart continued to investigate allegations that Pinder doctored students’ transcripts, assigning seniors credits that they never earned so that they could graduate on time, the Examiner first reported.
Transcripts obtained by The Washington Examiner show Pinder listed as the course instructor of such classes as Interactive Media and Principles of U.S. Government. Sometimes, it’s noted that the class is waved. Most students received a “P” for passing, while a handful received letter grades.
The Washington Examiner obtained a tape of Stewart telling a former McKinley teacher that Ruda sought to sink the probe. “[Ruda] wants to cut loose, push it under the rug. She’s trying … not to get this exposed,” Stewart said on the tape.
Ruda said she was disappointed by Stewart’s false comments. Both she and Stewart acknowledged they had never met each other.
“[My] time and that of other DCPS staff members was devoted to refuting these allegations as opposed to the ongoing work of supporting our students and schools,” Ruda said.
