Coatesville School Board hinders investigation, says Chester County DA

The Chester County District Attorney is asking the Coatesville School Board to cooperate with his criminal investigation into the district. The requests comes after allegations of more harassment of district employees.

County District Attorney Tom Hogan said he’s being blocked at every turn during in the probe, adding that he will not give up.

“When I investigate a drug cartel, I expect that they will obstruct and evade. When I investigate a public entity like a school board, I don’t expect them to act like a drug cartel,” he said Tuesday.

Attorney Sam Stretton represents several members of the Coatesville school District, including the whistle-blowers who exposed racially charged texting among two top district officials who then resigned. The whistle-blowers are cooperating with the probe.

“My clients have been subpoenaed to the grand jury and have been fully cooperating with the district attorney’s office,” Stretton said. “The administrators at the school district and the solicitor have created some very difficult times for them there. Many of their job responsibilities have been removed they have been denied computer access.”

Hogan said he is working to force compliance with his requests for district records and other information.