It is difficult to believe that the superintendent of BCPS had the authority to sign over many employees to do the creative and practical work of an individual over the course of three years. Add up the salaries, technical support, the untold resources for the debacle known as AIM and it should be clear to every taxpayer and parent that the families of Baltimore County lost a great deal to assauge the ego of the superintendent and to provide personal gain to a personal friend of his. There is NO value to AIM...it was unnecessary. The county had the resources and expertise to digitize the curriculum and were well on their way to doing so. The remainder of AIM is an inadequate and lesser grading system than what is available. How can a system that faces such financial difficulties approve of this behavior? It was clearly an arrogant and self-serving decision. The same individual ran rough-shod over multiple employees in a manner that could only be described as that of a bully, intimidating and harrassing the decent, hard-working people in the system. I suppose it will now all be swept under the carpet. The board chose to allow this unethical behavior and close their eyes to the horrible behavior of the superintendent and his associate. The behavior continues through those she selected to work on her behalf after retirement. She STILL calls the shots and it is so sad how the system seems to be more concerned with enriching a retired employee rather than provide a quality education for students while being fiscally responsible and good stewards of the county's funds. I suppose that Mr. Hairston's friends at American Reading Company, Science Weekly, College Board, Dell...and so forth will be rejoicing. There is nothing to stop the apparently legal but far from ethical behavior of the superintendent. As a parent, I am disgusted with the board of education. The AA county executive was in trouble for 100, 000? That's nothing compared to the wasteful spending in BCPS. Why Mr. Hairston's friend spent triple that with the purchase of The Little Brown Handbook. Millions have been given over to American Reading Company...and so on and so on. What a disgrace! When the county begins to pay the price for the politics of personal favor (and it will...in the progress of our students) remember who led us down this path, and the board members who turned their backs on the people of Baltimore County. I know that I will and I will weep.

I wonder if anyone else could garner such a sweet deal...free use of employees and resources over years to create software for a checklist? It is outrageous! I think the public has the right to see the contract. I thought that the board had to approve contracts totalling more than 25,000 dollars. This contract amounted to millions of dollars since employees were forced to work on this for years while being paid by taxpayers. The development of the software, the time, effort, expertise, salaries, and the work that was not done because employees were working for her...This is literally millions of dollars and it is really okay for the superintendent to make that deal without the approval of elected officials through the budget or the board of education? Where were the items accounted for in the budget? If indeed this was all legal, then it is imperative that the board revise their policies and the County Executive Kamenetz review the fiscal policies that accompany a presentation of the budget. Schools are going without while the superintendent gives millions in labor and resources to his friend? Can anyone really think that this is okay? Baltimore County citizens, demand more from your superintendent and board...demand more for your children. Can the county afford another year of this man? It doesn't seem so.

Should BCPS charge her for the man hours used by BCPS employees to make the program computer and curriculum ready? What do you think a consultant firm would have charged her? Because Desmon and Hairston were the supervisors of those employees they had to do what they were told so not to be insubordinate. How does that play into the situation? The Supt. needs to get the BOE approval for expenditures over $25,000. I know that the time and work done by the employees of BCPS were worth much more than that. Hairston who is so interested in his image is only going to be remembered to the citizens of Baltimore County for AIM, his Hitler comment and his accusation of racism. Was it worth it,Joe?

This reader believes he is in the wrong and Hairston needs to go. He needs to stop hiding behind the race card, admit his error and move on to some other district. He and Desmon should go into business together - oh, that's right, they already have!

What do readers believe? Not this.

Mr. Hairston and the board miss the point...who cares if he has the "authority" to sign a contract-why does such an authority exist? This man signed away the work of multiple educators and tech experts to essentially work for a private individual's business and benefit. AIM without the technical expertise of Baltimore County employees was merely an "idea" for a list on which to record grades. It's been done over and over. Certainly not an original idea and without content or software it would never be something that could be sold. I could care less if Miss Dezmon took her idea - ridiculous and the far more valuable software and left forever. The concern is that county money, time, and expertise was used to promote a friend of the superintendent. It is clear and it is wrong! The responses that have included "I wasn't aware" No, "I was never asked"...No, "It is because of my race."...No, "It's like Hitler"....No, I did nothing wrong..and, besides noone cares except a small interest group. When will this man and the board that supported him through this awful mess own up to the fact that they have violated the trust placed in them by the public. We expect the best for our kids. We expect good stewardship of money. We expect honesty and integrity in our leaders. I am sure that the board wants to move on...as do I. BUT, I want assurance that business as usual at Greenwood will change! This doesn't seem realistic when he continues to promote the self-interest of his friend by allowing those who do her bidding to remain in place. Please heed your own words and "Make the right things happen." The lack of honesty and transparency in this article do not bode well for that happening and all of our children will pay for the greed and stubborness of adults with the loss of the quality education they deserve. What an awful era in BCPS history!

The article that addresses a singular question and the legality of signing a contract and the proclamation of the lawyer that Joe Hairston had the authority to make the agreement smacks of distracting the public from the very real concerns of unethical and questionable leadership in Baltimore County. We all know that if indeed it was legal for Joe Hairston to sign a contract with Dezmon Instructional Strategies (and, I am not sure if the lawyer knew all of the truth and facts that would be the finding- By his own account, he did not even look into the value of BCPS input and the money that was invested in the debacle in the form of salaries and technology over the course of years), it most certainly was not transparent, ethical, and in the best interest of the students of Baltimore County. Is this really what we want from the individual who leads the school system? I am disappointed with the board member's comment that he wants this over with...why not really address the problems first. It is not only the "complaints" of a special interest group. It is the very real desire of this citizen and others that our children have school leadership that acts with integrity and with vision for the kids, not themselves. The county needs new leadership to really get over what can only be described as a breach of public faith in those to whom we entrust our children.

Sad but true - I personally worked for DAYS entering objectives, assessment items, rewording objectives, ...etc and the list goes on and on and on and on..........Do you think I donated my time? Baltimore Couty residents paid me well to waste my time doing this work. AIM was much more than and idea or a software program. BCPS spent millions of dollars paying curriculum specialists, supervisors, resource teachers and classroom teachers to put this thing together. Woodlawn MS teachers spent two years "piloting" the program which involved countless hours of data entry and running useless reports. Believe me - this "idea" cost the folks in Baltimore County alot of cash!

AIM and Dr. Dezmon are only the tip of the proverbial iceberg of the condition of BCPS. Under Dr. Dubel, employees felt appreciated and empowered. Teachers were trusted. Now, teachers talk about "hit lists", changing priorities with wasteful spending and cover-ups. I know this is not what parents want to get involved with, but the cost of silence will not only be their prpoerty values.

Amen Amen Amen!

The commenters have said it all. This whole mess cost the county and the children plenty...and, will continue to do so. The tentacles of Dezmon and her product are ever present. I cannot emphasize enough how Miss Dezmon had total use of employees and resources. SHE called every shot with the blessing of the superintendent and board. The employees worked for her, not BCPS, yet, the taxpayers paid their salaries. Her selected people keep her activity alive and the system continues to suffer. I agree- let's put this behind us- completely. Get rid of every tie to Miss Dezmon, including any remnant of AIM (it is not needed) and those who continue to meet with and take direction from Miss Dezmon. And they do.