Schools’ ethics panel has full staff

Wednesday, July 16, 2008

At the Calvert County Board of Education’s business meeting July 10, John Shay of Dunkirk and Arthur Athens of Huntingtown were appointed by board of education members with a 4-0 vote. Board member Robert Gray recused himself from the vote.

Gray was recently named, along with other members of the school system, in an ethics complaint regarding a redistricting decision made earlier this year affecting the placement of several hundred students to the new Barstow Elementary School. Gray has been accused of voting for a decision to better suit himself and his business.

According to Gail Hoerauf-Bennett, a spokesperson for Calvert County public schools, Athens is currently employed by the U.S Naval Academy as the vice admiral at the Stockdale Center for Ethical Leadership.

Shay has a law degree and is employed at a law firm in Upper Marlboro. Shay was formerly a member of an ethics committee for the Prince George’s Bar Association.

‘‘They both have strong ethics experience,” Hoerauf-Bennett said of the new appointments.

The three-person panel works as an advisor to the board of education on ethics related matters.

Recently, two members of the panel had to step down due to conflicts of interest.

Bill Chambers recently stepped down from his position to run for a seat on the board of education. Members of the ethics panel cannot be employed by Calvert County public schools.

Shortly after Chambers stepped down, it came to the attention of the panel and the school system that according to its policy and procedures, members of the panel could not be related to anyone employed by the school system.

It was then decided that member Dana Jones would step down from his position on the panel.

With Thursday’s appointments, the ethics panel is now operational.

Robin Welsh, deputy superintendent of Calvert County public schools, said Thursday that she would meet with the panel in the near future to further acquaint the new panel with its role.