LAST WEEK: DPS board discusses corruption claim against firm
Last week, school board member John McManus criticized the Gilbane contract. He said it looked tone-deaf given an ongoing federal investigation of corruption in the city of Dayton’s handling of similar “set-aside” contracts.
On Thursday, board member Sheila Taylor asked why DPS couldn’t just take more time and find another company with no history of federal problems, given that the job — pre-construction services before demolishing two unused schools – was not urgent.
DPS Purchasing Director Terri Allen, called to the podium by board President William Harris, said DPS’ own review showed no findings for recovery or debarments against Gilbane that would prevent the district from choosing them as a vendor.
The Gilbane contract was recommended to DPS by E&I Cooperative Services, a company many school districts use to find qualified contractors. Ian Robbins, a vice president of E&I, was also called up by Harris, and pointed out the original allegations were not against Gilbane, but against a company (W.G. Mills) that Gilbane later acquired.
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“That’s why they were implicated in that. There was no liability, no wrongdoing, and the case was settled,” Robbins said.
McManus responded that if Gilbane “was not in any way, shape or form related to these allegations, they wouldn’t be the ones paying the check.”
In a statement to school board officials, Gilbane general counsel Brad Gordon said the company denies all of the government’s allegations in the case. He said the settlement was a business decision made because the $1.1 million was less than the cost of drawn-out litigation.
The board voted 5-2 to approve the contract, with McManus and Taylor voting no.
New committee coming
DPS has delayed until August the announcement of its new Parent, Family and Community Council, which aims to improve family engagement with Dayton schools. The group will work closely with Angie Brown, the new DPS director of outreach and student activities.
School board Vice President Jocelyn Rhynard said Thursday the group of about a dozen people has been established and has already met once, but will be introduced at the Aug. 27 school board meeting.
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“Next month we’d love to introduce everybody,” Rhynard said. “We’re going to be hitting the ground running, finding out when each school’s open house is, trying to attend all of those and making ourselves known in all the buildings.”
Meeting notes
** The school board approved a 3% pay raise for nonunion employees each of the next three years, matching a recent teacher contract extension that also includes a 3% annual bump.
** Sale agreements were approved to transfer ownership of two former school sites — the land of the former Highview School on McArthur Avenue near Madden Golf Course, and the former Macfarlane School at 215 S. Paul Laurence Dunbar Street. The buyers and prices were not available Thursday night, as the sale documents were missing from the agenda packet.
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** The board approved a three-year deal with Teach for America to help fill full-time vacancies. Teach for America puts new college graduates in teaching roles for two years or more in low-income schools. The group says it recruits “outstanding leaders” who connect with kids. Teachers unions have sometimes criticized the group, as its teachers are not certified educators.
As of last week, DPS still had 38 vacancies to fill for the coming school year, continuing its annual struggles to fill all teaching positions. The Teach for America contract says the group could fill from zero to 45 positions, getting $5,000 per hire per year.
** DPS officials would only say they are targeting a fall date to move central offices across Ludlow Street to a new complex. Thursday’s agenda included $135,000 for fire alarm installation at the new building and $151,000 related to an external elevator or hoist to be used to carry large equipment to the top of the building while the main elevator is down for repairs.
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** Other purchase requisitions approved included $950,000 to Frost Brown Todd for legal services for 2019-20, $300,000 to the Ohlmann Group for advertising this school year, and $150,000 to Bing Davis’ Ebonia Gallery for 25 pieces of “Skyscraper” artwork for DPS buildings. The Skyscraper pieces feature high-achieving African-Americans, as role models for youth.
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