Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:April Key didn’t do this on her own initiative, though. She was no doubt ordered to come down hard on Walker. So how far does this go up the chain of command?

The only people above her are Hull and McKnight.

Bingo

Anonymous wrote:I’ll feel better if they fired April Key, who was one of the principal people there who retaliated against Walker. She is still listed as Chief of Human Resources and Development. She should be suspended, at the least, or fired and pushed out the door.

Correct. She's quite terrible.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Great news! Alexandra's fantastic reporting got Khalid Walker, who bravely spoke out about the leadership who made him change Joel's investigation findings, has been reinstated to his old position: https://moco360.media/2024/01/26/mcps-investigator-who-alleged-retaliation-is-restored-to-former-position-he-says/

Walker told MoCo360 that he would return to his former job on Monday. “I am looking forward to returning to DCI,” he said. “The recent OIG report highlighted many issues that some of us in the office had voiced concerns about for a long time. I am very much looking forward to participating in making all of the recommended changes.”

This is a good start. It's a shame that we have to use the media to change MCPS, but change is happening at least.

I wouldn’t call this good news. He was the one not investigating some complaints and not following up when witnesses revealed additional instances of misconduct. His transfer was punitive, as was his overall treatment. But there’s no way he should stay in his job. Paid leave until they work out an exit or another position is more appropriate here.

He needed to be out of that role during the investigation. And each time one investigation finished, another started, and now the last one was released this week and he now has his job back. I don't think the transfer was a bad thing. The laptop thing and such do seem unnecessary.

In my experience, someone in her position reports directly to the COO office and that leads us to Brian Hull, whom I'm really surprised hasn’t resigned, been fired, or forced to quit, as it appears he had to have a supersized role in all this. Beyond that, he answers to Dr. McKnight. It’s a straight path and worrisome to have someone in central office who believes in harassing and bullying an employee for not toeing the line.