State Superintendent Declines To Make White Permanent BCPS Superintendent
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- State Superintendent Dr. Karen B. Salmon has declined to approve Interim Baltimore County Public Schools Superintendent Verletta White as the school district's permanent superintendent.
On Wednesday, White said the State Superintendent believes that the ethics review panel's findings cause her "concern," and has indicated that the lack of an audit is another matter that prevents her from providing her approval "at this time."
White was voted permanent superintendent on April 18 by the Baltimore County School Board.
RELATED: Verletta White Named 1st Female Superintendent Of Baltimore Co. Public Schools
It seemed like a story-book ending. WJZ was with White one day after being officially named superintendent.
"It's exciting, but it's also humbling. I'm just so grateful for the all the support I've received," White said during a visit to a school.
For nearly a year, White served as the interim following the investigation and eventual perjury conviction and sentencing of the former superintendent, Dallas Dance.
Dance was recently sentenced to six months in prison on four counts of perjury for failing to report nearly $150,000 in outside income.
RELATED: Fmr. Baltimore Co. Superintendent S. Dallas Dance Receives Sentence
Yet two weeks after being given the job, the state superintendent declined to make the move permanent.
In a letter to the school board, the state's top education official cited school district spending and ethics violations, including that like Dance, White failed to disclose outside income from consulting work.
The president of the Baltimore County Teacher's Union says while they never took an official position on White's appointment to the job, there is concern over the state's decision to undo the official hire.
"They chose, they had a fair vote on it, there was lots of discussion on it, but once that was done we were ready to move forward," said Teachers Association of Baltimore County President Abby Beytin.
Beytin says she fears this decision could set a precedent that could lead to instability in the school district.
"This puts everything up in the air again," she said.
Some parents just want an effective leader.
"It is good whoever's in charge is reliable and that we can trust," said parent Carol Vidal.
Others are standing by the state superintendent.
"She shouldn't have been put into that position when there was still questions from an ethics perspective," another parent said.
In a letter, White addressed all of the concerns writing, in part, "I firmly believe that an audit will show that our procurement practices are above reproach. I also believe that allegations raised by some concerning my character have been based on speculation and not fact."
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