One would think that an innocent person would want to get the story out. Is he afraid that other irregularities such as ABC and Science Weekly contracts might come under scrutiny as well? What aout his position on AVID and College Board and how those programs are supported by the county?

The children of this county will pay dearly for indulging the self-centered and opporunistic Dezmon-Hairston duet. Since their priority is to promote themselves and their products rather than serve the families of Baltimore County, it is time that they go...and real educators be put in their place. I don't know where you will find them since the reputation of the county is such that NO smart, ethical person wants to come while Dezmon is still in charge, and make no mistake....Hairston is still getting orders from her. To make the issue about race is beneath contempt. How dare she!

I read the headline about my school superintendent with absolute horror: "Joe Hairston refuses to be interviewed by Attorney General." What is he hiding? The quality education of our children should be the priority. Board of Ed.: Eliminate anything that keeps the county tied to this individual. She has caused quite enough damage. Insist that Joe Hairston put the right people in place to serve our students best. The problem is that quality people will not come to the system until sanity returns. Why did Mary Cary leave? Where did the stimulus money go? How much was paid to companies having connections to Hairston-Dezmon? Does Barbara Dezmon call, visit, get paid, consult, in any capacity beyond that of any other citizen? Her comments in the article leave me speechless. How sad that she ever held a position of power in Baltimore County. We are all paying for it now. The kids most of all!

While checking out this ethical issue of Hairston's, the AG and legisltature should also investigate his procurement deals with the College Boards, Dell Computers, Data Trax Inc., and Science Weekly Magazine, as well as his lack of a bid process in spending federal stimulous money. As the saying goes, he, "has some 'splainin' to do!"

It is time for the Last King Of Baltimore to abdicate. The teachers of BCPS have had enough! Parents, you need to start demanding this hypocritical demigogue leave. He is putting your children at risk for his own ambition. It is time for unrestricted power of a superintendent to end. Parents, demand the right to participate in the decision making process of the next superintendent and the next board members. This isn't the Soviet Union komrads.

Hairston is pathetic! He has an entire department creating positive PR on his behalf. He sends out daily press releases describing every miniscule event he attends. This is all manufactured at taxpayers expense. Shouldn't BCPS employees be doing things for students instead of making the Superintendent look better than he deserves? I have never seen the like, ever!

Just last week The Sun published an article about the dire condition of finances for BCPS and yet, millions of dollars have been spent and apparently, continue to be spent to finance personal projects such as AIM. BCPS employees were paid on BCPS time, using BCPS resources to do the work of Miss Dezmon. All content is the work of BCPS and All technology is the work of BCPS...so pray tell, what did Miss Dezmon copyright? A checklist! News flash-that is called a report card and its been done and in far superior ways than the likes of AIM. What a waste of taxpayers' money with no advantage to students. To the superintendent and board: STOP spending precious dollars on friends' products ARC, Science Weekly, every whim of Miss Dezmon and countless others. Bring new people (or even the excellent people who have left for reasons of personal integrity) in to do the work of education. Four years has been quite enough. The excuses and deflections should make the board angry. How about some real hope and change for Baltimore County?

btw, one would think, indeed! Where is the board of education? Reign this man in- Get rid of every connection to Dezmon and let's move forward. Why would Joe Hairston want to end his career this way? Dezmon finally retires and he merely puts figure heads in place who still answer to her. It is a shame for all in the system, especially the students. The board needs to begin a search for a superintendent who will move the county forward. Sadly, Joe Hairston no longer fits the bill. He is too worried about what Ms. Dezmon thinks.

Can't someone do something? I appreciate Liz Bowie's efforts and those of elected officials; however, the current superintendent demonstrates his feeling that he is above answering to the public. How sad that those in positions of power in the Balt. Co. school system feel no obligation to model ethical behavior. I can not get past the reponse of Ms. Dezmon. The county is well rid of this woman...or at least, I wish they were. The superintendent continues to give her power through his appointments. Come on 2012... I am not sure the system can hold on that long. We need new leadership now. Are you listening board of education? Your stakeholders are pleading with you to do something.

This should concern every parent who has a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, or any child they care about attending Baltimore County Public Schools. I know that I am concerned. I never really gave it much thought before this year, but, it seems that it will be necessary to have an elected school board so that the citizens of Baltimore County have some input into their system. A job of the board is to evaluate the superintendent...anything more than an F will certainly prove their lack of ability to do the right thing by the children of BCPS. Start a search and get the system on the right track!

How do you refuse the attorney general? Can we all do that? The problem was upper management anywhere is they become power hungry, arrogant, and entitled. A dose of honesty and humility is in order all around the Baltimore/DC area.

@wise educator -
Assuming your question isn't rhetorical, here is a quote from the article:
"The attorney general's office does not have subpoena power in a case such as this that does not involve criminal or antitrust issues, according to Raquel Guillory, a spokeswoman for the office, so Hairston and Dezmon cannot be forced to take part in an interview."

So, it would seem, if the AG asks you questions that don't relate to a crime, you can refuse to answer.

Wake up Baltimore County! Our superintendent believes he is above the law and above all. Dr. Dezmon told him so and is still running the show! She is the real OZ! We need our Board of Education to look past the arrogance of the Superintendent and listen to the stakeholders who have been pushed out of any type of collaboration by this dictator. All news articles are about JH. All awards are about JH. AIM and the other items bloggers have listed are only the tip of the corrupt iceberg. Go back and look at the Learning Preference Inventory. Once again an item Dr. Dezmon put her name on and trademarked, yet BCPS teachers and students were her case study by the approval of the superintendent. Rumors have it that BCPS is paying her royalities to use the inventory on their new dashboard. Follow the money just below the threshold needed for Board approval and you never know what you may find! It's not akin to a lynching, per Dr. Dezmon, it's akin to the old mob of corruption and power. He's got to go!

@a parent-Thanks. I did read that quote and my question was mostly rhetorical but I am still astounded that anyone would refuse to answer questions of the attorney general unless,of course their lawyer advised them not to. Hairston and his posse have a great deal of explaining to do to the taxpayers, staff, and parents of Baltimore County.

I understand that Dezmon is under contract as a consultant to BCPS.
Just when we thought it was over.
There is a new school board president. Who chose him? No list of candidates made it to the public, or to the employees.

Liz, once again, get out your shovel. You need to dig even deeper!

Thank you, Liz Bowie! Get the truth out there. Would you ask the superintendent if Barbara Dezmon continues to work for the school system in any capacity or for any amount of money ? Does she continue to call and visit to give input into decision-making? Do any of the directors/assistant superintendents/workgroups that she assembled continue to include her in any aspects of operation or decision-making in the system? Have you ever seen the paper-pencil product she said she created? Does it bear any similarity to the content/technological production of AIM as completed by BCPS employees? Where is the contract signed between Dezmon-Hairston (mentioned by Dezmon, herself)? Did he sign away the resources paid for by Baltimore County taxpayers? What does she propose to sell? How will she market it, and will BCPS' name be used in anyway to promote this monstrosity? So many questions but she deflects and he runs! Board of Education-do what you were chosen to do! Next year, let's hope we elect those who know for whom they work...the communities of Baltimore County.

What is needed in bcps is an elected school board and an outbreak of democracy.

Need 94 more reasons?

All commenting on this blog and those throughout the county who are disturbed by the antics of the superintendent and the lack of oversite by the school board need to show up at the next school board meeting, sign up to speak and let everyone in attendance know just how you feel. The next school board meeting is Tuesday November 9 at 7pm in the ESS Building at 6901 Charles Street in Towson. I hope the house is packed!

@ Questions:

To my knowledge, though she retired in June, she was rehired as a consultant.

On a recent interview on a Baltimore news station, the superintendent states: "This is the first I've heard of this attorney general making a request. He'll have to do that through our attorneys," Hairston said.
And they did, according to a letter obtained by WJZ. But Hairston's lawyers declined to cooperate. Regardless, the Attorney General's Office found Hairston did nothing wrong.
First, school attorneys were contacted in March 2010. Second, they did not find that he did nothing wrong because he would not answer their questions. I am speechless about the level of discourse brought so low by the superintendent. What message is he sending students through his elusive and devisive behavior? Race is a nonissue in this case and I am shocked that the superintendent would stoop to such tactics. It is an ethics and leadership issue. I am so sad that the superintendent would act in such a way.

It is time for the school board to look for a replacement. Dr. Hairston no longer is doing what is right for the children. He will now enter into a time where he will spend more time covering his tracks than he will focusing on helping our students be successful. In the past 10 years, he has pushed out many outstanding professionals who were well respected. It is time to move forward, perhaps by looking back at those who have a history of success in BCPS.