As of Tuesday, January 17, 2012
© Copyright 2012
Albany Herald
ATLANTA — ATLANTA — As first reported late Tuesday afternoon by WSB-TV in Atlanta, James Wilson, the former Cobb and Fulton County school superintendent hired by the Dougherty County School System as an educational consultant to conduct the initial probe into CRCT cheating within the DCSS, has been caught on tape bullying and threatening the Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Student Achievement, Kathleen Mathers.
According to Richard Belcher’s WSB report, Wilson railed against Mathers, accusing her of using “Gestapo tactics” during the state’s two-year investigations into cheating in the Atlanta and Dougherty County school systems.
Wilson was asked by former DCSS Superintendent Sally Whatley to conduct the system’s investigation into cheating for which state investigators said “he was unqualified to conduct and was woefully inadequate.”
According to WSB, Wilson met with Mathers to complain that he thought the erasure analysis was unfair. The station obtained a copy of the tape through the state open records act, but did not say when it was made.
Below is a an excerpt of the tape transcript on WSB’s web site:
— Kathleen Mathers: “Well, you’d prefer that we hadn’t done the erasure analysis at all?”
— James Wilson: “You’re absolutely right. In think you made a huge mistake in doing that …Kathleen, I think y’all are being perceived as Gestapo tactics.”
Mathers said her office had said the vast majority of Georgia schools didn’t seem to have a CRCT problem.
— Mathers: “That’s overwhelmingly positive.”
— Wilson: “I don’t know about that.”
— Mathers: “So what are you saying — don’t look under the hood of the car?”
— Wilson: “No, I’m saying we should have fixed the car before you looked under it.”
Wilson suggested the investigation would damage the careers of Mathers and her assistant.
— Wilson: “You’ll pay dearly for it. I’d love to help you, but if you really believe in an erasure analysis this strongly that is the right way to do this.”
— Mathers: “Uh, huh...”
— Wilson: “Then it just shows me that you’re incompetent of what your job is entitled, and that’s a shame, that we have people with big titles that don’t know what they’re doing.”
Wilson not so subtly hinted that he would try to use political clout to undercut Mathers.
— Wilson: “I have a decision to make based on how we finish this conversation and where I go from here. And remember, I’m the old guy. I have nothing to lose. I really want to be part of helping make this good. But I can go wherever I need to go.”
— Mathers: “What do you mean by that?”
— Wilson: “I’m not going to give you any threats. But let me tell you, I can get there.”
Comments
Cartman 4 months ago
Sounds like the DCSS hired someone they thought could use influence to get them out of their mess. They hired a thug to use thug tactics. Taking the position that there was no wrongdoing was obviously bogus, in light of the later confessions of some of those involved. And they use our tax money to cover their dirty tracks. As a taxpayer, I want to congratulate Kathleen Mathers for doing her job and I think James Wilson should pay back our money and be turned over for a determination of whether his conduct is criminal. What a sad expenditure of public funds to cover a sad betrayal of public trust.
dingleberry 4 months ago
Carts, I wonder how she knew to make an audio tape? Good move on her part since he likes to intimidate. There must have been some prior contact that led to this tape. Hopefully, he is out of the consulting business now that the tiger is out of the bag--smiley faces for Kathleen!
dingleberry 4 months ago
Why has no one gotten a copy of the two reports made by Wilson? Why has no one determined what Wilson was asked to do? Why has no one told us what his "work" cost us since DCSS picked up the tab?
Go to Vol 2 of the CRCT report, page 112, and look at what the state people think of this guy--who was recommended by whom? We are missing something here!
Sister_Ruby 4 months ago
Wilson is a disgrace to his race. He should be elected Union Boss.
ObjectiveEyes 4 months ago
Dadgum, you can't make this stuff up, folks! Just when you THINK you've heard it all...
Abytaxpayer 4 months ago
First Terry can you tell us who in DCSS proposed to hire Wilson in the first place. The State of Georgia says Wilson is NOT qualified to conduct the investigation for DCSS. So there is an other unqualified person hired by DCSS? Plus he was hired only after the State investigators found problems, sounds like he was hired as a thug and not an investigator. Beginning to look like a pattern!!!! A small noted in Wilson’s quote is “I really want to be part of helping make this good.” , he says “good” not “right” implying he wants it to look good and not find any problems. One good thing about this story is it came from an Atlanta tv station so Albany’s disbelievers can’t claim this is another attempt by Terry Lewis to get the School Board..Thanks for the video that really makes it hard for them too.
Terry.Lewis 4 months ago
This was before my time, but I believe the DCSS had used Wilson before to resolve the mystery of the missing school lunch money and was still under a consultant's contract with the system when the CRCT stuff broke. I know the CRCT investigators had nothing by contempt for the man. The biggest problem was that Wilson is an administrator and not an investigator.
dingleberry 4 months ago
Boy what a vote of confidence to bring him in as a possible player in the first lunch money scandal--as opposed to the second lunch money scandal. How much money has this guy gotten from the DCSS trough?
I would say you are correct on the admin vs inves comment. The job was way over his head but then, isn't that what DCSS wanted?
Amazed2 4 months ago
Well what else could you expect from this DCSS and Board except to hire some loose cannon that thought he had the clout to Bully the investigators. Guess Wilson forgot he was dealing with an INVESTIGATOR. I think the DCSS is due a refund from Wilson. Wilson is a prime example of someone who thinks he is smarter than everyone else so he goes and makes Dumb statements to an Investigator who was Smart enough to record his Dumb Ass Statements. Just another Normal Day in Crazy Albany!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Amazed2 4 months ago
Definition of Consultant: Does not have a full time job. Has to travel at least 50 miles from home where he is not known to get a job,
ObjectiveEyes 4 months ago
Add to your definition: "...and always gives the answers that the one's paying the bill want..."
waltspecht 4 months ago
Simply amazing that the fool spoke on tape! He is apparently only a legand in his own mind, hoping to use political contacts to avoid discovery. I wonder if he was the cause of the origional idea to drop the investigation into DCSS? That should be researched, and any political pull applied needs to be brought into the open and dealt with accordingly. If he was the one that investigated the School Lunch Money, I think that also needs to be revisited if the statute of limitations hasn't run out. Plus, whats taking the Board and the DCSS Police so long to get a report to the prosecuting DA in the Riggin's case?
whattheheck 4 months ago
It is obvious the recording was made based on prior contact the lady had with this character--and she played him well. It is also obvious this guy's ego is only exceeded by his inability to think. No question in my mind this guy is beyond not like by the investigating team since it is, again, obvious the news media was tipped off to the existence of the tape. She would not have done the deed if legal advice had not been received saying "go for it".
The big question in my mind is how much has DCSS paid for his "services" in regard to his infamous "investigation"? Perhaps DCSS stands for Dougherty County Stupidity Squad.
KaosinAlbany 4 months ago
LOL Good one, Walt.
DoctorDorite 4 months ago
Sounds like Sally Whatley hired "her man" to investagate the problem. If everyone would backtrack the cheating problem we would probably find the whole mess started with her and possibly instigated by her directions. Too bad none of these people will ever wear chrome bracelets and will continue to draw LARGE pensions from the state. Nice club to be a member of. LOL
spookj6 4 months ago
I think Dr. Sally Whatley hands might have some dirt on them after all. I never understood how you can be the driver of the bus, and when it goes off the cliff the assistant driver is responsible for the accident. What's done in the dark will always come to the light.
Albanite 4 months ago
What kind of moron wants to fix the car before looking under the hood? If this idiot was hired by the DCSS, we want our money back. Obviously the missing millions in lunch money must be reinvestigated by someone competent. Until it is reinvestigated, it should be considered an open criminal case.
Amazed2 4 months ago
Based on "Wilsons" ego he thinks a lot of himself so I am sure he got paid well. Most of the time these arrangements include reimbursement for expenses such as vehicle/travel, lodging and meals, etc. I would like to know the real number of $$$ he got paid but I am sure as a minimum he got at least a few thousand for his unsuccessful efforts. Looks now that he may have cast and even darler shadow on DCSS. Maybe there is language in his contract that would intitle DCSS a refund since this issue of the tape recordings has come to light. But I am sure nobody with DCSS would dare consider asking for that.
SickofitAll_bany 4 months ago
Me too, damn fools here spend our money like it grows on trees. Most of them are as cooked as a mountain road.
Definition of Albany: A ruined town run by fools, thieves, and idiots.
bubbasmithredneck 4 months ago
This sounds like DCSS hired this guy a long time ago and he is not a common eveyday employee. He was just hired to do a job a long time ago ....correct????
Trustbuster 4 months ago
No wonder why the governor's office insisted on a more thorough investigation. I can't believe that sweet pea Sally preferred this white wash investigator. If Wilson engaged in such tactics as alleged in the article he should be investigated for ethical violations and reprimanded. Wilson showed disrespect towards Ms. Mathers and unfortunately convinced some school board members that nothing had been done wrong.
Mike Bowers looks like Eliot Ness in this case. Remember the line from the 60s show "The Untouchables" "book'em Rico"
Trustbuster 4 months ago
Thugocracy at its best!
SickofitAll_bany 4 months ago
Who decided we should hire this guy, why, and how much was he paid by taxpayers??? Was he hired by DCSS to cover-up the stinky mess here? Someone had to know he was dirty enough to do whatever it took.
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