Dallas school administrator put on leave for cozy contracts

by PegNews wire

DALLAS — DISD scandal, the latest chapter: Louann Dobbs, an assistant superintendent for the Dallas Independent School District, helped her friend/roommate score $40,500 in consulting fees last year, without bothering to mention to anyone that they'd lived together since 1995. And in 2003 and 2004, she hired another good buddy for contracts valued at $41,650.

She still pays that person $100 a month to use her Dallas address, so she can skip out on the rule that says she has to live in the school district.

The district placed her on paid leave March 8, two days after the DMN started asking questions. Dobbs and her two pals said that, at the time, they didn't see anything wrong. But now -- now that everyone knows about it -- they admit they should have disclosed their relationships to district officials.

The "consultants," Sheryl Fowler and Sharon Morrow, were hired to help improve low-performing schools. They worked at Samuell High School, with Fowler training teachers, and Morrow helping the principal with schoolwide improvement projects.

Posted by T.G.