MD: Cecil County Schools Superintendent Used County Email System for Political Purposes

The Superintendent of Cecil County Public Schools may have violated county policy by sending a political email to all school system employees.

On May 21 CCPS Superintendent D’Ette W. Devine, sent the following email to all CCPS employees through the school system’s website regarding the county’s upcoming primary election.

From: D’Ette W. Devine
Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2014 10:40 AM
To: All CCPS Employees
Subject: Final Update – 2015 Budget and Upcoming Election

Good morning,
Last evening, the County Council approved the county’s operating and capital budgets for fiscal year 2015 without raising the tax rate. Fortunately, the majority of the Council held the line for us and did not approve any further reductions. The vote on both budgets was 3 to 2 with Mr. Hodge, Dr. McCarthy and Mrs. Bowlsbey voting for and with Ms. Broomell and Mr. Dunn voting against. This has been the case for Ms. Broomell and Mr. Dunn throughout their tenure. They have repeatedly voted against ANYTHING that could be construed as support of our school system. Apparently, they are not concerned with stalled salaries, impoverished children or failing facilities. We will now undertake the task of reducing next year’s budget by 1.8 million dollars. All jobs will be preserved, and any cuts will be in attrited or vacant positions.

Of major importance is the upcoming primary election which will be held on Tuesday, June 24. All county residents will have an opportunity to make their voices heard. Alan McCarthy continues to support CCPS as does Joyce Bowlsbey in District 2. In District 3 and 4 respectively, Dan Schneckenburger and George Patchell have positive educational platforms and messages regarding public education. On the other hand, their opponents including Mike “Mad” Dawson, Bob Willick and Chris Zeauskas have platforms that do not support the adequate funding of our schools and are quite vocal in their opposition. Additionally, please consider the following candidates for the Republican Central Committee as friends to education:  Bob Amato, Michael W. “Good” Dawson, Kevin Emmerich, Bill Harris, Kevin Hornberger, Tom Kenny, Ted Kolodzey, Kathy Kunda and Joe Zurolo. You may also want to be aware that in Cecil County it is the Republican primary that is critical given the way the county majority normally votes. Please make your vote count and feel free to share this information with family and friends as you deem appropriate.

Thanks for all you do each and every day for CCPS students.
Sincerely,
Dr. Devine

D’Ette W. Devine, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Cecil County Public Schools
201 Booth Street
Elkton, MD 21921
Telephone (410) 996-5499
Fax (410) 996-5471

Devine did not specifically urge employees to vote for one candidate over another.  However, her email did define candidates as those who do not support county schools and those who do.  She also delineated current county council members between supporters of the school system and those who “have repeatedly voted against ANYTHING that could be construed as support of our school system.”

Devine refers to one county council candidate, Michael A. Dawson, as “Mike Mad Dawson,” even though his name on the official ballot appears as Michael A. “Mike Dawson.”   This is curious because Devine refers to another candidate (one she prefers), who also named Michael Dawson, as Michael W. “Good” Dawson,” as his name appears on the ballot.

Devine issued this statement in response to Watchdog Wire  – Maryland’s query:

“My email to employees described the results for our 2015 budget and set forth facts on voting records and platforms with regard to school funding. Nothing more. Employees have a right to be informed and make up their minds with facts. I have no political platform; I am charged under state law to seek adequate funding for our schools.”

Section HR-012H of the The Personnel Policies and Procedures Manual for Cecil County Employees prohibits, “Access the computer system for political, charitable, trade union, or personal financial gain purposes or for the purpose of soliciting or promoting propaganda.”

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