State: No Probable Cause Against Superintendent Harper

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Georgia’s Attorney General has issued his recommendation on whether the allegations against Bartow County Schools Superintendent Dr. John Harper should move forward.

Sam Olens said there’s no probable cause against Harper, and the Georgia Professional Standards Commission on Tuesday voted to accept the attorney general’s recommendation.

The case against the embattled superintendent has been dismissed, said Paul Shaw, director of GaPSC’s Ethics Division.

Shaw said the ruling came around midday Thursday. He also said he believed the vote was unanimous.

Harper’s attorney Julie Oinonen praised the commission’s decision.

“The results of today’s decision affirmed what we have always emphatically stated: that Superintendent Harper is innocent of the defamatory charges made against him as a result of a politically motivated vendetta,” she said. “The superintendent has spent the past 45 years dedicated to the education of our young people and looks forward to continuing the remainder of his service to Bartow County Schools.”

Former Bartow School Board members Matt Shultz and Wanda Gray filed the allegations against the superintendent, which allege Harper had been dishonest about district finances, falsified documents by backdating agreements, failed to investigate sexual harassment complaints, engaged in sexual harassment and conspired with others to withhold information from other school board members.

The Professional Standards Commission’s Educator Review voted to recommend revocation of Harper’s professional license. Harper appealed the recommendation with the state Attorney General’s Office.

Shaw said the commission on Thursday agreed with Olens ruling, and a consent order will be issued certifying no sanctions will take place.

Shultz on Thursday characterized the commission’s decision as “disappointing” and one that “sends a very dangerous message to the school system.”

“The teachers and staff of Bartow County have been left unprotected and this just reinforces the comment made by the SACS Committee this week that the “governance structure of Bartow County is neither clear nor effective,” he stated, referring to AdvancED’s report issued to the school system. ”Unfortunately, more retaliation and poor leadership will be the result of the status quo being left in place in the Bartow County School System.”

Harper said he was pleased to see the commission adopt Olens’ recommendation.

“Throughout this process, I have maintained my focus of educating our children well,” he said. “I look forward to continuing in that endeavor, and working with an outstanding group of educators and students to see Bartow County exemplify the best. I would like to thank the Bartow County Board of Education for their continued support. Also, I deeply appreciate the overwhelming encouragement shown by the community including parents, staff, students, business and religious leaders, as well as others.”

What Should You Read Next?

• Law Firm: Harper’s Accusers Engaged in “Smear Campaign”
• State: Could Take Up To 2 Months to Get Harper Case File
• Harper Vows To Appeal License Revocation Recommendation
• GaPSC: “We Did Make a Decision” in Harper, Rucker Case
• Complaint: Bartow Super “Dishonest” About Finances, Failed To Probe Sexual Harassment Claims

Photo credit: Bartow County School System