Federal Complaint Alleges Fund Misappropriation in Birmingham Schools

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:448;s:4:"file";s:32:"2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:7:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-336x251.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:251;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:30:"WitherspoonAfterward-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-417x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:417;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-355x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:355;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:32:"WitherspoonAfterward-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:247807;s:14:"optimized_size";i:170022;s:7:"percent";d:31.390000000000001;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:60:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:82721;s:14:"optimized_size";i:48810;s:7:"percent";d:40.990000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-336x251.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24657;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18177;s:7:"percent";d:26.280000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:66:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:3715;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3637;s:7:"percent";d:2.1000000000000001;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:51082;s:14:"optimized_size";i:36560;s:7:"percent";d:28.43;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:24117;s:14:"optimized_size";i:17635;s:7:"percent";d:26.879999999999999;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-417x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:34409;s:14:"optimized_size";i:25220;s:7:"percent";d:26.710000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:68:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2014/10/WitherspoonAfterward-355x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:27106;s:14:"optimized_size";i:19983;s:7:"percent";d:26.280000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1665288951 
1413244800

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Birmingham City Schools parent and president of the local chapter of the
American Federation of Teachers has filed a complaint against the school
system with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Inspector General.

Submitted by fax Friday, Richard Franklin’s complaint alleges four examples of
misappropriation of federal Title One money, which is meant for schools with at
least 40 percent of their student populations defined as low-income by the U.S.
Census. It is against federal law to spend any Title One money on non-Title-One
schools, which is allegedly what happened through several contracts — including for
Kaplan ACT exam prep courses — during fiscal 2014.

The complaint also says, “Of special note is the fact that Birmingham City Schools came
under state takeover in June of 2012. Our state Superintendent, Dr. [Tommy] Bice
should have been overseeing these board actions. It’s not enough that we have had
the resignation of a few individuals [who] may have been involved. We must hold
everyone accountable in order to move forward and to force transparency upon
both the local and state administrations.”

Local and state education officials have maintained there was no wrongdoing. A BCS spokesperson wrote late Tuesday evening, “We are aware of this complaint; however, we consider this to be a closed matter. The services provided to students from non-Title 1 schools were paid for through allowable sources of funding. Title I funds were not utilized to cover those services.”

Still, Birmingham City Schools staff involved in the matter have resigned, and BCS superintendent Craig
Witherspoon has announced his own resignation, effective at the end of
the year. After Franklin and others raised concerns about the alleged misappropriation, the local school board also
changed the funding source for some of the programs in question.

Through his tumultuous tenure, Witherspoon has had strong support from
Birmingham’s business community, but quite the opposite from Franklin’s AFT and
some rank-and-file employees, many of whom were let go as the system
trimmed costs partly by cutting positions to boost cash reserves to the legally
required one-month’s operating expenses.

 

At the Supreme Court, the case of the candidate who sued, even though he won

At issue was a suit by Rep. Michael Bost, R-Ill., challenging an Illinois regulation that allows ballots mailed in by Election Day to be counted for up to 14 days after polls close.

Israel and Hamas agree on the ‘first phase’ of Gaza ceasefire deal

The deal raises the possibility that the war may now be over, ending the bloodiest fighting ever between Israelis and Palestinians.

After Spain’s blackout, critics blamed renewable energy. It’s part of a bigger attack

When millions lost power in Spain and Portugal this spring, some were quick to blame too much solar and wind power. That wasn't the cause, but the misinformation had an impact.

Los Angeles: Spaghetti Cumbia, a band born from cultural fusion

Photographers and storytellers Karla Gachet and Ivan Kashinsky document cumbia music in Colombia, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina and the United States.

What are your holiday shopping plans? NPR wants to hear from you

Is this the season of cutbacks or splurges? As we prepare to cover holiday shopping and deals, NPR wants to hear from you, whatever your plans may be.

Why gold is having its best year since 1979

The price of gold hit $4,000 per ounce for the first time ever. It's a bad sign for the U.S. economy

More Education Coverage