School District aims to fire two for alleged ethics violations

    We haven’t heard the last of the no-bid contracts. The School District of Philadelphia will recommend the termination of two employees to the School Reform Commission, based on the employees’ connections with a contract for the installment of security cameras awarded to IBS Communications.

    Francis Dougherty, a key aide to Deputy Superintendent Leroy D. Nunery II, and John L. Byars, senior vice president of procurement services, played different roles in the contract, which the district came under fire for awarding to IBS after reneging on a deal with another company.

    As the Inquirer reports, Dougherty’s attorney says Dougherty is protected under whistleblower laws for forwarding emails about the IBS contract to his personal account, which the district says signifies Doughtery’s intentions to forward the notes further without district detection.

    It’s not clear what violations Byars has been accused of, but he was the one to prepare the written justification for the IBS contract.

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