Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Public notice of Fadzen hearing

On another post Anonymous wrote:

"New post:

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE BOARD OF PUBLIC EDUCATION OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PITTSBURGH SHALL CONDUCT

A PUBLIC HEARING
REGARDING THE
EMPLOYMENT OF
ROBERT S. FADZEN

NOTICE is hereby given that, pursuant to the provisions of Section 514 of the Public School Code, the Board of Public Education of the School District of Pittsburgh, PA will hold a public hearing regarding the employment of Robert S. Fadzen beginning Wednesday, January 25, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. and, if necessary, continuing on January 26, 2012, January 31, 2012 and February 1, 2012. It will be held in Conference Room A, First Floor of the Board of Public Education, Administration Building, 341 South Bellefield Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
No public comments will be received."

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can anyone attend this hearing?

Anonymous said...

Yes, public hearing.

Anonymous said...

Trib covered it today.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/
news/breaking/s_778318.html

not a lawyer said...

If the 1997 offense was so egregious whey wasn't Mr. Fadzen dismissed then?

Questioner said...

If the July offense was so bad why didn't they say anything about it then?

The pretexts that started with Schenley have become standard procedure.

Questioner said...

Here is the news report PPS reportedly didn't like- from September 16 quoting Fadzen; 3 days later administrative leave, no explanation given at that time.

http://www.wpxi.com/news/29203196/detail.html

Anonymous said...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/09/16/children-find-gun-following-south-side-shooting/

I think the above is the link. What is in question about the incident?

Anonymous said...

He didn't clear what he said with the CFO and Spolar first. You know they want their "spin doctors" to put out PPS info. There is no freedom of speech with PPS.

Anonymous said...

The trib article has 100% changed since the link was posted at 2:00 today. No mention of the gun found, plus detail about the ambulance story that was omitted in the original story. Very odd.

Angry Taxpayer said...

I'd love to know how much PPS has spent in legal fees on this case.

Anonymous said...

How many people believe that Fazden is getting the big run around?

How many people think Fazden should be gone?

Who do you really think it is behind wanting Fazden to leave? Dr. lane? Ira? Fichette? French?

Anonymous said...

Is this hearing televised or is it online? If so where?

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:57, thinking that the story will be reported in many ways. can anyone imagine the chief being out of uniform as reported today in the PG? in 8 years as a pps parent and many chances to see the chief never once did I see him out of uniform!!

Questioner said...

You would think if someone was a dedicated employee for that many years and was nearing the end of their career PPS could cut them a break. But that's not how it goes anymore. 7:57, what did the Trib article originally say about the gun?

Anonymous said...

He obviously stepped on someone's toes. Yes, this lawyer is costing PPS (us - our tax dollars)money. The hearing is a waste of time and money. The decision is non-binding. We know he is being fired. I hope his lawyer lets him testify. Maybe some skeletons will rattle or even fall out of the closet. We can hope!

Questioner said...

Hearing update:

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_778509.html

Anonymous said...

Thinking that the oath sworn by civil servants in the public safety area would REQUIRE a law enforcement officer to aide in any way necessary, including in shepherding day care children to their parents and out of harm's way.

Anonymous said...

Basically it sounds like he does, from time to time, step outside of his exact jurisdiction and may be umm, a bit of a blowhard.

However, it does sound like each instance so far there's been a pretty good case for having done what he did. Even the ambulance one, which sounded crazy (trying to stop an ambulance on a run for a u-turn) now sounds much more plausible: ambulance drivers using sirens to weave unsafely through downtown traffic (according to the articles they weren't on a call, right?) near/in a school zone sounds a lot less crazy.

It seems to me that the fact they've kept him all this time really says that there's something else that caused them to think that they needed to get rid of him quickly now. And while that may be a reason to attempt to get him to retire, it probably wasn't a good idea to put him on unpaid leave. It's likely going to cost all of us more, now.

Anonymous said...

My thought is that the Chief really knows what is standard of operation in every PPS. I needed to visit my child's teacher and signing into the school when the Chief arrived. He asked if the principal was in and said to tell her that he dropped by for a visit. The secretary got the principal, they chatted and then he walked around the school. I saw him pass the classroom where the teacher and I were having a conference. Maybe the issue is that although he may not know about the content that goes on in a classroom but he sure does have first hand knowledge of how the school operates and how the students behave. That in itself says a mouthful. As a parent, I welcomed the Cheif's unsheduled visit in my child's school. He sees the real deal while Central Office visits seem to all be pre-planed. So if there is an underlying issue maybe it's because he really knows what is happening in each school while Central Office staff only think they know. Maybe some unannounced visits by Central administrators would be an eye opener. My thought, if he overextended his authority for a safety concern of an ambulance weaving through traffic by CAPA and if in fact when he stopped that ambulance and there was no patient in the ambulance then the Chief needs to be thanked and the paramedics in the ambulance need to be FIRED!

Anonymous said...

The ambulance stop does seem justified to me, especially given our post-9/11 concerns and the proximity to a school and our centers of commerce, the federal building, and local government. In my limited observations as a parent and having attended meetings where he presented, he takes all aspects of his job seriously.

I would like to see him reinstated.

Anonymous said...

Roosevelt wanted Fadzen fired, this has been in the works for quite some time.

Further evidence Lane is simply an extention of Roosevelt and is carrying out the plan.

Questioner said...

Trib article:

http://m.triblive.com/triblive/db_36749/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=VyRS1TIr&full=true#display

Are all districts like this?

Anonymous said...

The biggest disappointment in all this is that the wait for The Chief's portion of the proceedings is so far off.

Anonymous said...

I hope he sings like a canary!

Anonymous said...

We are probably in for quite a disappointment.

You need to remember that this is not a hearing in front of an impartial court of law.

This is a local agency hearing in front of a hearing officer handpicked by Solicitor Weiss with input from the attorneys trying the case for the Board and the firm that employee relations law firm that supports Mrs. Spolar's efforts.

It wouldn't surprise me to find out that the District prepared and submitted a brief to keep every single witness the Chief planned on calling from testifying.

Enjoy the Kangaroo court now Counselor while it lasts. Nearly six months after incident that this is allegedly about your team shot blanks for four straight days.

You won't be able to withhold and redact evidence in federal court. We both know the Andrews Report speaks well of the Chief and endorsed the pursuit of accreditation, a process that would have brought clarity to jurisdiction.

Anonymous said...

Are you serious? All this talk about Fadzen! What about the two Commanders in charge now? Now that Fadzen is gone it is a real hot mess AND THEY ARE CLUELESS! What does Commander Brown and Novicky do anyways? Nothing but give orders! They have their favorites and if they do not like you they throw you to the wolves!!!!! WHAT DO THEY DO? NOTHING AND MAKE A NICE SALARY! THE BOARD ONLY NEEDS THE SECURITY OFFICERS! THEY ARE THE ONLY ONES THAT WORK AND ARE PAID NOTHING COMPARED TO THE POLICE. THE NEXT TIME THAT YOU ARE AT A FUNCTION SEE WHO WORKS! ITS TIME FOR A CHANGE! YOU CAN TALK ABOUT FADZEN BUT AT LEAST HE TALKED TO YOU LIKE A HUMAN BEING!The department is a mess and falling apart! Why are Commanders needed? Ha, they are not needed and do nothing but put lies on paper to make it seem like they do something! What do the Police Officers do? Now that is funny! Nothing but ride around in air conditioned cars and get a call to a school that the Security Officers have handled way before they arrive!LETS GET THIS STRAIGHT THE SECURITY OFFICERS DO THE WORK AND GET ZERO RESPECT! THEY ARE SO UNDER PAID COMPARED TO THE COMMANDERS AND POLICE OFFICERS THAT DO NOTHING BUT MAKE MONEY AND LAUGH ALL THE WAY TO THE BANK! HOW OFTEN DO YOU SEE THE POLICE OFFICERS WALKING THE HALL WAYS? NEVER EVER EVER! THE SECURITY IS NECESSARY AND THE POLICE ARE NOT WHAT SO EVER!

Anonymous said...

Lets see if our department is fair and hires Security for Summer Dreamers by paraprofessional seniority!

Anonymous said...

MARK WILLIAMS SHOULD BE THE COMMANDER NOT BROWN! THE ENTIRE DEPARTMENT IS UNHAPPY WITH THE ACTING CHIEF AND BROWN! EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW UNPROFESSIONAL AND THINGS DONE THE DAY OF. DR. LANE HELP UP PLEASE! THEY HAVE THEIR FAVORITES AND ARE VISCOUS!

Anonymous said...

DR. LANE HELP US PLEASE!

Anonymous said...

Acting Chief Novicki,

You are not fare and have your favorites. You made a fool out of our department since Fadzen has left! You do not go by the Boards Para Seniority List like your suppose to! You are not professional at all and we need Dr. Lane to help us!

Commander Brown,

You stole Mark Williams position and he should had filled a grievance!

Our department has no faith in either of you!

Anonymous said...

Fadzen is gone and the department is a mess! The Security Officers deserve much more respect! The Police Officers think they are better when the Security do the work and have no fear.

Anonymous said...

I am a Security Officer and this is the first time that I read this mess. All this mess about how screwed up our department is. It is so unprofessional to talk about your department on this web site. Worry about yourself and not others. It is unprofessional to talk about others in-general so please do our department a favor and do not comment on this web site. We have jobs and that is so important - just worry about yourself and do not put others down - just do your job. Now that is professional! V..

Anonymous said...

Your a Security Officer that the Commanders must not harass! This is America and we have the right to let the School Board know what is the truth and how we feel! The Department is a mess! They do not go by seniority on the Para list like they are suppose to. I have been working at a middle school for 16 years and I am in the top 20 on the Para Seniority list in Security. I requested a High School multiple times and ignored! Its all about who they like! There are new Security that work at the High Schools - all Security in the beginning should have to work a Middle School! This is why we are unhappy - it is unfair!