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Saturday, July 26, 2014

Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White

Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White:



Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White




To be clear, if you see this reported in the media......

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Re:  John White and BESE Members Will Be Targets of New Ethics Complaint

For more information contact:  Lee P. Barrios

Parents, educators and other public education activists find it necessary now to disclose their intent to file a complaint with the Louisiana Ethics Administration regarding questionable activities and professional relationships of State Education Superintendent John White and several Louisiana state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) members

While the public has an expectation that our officials and employees will respect the laws governing them, history has shown that holding them accountable must be the ultimate responsibility of those for whom they are paid or elected to serve. 

We believe that conflicts of interest by certain BESE members do in fact exist and that clarification and the recent expansion of those relationships need to be brought to the Board of Ethics. Our concerns and questions have been rebuffed in attempts to communicate with BESE members directly, and formal public information requests have not been responsive. We will now turn our concerns and evidence over to the office charged with making the final determinations in such cases. 

While specifics of our complaints about BESE members will be left to the Board of Ethics, our most recent concerns for Supt. White can be found in his publicly filed financial disclosures reports.  White has been the recipient of remuneration for travel, lodging and meals from several organizations that we believe garner undue influence. http://ethics.la.gov/PFDisclosure/DisclosureDetails.aspx?disclosure=John%20C.%20White  One of several concerns is White's acceptance of over $700 for his appearance described as Teacher for America Connecticut Benefit Dinner.  White reported to the press that he "typically pays for travel expenses with a personal credit card and then provides a receipt for reimbursement from the state.  . . . . the organization provides a donation to the state in the amount of my travel expenses."  If that excuse flys it will be accompanied by pigs! My public information request for such documentation has not been answered. 

Supt. White has described "subtle shifts in the tone and substance of the public," "insinuations" that his motivations are Geaux Teacher!: Asking For Clarity on Ethics of John White:


Louisiana Joins Parent Coalition for Student Privacy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEJuly 24, 2014For more information contact:Leonie Haimson: leonie@classsizematters.org; Rachael Stickland: info@studentprivacymatters.org; Lee P. Barrios: lee@saveourschoolsmarch.org;  www.studentprivacymatters.orgNew Coalition Urges Congress to Listen to Parents and Strengthen Student Privacy ProtectionsA new national coalition called the Parent Coalition for Student Privacy r