In a previous post I reported about a consulting contract between I-SS and Maryann Brennan of Brennan Worldwide. The contract stated that I-SS was to pay Brennan Worldwide a minimum of $36,000 to assist with the 2008 Baldrige Application Project. I also reported that on the Brennan Worldwide web site, under the section titled What our clients are saying about us, Dr. Holliday is quoted as saying “Thanks to Maryann Brennan’s support and insightful feedback, I-SS scored at the top 6% of all Baldrige applications in 2007 and was the only education organization to receive a site visit." This lead me to believe that not only was Brennan Worldwide hired to help with the 2008 Baldrige Award application, they were also hired to help with the 2007 application.
I have recently requested and received additional information regarding the contract or contracts with Brennan Worldwide. Part of this request was to inspect all contracts between I-SS and Brennan Worldwide, to inspect any invoices submitted by Brennan Worldwide, and to inspect copies of the corresponding payments.
It turns out that things were very much different from what they seemed. In an e-mail to me, dated August 17th, Dawn Creason, I-SS Public Relations Director, stated that I-SS and Maryann Brennan/Brennan Worldwide had only one agreement and that it was the one I already had a copy of. Ms. Creason said that there were two payments to Maryann Brennan and that I-SS was preparing copies of those documents for me.
I replied to Ms. Creason stating that the copy of the contract that I had clearly stated that Brennan Worldwide was to provide consulting services to support the 2008 Baldrige Application and did not mention supporting the 2007 application. Ms. Creason then responded to me stating that Ms. Brennan only helped with the 2007 application and that she did not help with the 2008 application.
In a later e-mail, Ms. Creason further described what had happened. Ms. Creason stated that Dr. Holliday and Maryann Brennan developed an agreement to support the 2008 application based on their belief that the 2007 application would not develop into a site visit by the BNQP (Baldrige National Quality Program) examiners. Instead, I-SS actually did score high enough to receive a site visit in 2007, so the plan changed from what was written in the contract. Ms. Creason continued by saying that in the end, however, the cost and number of days of consulting remained the same, so she assumes that is why a new contract was never written. In addition, Ms. Creason stated that the duties performed by Maryann Brennan were actually the same, they were just fast-tracked to the fall of 2007 and that in 2008, I-SS did not use a paid consultant for the BNQP application.
I do not know exactly what the new plan was since the contract was not rewritten and there seems to be no formal agreement to the change. However, attached to the invoice provided by Maryann Brennan there was a page titled: Summary of Statement of Work delivered per contract and as needed. This statement detailed three phases of the services provided. The first phase was the planning phase in which Brennan Worldwide developed a site visit strategy plan that included, among other things, the expert development of all site visit issues and strategies to prepare I-SS to address them. The second phase was the preparation phase that included, among other things, coaching I-SS leaders and interviewees at all levels on how to effectively respond to Examiner interview questions. The third phase was the onsite review phase that included, among other things, consulting to support the Superintendent, the Director of Quality, and the Oz Room Team during the site visit. The document does not describe the Oz room except to mention that it had to do with the daily debriefings. I guess that is where the I-SS team went to meet the Baldrige Wizard.
If you compare the Statement of Work Delivered to the actual consulting contract you will find they are not actually the same as Ms. Creason said. In reality, other than the fact they both deal with Baldrige Award application processes they are very much different. After comparing the documents it appears that Maryann Brennan never fulfilled the obligations of the consulting contract and that she was paid for work done for which there was no contract. That being said, she was paid for the same number of days and at the same rate of pay as specified in the contract. That was 36 days at $2,000.00 per day plus $2,032.16 for travel and expenses yielding a total of $38,032.16.
This consulting contract between Brennan Worldwide and I-SS states that it is effective as of August 1, 2007 but Kay Fulp, I-SS Financial Officer, did not sign it until October 11, 2007. In addition, the Brennan Worldwide invoice states the contract is dated October 11, 2007. Yet the invoice also states that the services began on September 24, 2007. This is backed up by the Statement of Work Delivered as well as by the list of expenses.
I wonder who authorized the work to begin before the contract was in place. And, did Kay Fulp know she was signing a bogus contract? Why was the contract put in place knowing that the services stated in the contract were not the services that were now going to be provided? I-SS Policy Code 8300 states that the school district will comply with generally accepted accounting principles for governmental agencies. I am no accountant but I seriously doubt that these actions comply with any generally accepted accounting principles.
Earlier I mentioned that there were two payments to Maryann Brennan/Brenan Worldwide. The other payment was for $6,400.00 and was dated May 2, 2007. As I mentioned before, Ms. Creason told me that there was only one contract with Maryann Brennan/Brennan Worldwide. However, there was a copy of an additional contract included with the copy of the invoice. This contract is dated March 19, 2007 and is signed by Maryann Brennan and her witness but is not signed by anyone from I-SS. This contract that states that Maryann Brennan will receive $6,400.00 ($1,600.00/day for 4 days) to review the ISS BNQP application. These services and this payment occurred prior to the above services and the corresponding payment of $38,032.16.
In conclusion, I-SS paid Maryann Brennan/Brennan Worldwide a total of $44,432.16 to provide consulting services related to the 2007 Baldrige Award application and the related site visit. This of course does not include an untold number of I-SS man-hours dedicated to the 2007 and 2008 Baldrige Award applications as well as an unknown amount of other expenses related to these applications. And how exactly did this benefit the students? As has been stated before, these were funds and man-hours that could have been better used to benefit the students. I-SS Policy Code 8300 also states that the board and all employees of the school district will manage and use available funds efficiently and effectively to meet the goals of the local board and State. What I-SS goals were related to these applications for the Baldrige Award?
You know, Paul, Dr. Holliday is gone, the Baldrige award was last year, and you need to get over this. Your obsession is starting to be scary. I-SS got $100,000 when it won the Baldrige. Do the math, take 2 aspirin and go to bed for awhile. This can't be good for your heart.
ReplyDeleteYou should be an archeologist. This is alot of energy put into digging up skeletons that could be put towards present and future issues. Maybe you could get a whip and Indiana Jones hat. You used to be a college professor. Yeah! Instead of Indiana Jones you could be Carolina Klaene!
ReplyDeleteThe $100,000 that I-SS received is to be spent on travel expenses to accept the award, travel and housing expenses to cover the conferences that the system is required to attend as part of the award. There are no monies going to the school system to be used to enhance student learning. I requested all invoices, contracts, correspondence and grants that the system had received because of the Baldrige award. I was shown only 1 piece of paper and it was the statement from the Baldrige group telling about the $100,000 dollars. So the system has spent a large amount of money for something that does not have any impact on our students. That money could have been spent on teacher conferences if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteJust as a side bar here not directly related to the orginal post: Baldrige is very much alive and well at South Iredell High School. Two different grade levels and several of the teachers are VERY much into baldrige based on the paperwork sent home. Lord give me patience.
ReplyDeleteDon't let them distract you Paul. You keep digging. That is the only way to stop wasteful spending. Some may think it is trivial, others may not want you to find things, but we all need to know how the money is spent.
ReplyDeleteSome must have no brains , and it is sad. They do not give a damn about anyone but their little old selves. Paul, Keep checking and searching, and perhaps, our BOE will realize how much money has truly been wasted.
ReplyDeleteOf course, those that care ,cannot believe how much money has been wasted. Our students have never benefited from Baldridge. It all has been spin and about advancing me. Business has no part of the caring part about education.
He may be gone to Kentucky, but should that mean that an investigation how funds were spent or shifted should stop? I don't believe so. It is taxpayer money and the taxpayer has a right to know. To those that differ, you may have your opinion but please don't ridicule people that do not mind taking their personal time to investigate. It is their personal time. Do they need your permission how to spend their time?
ReplyDeleteTo Anonymous at 11:44 a.m. ..... I'm right there with you!!!!!!!!!! Literally! I can't believe how Baldridge is at South High...it's scary. I hope the great Lord gives me patience too!
ReplyDeleteSouth High huh?? Have you been to other schools to see how it is there? I'm not a proponent of Baldridge but why is it more present at one school than the other? Don't they all have IF's? Do they not all have the same ambitions?
ReplyDeleteThings are going to change...look at your IF's as a master teacher...and the IF you have at SIHS is a great person and I am sure he is a great fit at SIHS. Things are changing but we all have to keep our heads up and relax.
Okay..a couple of points:
ReplyDeleteOne, yes, the district apparently spent a large sum of money on procuring/qualifying for the Baldridge Award. - Right or wrong, the person who spearheaded the movement and the spending is GONE. There is nobody to hold accountable unless you try to lay it at the BOE's feet, and if you do, then it's simple..don't vote for them next time!
2nd of all...I hate to tell you fine folks this, but Dr. Holliday may be gone, and Baldridge may be taking a back seat to things in the district, but if you would attend some of the new schools meetings in Raleigh, Baldridge is on it's way from there, just not named as Baldridge. Their suggested models are of the same design as those deployed under Baldridge at I-SS in the previous years.
This is coming from the state level, so you better set up camp for a witch hunt in Raleigh. Like it or not, folks, but I'm afraid Baldridge, in one form or another, is going to be here to stay. You think it was hard to buck the system here, wait 'til Raleigh gets their heels dug in.
Holliday is gone?
ReplyDeleteAre you looking for evidence to get Holiday indicted? Unless you are convinced that there has been spending that would qualify as illegal activity and produce charges, let it go. The person who headed up past spending is gone and the money he spent is gone.
ReplyDeleteNot to worry. "Raleigh" hops from one outdated model to another like a flea, and has never dug its heels into anything! As for accountability in Raleigh (or "witch hunt" as worded by the defense), look at NC State University, hub of NC Baldrige.
ReplyDeleteYaaaaawwwn
ReplyDelete"Yaaaawwwn" is right! You really can't scare teachers with threats of what Raleigh is doing. By the time it trickles down to the local level, Raleigh is on to something else. No wonder teachers groan with annoyance when someone says "new." Same old same old!
ReplyDeleteOops, missed an "a." That's "yaaaaawwwn."
ReplyDeleteIf you really want to defuse this blog, don't read and don't respond!!! You are adding fuel to the fire! That's okay, though. Most of us love it!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaawwwn, we love you! Keep showing us that you can't resist this blog!
ReplyDeleteFuel to the fire is a good thing!
ReplyDelete8;41 there were three or four audits during the Holliday reign and there was never anything found to be done illegally. There was some money spent that was not spent wisely, but nothing illegal. There is no more use pursuing the Holliday mobile. He is gone and the money is spent, let's focus on now! There are a couple of people wanting to complain about how money was wasted and feel that it is important to have everybody acknowledge their findings. Let's give Carolina Klaene and his crew an award already so they use their time for a more beneficial cause. Holliday wasted resources. That is past tense. Any energy used to find out what Holliday did before he left is a waste of present and future resources.
ReplyDeleteLet's do focus on now! Let's now waste any more money on the Baldrige pyramid.
ReplyDeleteCan someone tell me what Baldrige means to them? because I am taking a lot of master's of education classess right now which discuss the importance of collaboation through professioanl learning communities, the importance of formative assessments to improve and focus student learning, the benefits of early response to students needs through intervention and enrichment, the need for specific staff development based on action research, how helping students understand the purpose for learning helps improvement their acheivement and much more...AND none of these courses or the materials in them were designed by Jim Shipley or Dr. Holliday.
ReplyDeleteYou hit the nail on the head when you said "specific staff development based on action research". In the last 4 or 5 years, staff development has been totally based on the Baldrige model of improvement. Teachers were not allowed to use staff development money to attend conferences that dealt with specific core subjects such as writing, reading, math, science. Some staff development was done in writing but it was taught by one of the Baldrige gang and I have had several teachers from different schools tell me that by using this method their writing scores went down. The professional learning communities were another excuse to push the Baldrige model. Teachers were shown data and told that they needed to come up with ways to improve it. Quite often their ideas were met with disapproval. That is Baldrige to those who had the misfortune of working in schools that pushed it so hard.
ReplyDeleteBut Baldrige is so cute. "TWEAKIT." "DEPLOYNOW." "PDSA THAT." "OFITHIS." Endless opportunities for humor!
ReplyDeleteIf Baldrige is used correctly it is to empower the employees, but it never has been . The IFs were empowered. Everything had to be done their way or no way. Teachers taught behind their backs. but the wallpaper was on the walls meaning nothing to students. It is called play the game.
ReplyDeleteRaleigh also doesn't know who it is and NCLB is about to go out, just like everything else. It just runs in circles. Tell me how many schools in NC do Baldrige. They cannot afford it in this budget crunch. Those that have heard about all the paperwork do not want it.
If there has been criminal activity with school money , then it can be followed up. Dr.Holliday cannot hide any where if criminal activity is proved.
Go check out the schools in New Mexico that have gotten rid of Baldrige.
4:04: Keep adding that fuel. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaawwwn???? Nothing else to say? Ha Ha!!!
ReplyDeleteYaaaaawwwn. Just picture it - the "opposition."
ReplyDeleteYaaaaawwnnn is still here. I fell asleep!
ReplyDeleteRound and round the mulberry bush Klaene chased the weasel (Holiday). Klaene thought it all was fun goodbye said the weasel.
ReplyDeleteAnd the weasel popped. Go back to sleep, yaaaaawwwn.!
ReplyDeleteHey I'm sensitive. I've got feelings you know.
ReplyDeleteThat's "Holliday." Two "ls."
ReplyDeleteGlad you care enough about Holiday to correct that for him. He could use some friends from here. Poor fellow tried to do a good job and got run out of town! Rough crowd.
ReplyDeleteCan we not learn from past mistakes? Why do we teach history to our children, The Alamo for example.
ReplyDeleteFor all of you that are critcal of anyone asking serious questions, let me ask you this, do you know what a "Committee of the Whole" meeting is? If you do not, then find out, attend one. Do you know that our system leadership spends more time at BOE meetings handing out accolades than they do conducting ISS bussiness? Why is that? Because the bussinees took place somewhere else.
If we wasted money on Baldridge, what is to keep us from wasting money on the next NEW DEAL that comes along, unless we examine the mistakes of the past.
As far as past AUDITS go, the only purpose of the AUDIT is to confirm that the system complied with accounting principles, that earmarked money went to earmarked programs, otherwise 100,000 dollars could have gone to a beerfest for school labor and an auditor would not have said anything was improper.