Hearing into former Willow Run school superintendent's conduct begins Wednesday
Former Willow Run school Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson will return to the district this week to face a hearing on charges that she misappropriated funds.
The school board will start the due process hearing at 1 p.m. Wednesday with a special meeting. The board is expected to immediately go into closed session to conduct the hearing, which will look into charges that Hope-Jackson - along with former student services administrator Laconda Hicks - “defrauded” the district.
Former Superintendent Doris Hope-Jackson
A similar hearing was held last month for Hicks, and concluded with the school board firing Hicks.
The due process hearing is the end of a long road for the school board in its attempts to fire Hope-Jackson, who was demoted from her position as superintendent in December and was placed on paid administrative leave in February. She has been on paid administrative leave since then.
AnnArbor.com has been unable to reach Hope-Jackson for comment.
The hearing appears likely to be the last chapter in a Hope-Jackson’s controversial tenure at the struggling district.
Early in her career, she had the support of the majority of the board, but that changed at the beginning of this school year when new school board members took office.
In October, the board evaluated Hope-Jackson’s performance as superintendent and gave her low marks in all areas, according to a copy of the review obtained by AnnArbor.com through a Freedom of Information Act request.
Of the five areas on the review, which was issued on Oct. 14, 2009, Hope-Jackson received caution marks in four areas. The other category - student achievement - was marked at risk. Board members chose between "on track," "caution," and "at risk" - with "at risk" being the lowest.
The review contains comments compiled from board members, although none of the comments are marked with board members' names.
The review criticizes Hope-Jackson for students' poor academic performance and the decline of the district’s enrollment. The board also said it and Hope-Jackson weren’t working well together.
“The lack of teamwork and continuous tone of lack of board support and respect is a sign of poor management and administrative leadership," one comment reads. "There does not seem to be an open door policy when addressing concerns of the community, staff and the BOE. There are constant complaints about offices closed, no one answering the phones and that there is little accessibility to the superintendent. The superintendent wants to receive compensation for every hour she spends after the regular work day but does not have the same expectation for her administrative team.”
Shortly after that review, Hope-Jackson’s relationship with the board soured even more.
Hope-Jackson was involved in an car accident and took several weeks off to recover. Board members claimed they had no communication from her about what was going on or when she would return.
When she did come back, the board demoted her to director of information and assessment, and then suspended her in February. At the end of March, the board approved a 46-page charging document.
Under Hope-Jackson’s contract, if she is fired for cause, she won't be paid the balance of her contract.
David Jesse covers K-12 education for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at davidjesse@annarbor.com or at 734-623-2534.
Comments
OneLook
Fri, Jun 25, 2010 : 11:52 p.m.
It's amazing how Doris Hope-Jackson and Laconda Hicks are allowed due process, but many other WR employees were denied due process. As a matter of fact their rights were stomped on by these two liars/thieves and due process was denied by Jackson, Hicks, Larry Grey and Claudette Braxton. A lot of this mess would not have happened if Claudette Braxton was doing her job instead of playing gatekeeper for these liars and thieves. These three wrongdoers along with other board members need to be brought up on charges and put in prison and made to pay the district their monies back. It is a shame that these people claimed they loved students and wanted the best for them. I can't wait for Ann Arbor News to post the transcripts from the hearings. Then the public will know the WHOLE truth and nothing, but the truth. I know some of you are having sleepless nights wondering if your names are going to appear in the news or if your wrongdoings are going to be exposed in the news. Thank you Jesse for keeping us informed of the mess in WR School District. These people need to be exposed, so students can get their education and not be robbed of it.
mama247
Tue, Jun 15, 2010 : 7:02 a.m.
Doris Hope-Jackson has pulled this same trick of incompetence in her previous districts. Thank goodness the school district of Harvey, Illinois, was wise recently in rejected her as superintendent. Oh, yes, despite receiving her grand salary for doing nothing, she's trolling for her next educational unit to shaft. Students are the big losers in this financial ploy of Hope-Jackson and the deposed Laconda Hicks, who provided for her OWN education on the backs of Willow Run students. This has all been criminal neglect. I like Basic Bob's suggestion about making Hope-Jackson at least show up for work.... but that was attempted and she was woefully inept. These two NON-educators need to 1. Pay back their debt to WRCS, 2. Pay their debt to society (criminal prosecution), and 3. Publicly apologize to the Willow Run community for their malfeasance. Will any of that occur? Fat chance.
Basic Bob
Tue, Jun 15, 2010 : 3:41 a.m.
Look how she's continued to defraud the district by collecting her paycheck since December for doing nothing. Why is she entitled to be paid her contract when she is not even showing up? I'd make her sit at a desk for eight hours a day until she quits on her own.
Mikey2u
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 8:02 p.m.
Good bye Doris. It's been real.
CountyKate
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 2:20 p.m.
Thanks, David. That non-reply is almost as interesting as the rest of the story. What ironyinthesky2 said is even more pertinent. What is the BoE hiding? You don't go as public as they have gone without something to back up your words - or else you'll be liable for slander and libel. But, if the board has proof, why isn't this a criminal matter - which would take it away from being the BoE's decision? This isn't making sense, and that breeds suspicion in and of itself.
81wolverine
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 1:37 p.m.
It's sad to see kids' education suffering because of incompetent management and leadership. It's no wonder that Willow Run Schools graduation rate is the lowest in the county - 46%. That's deplorable. And it's pretty obvious here Hope-Jackson is one of those to blame.
ironyinthesky2
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 11:51 a.m.
WSC - You may be right, in which case the BOE is wrong to make it so public. If they believe there was misappropriation of funds, they better have involved the police or the BOE is negligent. If she really is guilty, once that's determined, that's another valid reason not to pay her.
WSC
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 11:10 a.m.
Could be the BOE is using the alleged criminal aspect of matter as a carrot for Ms. Hope-Jackson. If her hearing concludes with her firing, maybe the promise of not filing charges in return for Ms. Hope-Jackson 'going quietly' will be on the table. That way the district saves money by not paying her the rest of her contract and Ms. Hope-Jackson doesn't get prosecuted. Not exactly a win-win for anyone, but it may be what the district is thinking.
David Jesse
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 10:56 a.m.
@CountyKate: We've asked board President Sheri Washington this question several times. She has refused to comment on whether any criminal or civil charges or lawsuits will be sought against either Hicks or Hope-Jackson. We've also checked with local, state and federal authorities and are unaware of any currently ongoing investigation. Of course, that doesn't mean it isn't happening, but we haven't been able to find any evidence of it.
CountyKate
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 10:41 a.m.
If she did, in fact, misappropriate funds, why is there not a criminal complaint on this? The board shouldn't be acting just to fire her. Misappropriation is a criminal matter.
Mick52
Mon, Jun 14, 2010 : 9:49 a.m.
A hearing on misappropriating funds? I hope they have had a law enforcement review of this before going forward. No doubt there is conflict here, but how do you blame the superintendent for low academic progress and enrollment? That sounds like they are making her a scapegoat. Hard to tell if the problem is the super or the board.