A letter from our Associate Director

November 4, 2022

Dear Readers,

Access to public information is a fundamental pillar of democracy, enshrined in law and protected by the First Amendment.

But public records are easier requested than accessed, especially in the digital age.

Last July 5, the Daily Memphian published my two-part examination of irregularities in the way Memphis-Shelby County Schools was bidding and awarding tax-funded construction projects.

David Waters

Records indicate the district was overspending for this work by millions of dollars.

The following day, July 6, MSCS began an internal investigation of Charles White, a senior facilities manager, and his role in awarding some construction contracts. White was placed on investigative leave with pay pending the outcome.

On July 18, I sent the school district's media relations department the following questions: "Is Charles White still director of facilities management for MSCS? If not, was he fired or demoted, when and why? Have there been any other departures from facilities management staff since July 1?"

The district did not answer any of the questions. Not even after White was fired July 27 for steering construction contracts to a local vendor that was doing business with a company owned by White.

On July 29, I filed an official request to see White's personnel file via the Tennessee Public Records Act, the state’s version of the Freedom of Information Act.

I finally got the redacted file Oct. 14. It showed that White had been fired for a conflict of interest "resulting in your company receiving funds totaling $68,000."

I wrote about White's firing on Oct. 28, the day after interim Supt. Toni Williams announced big changes in the district's business operations.

Williams said that Genard Phillips, chief of Business Operations, is leaving the school system in December. White was manager of general services for Facilities Management, which reports to Phillips.

Meanwhile, Williams said, the contract procurement process “will transition from reporting to Business Operations to reporting to Finance,” in part “to help avoid conflicts of interest.”

Williams also announced that the district has hired an independent audit firm to review the procurement process. That includes the bidding and awarding of construction contracts.

My stories have since been republished on the Institute for Public Service Reporting’s website. You can read my original report on irregularities in school construction spending here and my report on White’s termination here.

We will follow the audit review and report the findings, no matter how many FOIA requests we have to file, and however long it takes.

The public needs access to public records. It's often the only way to hold public officials accountable for how they spend our tax dollars.

David

Skeptics Wonder If New K-12 Funding ‘Weights’ Will Hinder Students With Disabilities, Aid Vouchers

Lawsuit Seeks MPD Records On Troubled Officers