The investigation into a case of alleged racial bias involving the Burlington School Board cost $2,826 — and the findings are not yet public.
Private investigator Daniel Troidl worked 33.25 hours on the inquiry and charged the district $85 an hour, according to a bill that Seven Days obtained Monday through a public records request. City taxpayers must pay the tab. But so far, Troidl’s report is not being made public.
Troidl investigated former board member Mark Porter’s claim that board member Jeff Wick made racially biased statements during a private conversation. Wick denies that.
On Monday, superintendent of schools Yaw Obeng put off a decision on whether to release the report in response to a Seven Days public records request. Normally, a response is required within three days.
Obeng cited an extension clause under Vermont public records law that allows a delay when additional consultation “among two or more components” of an agency is needed.
“We do not anticipate needing the entire 10 days allowed by the statute and expect to substantively respond to you in advance of such a deadline, which would now be April 18th,” Obeng wrote.
Troidl is a former Vermont State Police investigator who now works as a private detective, looking into allegations of fraud, employee misconduct, theft and other matters. His firm, DT Investigators, is based in South Hero.
His bill to Burlington referred to an investigation into “discrimination based on protected characteristics.”
Originally, school board members suggested the investigation was necessary because Obeng had filed a formal complaint of discrimination connected to the Porter allegation. Last week Obeng clarified that he raised concerns but did not file a formal complaint.
Wick released a statement Friday that said, in part:
“I’d also like to reaffirm my commitment to the principles of diversity, equity and inclusion in our school district and to express my support of our school district’s efforts to focus on closing the achievement gap that exists among students.”
He added: “One of the biggest challenges we face both nationally and locally is the issue of racial justice. I believe we, myself included, have to face this challenge with great humility and constant vigilance and I fully support the outgoing school board’s recommendation that the new school board receive implicit bias training.”
Attorney Joe McNeil has also done related work for the district and has not sent his bill yet, according to Obeng.
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Michelle, where can we read his sister’s comments about slavery? If they aren’t available, please remove your comment.
Sadly more money spent on Yaw Obeng ! No candidates in Burlington, Vermont or the USA not qualified? That speaks poorly of our state of the union- and school system.
The Oracle – Seven Days removedy post claiming it was off topic, but a quick Google of Heather Wick Vermont will give you your answer. For more detailed info, try Heather Wick Manning Yackovetsky.
It’s too bad 7D doesn’t see the relevance. This family has a clear pattern of protecting Heather from ‘responsibly.’
Interesting. I also had a post removed for violating policy because I expressed how my interactions with Jeff Wick formed my opinion of him. My opinion of him is not positive.
Hi folks – It’s our policy to remove comments that are off topic or uncivil. This story is about an investigation of actions by members of the Burlington School Board. Anyone is welcome to weigh in on the story, but please stay on topic and refrain from name-calling.
If you need a refresher, here are our commenting guidelines: http://7dvt.co/comment-guidelines
Seven Days – pls explain how you “define” name calling.
In the past, I complained to you about a very uncivil and belittling personage someone was compared to and was told, it was someone expressing their opinion and it stayed.
Name calling occurs when it happens to someone who is a friend of seven days, apparently Jeff Wick for some reason. It is just expressing your opinion when it happens to someone who is not a friend of seven days, presumably Bernie Sanders or just an average commenter.
Mark Lade and Maggie Standley are spot on. Questioning the sincerity of Wick’s statement directly relates to this story and is not an insult. My last post pointed out out the double standard in Wick’s response above and the one he used last year after his sister made an insulting ‘joke.’ The family’s support of Heather in spite of her picking on the most vulnerable – hospital patients, her elderly husband – brings up a very real and very relevant pattern.
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/arc…
http://sentencing.typepad.com/sentencing_l…
The report found NO discrimination, and it turns out Obeng never even filed a complaint! Stephanie Seguino was very adept at finding new and creative ways to burn money.