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School official becomes quiet
By MELANIE AVE, Times Staff Writer TAMPA -- For two weeks, school administrator Doug Erwin begged to go before the Hillsborough School Board to clear the air about alleged wrongdoing in two maintenance departments he oversees. But on Friday, when he finally got his chance, he refused to answer questions during a daylong meeting with the board. The decision by Erwin, the district's director of operations, stunned and disappointed board members. It also sent a clear message: Erwin, a district employee for 33 years, does not trust that the district will treat him fairly. Instead of telling board members what he knew, he read a brief statement and asked the district to request that a grand jury be impaneled, "with the goal of ensuring that the public's money is well-spent. "I believe that only an outside investigation will be successful," said the 56-year-old former principal. "The school system cannot successfully investigate itself." Board members agreed to have attorney Crosby Few research the grand jury request before meeting again in January. They also decided to review purchasing and bidding policies, and examine the grounds and security departments. In addition, they agreed to look into the building of new schools after Erwin told them the numerous maintenance problems at 6-year-old Durant High School are examples of widespread shoddy construction. About 75 people attended the meeting, including one agent each from the FBI and Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Friday's meeting followed the recent release of documents from an internal investigation that showed $560,000 might have been misappropriated in the grounds department. A separate investigation of the maintenance department accused two employees of using district money and equipment for their own benefit. Erwin, who oversees both departments and first reported the allegations to school officials, asked for the meeting with School Board members when it appeared to him top administrators were using him as a scapegoat. Administrators and board members were frustrated by his refusal to answer questions. "I would have liked to have had him speak," board member Carolyn Bricklemyer said. "But the whole point is, let's get to the bottom of the issues. We can probably do that without Mr. Erwin." Erwin said his attorney, Brian Rush, advised him not to answer questions. He said the atmosphere of the meeting amounted to a setup. "They brought in a group of people to offset anything I said," he said afterward. "For me personally to get into a debate with some 30 people, it wouldn't have solved the problems." Superintendent Earl Lennard and school attorney Thom Gonzalez said Erwin has a responsibility to answer questions about the allegations and report all he knows about wrongdoing. "That's an issue we're going to continue to look at," Lennard said. "The board is my employer as well as his employer." Erwin told board members he could provide documents supporting his allegations but did not think the meeting was the appropriate setting. Friday's meeting will be broadcast at 9 a.m. Sunday on Time Warner Ch. 18. -- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.
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