Hornsby Imbroglio Raises Worries

The fallout from a federal criminal investigation of Prince George's County schools chief Andre J. Hornsby has jolted a school system that can ill afford another bout of instability.

Nearly two years after Hornsby took over from another embattled schools chief -- and three years after the state abolished a controversy-marred elected school board -- county leaders said yesterday that they are unsettled by the reemergence of turmoil atop Maryland's second-largest school system.

"The Prince George's County Council is greatly concerned about the impact of the ongoing federal probe focusing on alleged activities of" Hornsby, council Chairman Samuel H. Dean (D-Mitchellville) said in a statement. "Any adverse impact this situation imposes on our government or our citizens, especially our children, is regrettable."

Hornsby returned to work yesterday in Upper Marlboro, one day after FBI agents entered his office and another school building to seize records and question staff members about his dealings with an educational software vendor and other management activities. The FBI's surprise action Tuesday came while Hornsby was traveling home from school business in San Diego.

Hornsby declined through a school system spokesman to comment on the matter.

Instead, he prepared in private for a crucial Board of Education meeting today about the investigation. Most of the nine school board members have supported Hornsby since he took over the system in June 2003. Now, they are scrambling for information, weighing whether to stay the course with a school leader who has ignited controversy but also pushed staff and curriculum changes meant to boost student test scores.

"I don't want you to suggest I'm not a supporter [of Hornsby's] today -- or that I am," said board member Charlene M. Dukes (Glenn Dale). "I certainly want to understand what's happening."

Said board Chairman Beatrice P. Tignor (Upper Marlboro): "We need some facts. We have nothing to go on." If the board finds that Hornsby has committed an impropriety, Tignor said, he would be treated "like any other employee." She said that meant he could be put on administrative leave or forced out.

Under Hornsby's four-year contract, which expires June 30, 2007, his annual base salary is $250,000 a year. One clause in the contract allows the school board to sever his employment with a buyout worth half his annual salary.

The school system declined yesterday to release information from the FBI search warrants until after tonight's board meeting.

Hornsby's suddenly precarious position has injected fresh uncertainty into the leadership of the 136,000-student system. A caretaker school board, appointed in 2002 by the governor and county executive, is to give way next year to an elected board.

In addition, the system has reported the highest student transience rate in the state and is known for high turnover among teachers, principals and other staff members.

Some county leaders said they are anxious to avoid further turnover at the top after the departure of schools chief Iris T. Metts in 2003.

"It's in our interest for him to succeed," said County Council member Thomas R. Hendershot (D-New Carrollton). "We need to get past this business of changing superintendents every couple years."

One issue in the federal investigation is a $1 million purchase of educational software and other equipment from LeapFrog SchoolHouse, a division of LeapFrog Enterprises Inc. of Emeryville, Calif. Hornsby did not disclose at the time that he lived with a company saleswoman. He later denied wrongdoing.

Cherie Stewart, a LeapFrog spokeswoman, said the company has cooperated with the FBI. She said, however, that agents had not visited the company offices and that LeapFrog was not a target of the investigation.

Barry Maddox, an FBI spokesman in Baltimore, declined to comment yesterday.

In county political circles, there was wide agreement that the federal probe had bruised the image of the school system.

"It's unfortunate that the Hornsby controversy has undermined the hard work that's been done by the school board, teachers and students this year," said U.S. Rep. Albert R. Wynn (D-Md.). He cautioned against judging Hornsby too soon but added, "If he's charged, he should be suspended."

Business leaders lamented the developments at a meeting in Lanham of the Prince George's Business-Education Alliance, a school advocacy group that includes senior business executives. But alliance Executive Director David R. Merkowitz said Hornsby's support appeared to be holding. "This district needs some stability and some clear direction," he said.

Until now, Hornsby has had solid backing from the nine-member school board. He was hired on an 8 to 1 vote in 2003. The lone dissenter, Judy Mickens-Murray (Upper Marlboro), said yesterday that the board should gather facts and proceed cautiously. Board member Jose Morales (Greenbelt) said he was still backing Hornsby.

Board members John R. Bailer (Camp Springs), Abby L.W. Crowley (Greenbelt), Robert O. Duncan (Laurel), Dean Sirjue (Bowie) and Howard W. Stone Jr. (Mitchellville) could not be reached for comment.

Because the Prince George's system is under state scrutiny, Hornsby's fate could be influenced as well by other leaders, such as County Executive Jack B. Johnson (D) and State Schools Superintendent Nancy S. Grasmick. Neither would comment yesterday on possible damage done to Hornsby's viability as a leader.

Staff writers Nancy Trejos, Ovetta Wiggins, Eric Rich and Ruben Castaneda contributed to this report.

View the original article here

No Move Made by Board On Hornsby

Two days after federal investigators searched his office and another building for evidence of possible crime, Prince George's County schools chief Andre J. Hornsby won at least a two-week reprieve yesterday from a decision on his future as the school system leader.

The Board of Education, meeting behind closed doors with Hornsby and school system attorneys, took no punitive action related to the FBI probe of the schools chief. Board leaders said they wanted to wait for the outcome of another review of Hornsby's purchasing and contract management before deciding whether he should continue to head the 136,000-student system.

"I've got to make sure that Dr. Hornsby gets due process," said Chairman Beatrice P. Tignor (Upper Marlboro) in a telephone interview before the meeting at school headquarters. "It's hard for us. He hasn't been charged with anything."

After the meeting, Tignor said in a prepared statement that the board would soon take steps to assert more control over purchasing and contracting.

Although Tignor expressed concern over the federal investigation, she said a review by Huron Consulting Group could be "far more important" as the board weighs Hornsby's future. The board hired the Chicago firm in response to controversy stemming from a $1 million purchase last year of educational software and equipment.

Hornsby failed to disclose at the time of the purchase that he was living with a saleswoman for the vendor, LeapFrog SchoolHouse of Emeryville, Calif. He later denied wrongdoing.

Board Vice Chairman Howard W. Stone Jr. (Mitchellville) echoed Tignor's assessment. "Nobody's taking this lightly. We realize the gravity of the situation, but we want to find out what the facts are," Stone said after the 2 1/2-hour meeting.

The board rejected a motion by Judy Mickens-Murray (Upper Marlboro) to place Hornsby on administrative leave, according to board members.

Seven of nine board members attended the meeting. Absent were Dean Sirjue (Bowie) and Robert O. Duncan (Laurel). The board was appointed in 2002 by the governor and county executive after the state abolished an elected board viewed as dysfunctional.

Hornsby's case is emerging as a major test for that appointed board. Critics say the schools chief should be canned.

"He's been a dismal failure, and he's had a Board of Education that's afraid to admit it made a dismal mistake," said Del. James W. Hubbard (D-Prince George's ). Hubbard's wife recently resigned as supervisor of business outreach after working more than 10 years for the school system.

Hornsby, 51, chief executive of the school system since June 2003, is nearly halfway through a four-year contract that pays a base salary of $250,000 a year. One clause in the contract allows the school board to sever his employment with a buyout worth half his annual salary.

Hornsby has not made any public statements on the investigation since the FBI action Tuesday. For the third straight day, he did not respond to a request for comment.

But Hornsby made a public appearance at Bowie High School with Lt. Gov. Michael S. Steele (R) and hip-hop music mogul Russell Simmons for a morning rally to recognize student achievement.

"How do you do?" he said to a reporter as he walked into the auditorium. He stood to the side during a news conference and ducked out of the room when Steele was asked about the FBI matter.

The lieutenant governor, who lives in Prince George's, called Hornsby "a buddy" and said he had done "some very positive things" in the schools. "Whatever the probe leads to, it leads to," Steele said.

Moments later, Hornsby appeared onstage to address honor roll students who attended the rally. "The future is bright for each and every one of you," he said. "All you have to do is study hard and, at the same time, play hard."

View the original article here