David Pinder, the McKinley Technology High School principal whowas placed on leave March 23 after allegations of grade-doctoring,was reinstated Friday by Acting Chancellor Kaya Henderson because ofmisconduct by the school system investigator assigned to the case.
Henderson's action comes one week after the District firedinvestigator Eastern Stewart, who admitted that he lied to aninterview subject by claiming that Lisa Ruda, the school system'schief of staff, wanted to quash other aspects of the inquiry.
Officials said Friday that the Pinder investigation is continuingand that the reinstatement, effective Monday, does not precludefuture action.
Schools spokesman Frederick Lewis said in a statement Fridayafternoon that Stewart's conduct did not directly relate to themerits of the allegations against Pinder. But it "may havecompromised the integrity of some or all of the informationcollected in this investigation," he said.
He added that Robert Utiger, the school system's general counsel,and the school security office are reviewing information thatStewart gathered "to ensure that it is credible, reliable andcompleted in a timely manner."
Stewart was dismissed for statements he made about Ruda to aninterview subject about a separate aspect of the investigation -that Pinder had allegedly mishandled a $100,000 award from AARP.
"She wants to cover it, push it under the rug. She's trying veryhard not to get this exposed," Stewart told Thomas Ammazzalorso, aformer McKinley faculty member now at Coolidge Senior High School.
The statements can be heard on an audio recording of the Jan. 12interview, made by Ammazzalorso. He provided a copy of the recordingto The Washington Post.
When asked about the comments, Stewart acknowledged that he'dnever spoken to Ruda and that his comments were an investigativeploy designed to test Ammazzalorso's trustworthiness and credibility.
On March 15, D.C. Attorney General Irvin B. Nathan referred theresults of Stewart's inquiry into the AARP grant to the U.S.attorney's office, saying that funds "may have been mishandled."
The money was intended to fund a community service program inwhich McKinley students were to tutor senior citizens in using theInternet. Stewart said on the audio recording that a portion of the$100,000 is unaccounted for.
School officials said at the time that there was not enoughevidence to warrant action against Pinder.
That changed after the Washington Examiner reported March 22 onallegations from current and former staff members that he haddoctored student transcripts to award credit for courses nevertaken.
Pinder was placed on leave the next day.
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