Doug Flowers
Doug Flowers was the director of human resources for St. Joseph School District in Missouri, where he served from his appointment in 2006 until his demotion in February 2015. He left the district with a severance package in July 2015.
He was employed in the district beginning in 1991 and worked as a teacher and principal prior to assuming his administrative role in 2006.[1] He was also the director of athletics and activities for the district.[2]
Flowers came under investigation for his role in former Superintendent Fred Czerwonka's decision to give stipends to administrators in the district without the school board's knowledge. On February 28, 2015, the board voted to demote Flowers and offered him a teaching contract for the 2015-2016 school year. In July 2015, the board came to an agreement with Flowers and paid him a $32,000 severance package in order to leave the district.[3]
The district's finances are under investigation by the Missouri State Auditor, the United States Department of Education and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as Czerwonka's handouts may violate Missouri and federal laws. As of July 2015, the investigation is still ongoing. On February 20, 2015, the school board voted 6-0 in a closed executive session to fire Czerwonka. Dan Colgan was the only board member not present at the meeting.
Biography
Flowers holds a B.S. from the University of Central Missouri, as well as a master's degree and a superintendent specialist degree from Northwestern Missouri State University. He is pursuing a doctoral degree at the University of Missouri.[1][2]
In 2006, Flowers became the director of human resources for St. Joseph School District. Prior to this position, he worked in the district as a physical education teacher at Spring Garden Middle School from 1991 to 2001. He then worked as the principal of Edison Elementary School until assuming the director of human resources position.[1]
Flower's wife, Tammy Flowers, also works in the St. Joseph School District as the early childhood technical director. She was previously the early childhood coordinator.
Issues
Investigations into accounting and hiring practices
The St. Joseph School District faces investigations by the Missouri State Auditor, the United States Department of Education and the Federal Bureau of Investigation related to stipends issued by former Superintendent Fred Czerwonka. The former superintendent, appointed in July 2013, allegedly used a rebate from the district's insurance provider to distribute $270,000 in stipends to 54 administrators without board approval. District policy requires a report to the school board and a deposit of any excess funds including refunds from vendors. Czerwonka, district Human Resources Director Doug Flowers and school board member Dan Colgan also faced accusations of using their positions to guarantee promotions within the district and raises for family members.
On January 20, 2015, both Czerwonka and Chief Operating Officer (COO) Rick Hartigan were placed on paid administrative leave. The board later voted in February 2015 to fire Czerwonka. Hartigan was fired a week later, and Flowers left the district with a severance package in July 2015.
Beau Musser involvement and suspension
The flashpoint for the mismanagement allegations was a school board meeting on March 24, 2014. Board member Chris Danford presented information she received from district residents about the stipends offered by Czerwonka. Beau Musser, the district's chief financial officer (CFO), also revealed that he received a list of stipend recipients from Flowers. Musser was placed on paid leave on March 28, 2014, after the superintendent presented him with several accusations of sexual harassment against district employees. The former CFO claims in a lawsuit against the district that Czerwonka offered to drop the harassment claims if he resigned from his position. During Musser's time as CFO, he found that the district could not account for 4,000 gallons of fuel, failed to follow bidding procedures for district vehicles and approved $189,000 in consulting fees without board approval.
A press release issued by the district in November 2014 revealed that Musser would be returning to work, with the transitional assistance of OMNI Employment Management Services, an HR consulting firm. In addition, documents obtained by the St. Joseph News-Press stated that the district will be conducting an investigation into whether the initial suspension of Musser by administrators was justified.[4] Musser's lawsuit against the district charging wrongful termination, breach of contract and slander remains active.
Secret tapes, superintendent fired
It was revealed in a January 2015 Ballotpedia report that CFO Beau Musser had secretly taped conversations from crucial meetings with Czerwonka and other district officials. Those tapes, which could prove to be important evidence, are being reviewed by lawyers involved in Musser's lawsuit, in addition to the FBI.
On January 20, 2015, after a closed door session, Czerwonka and Chief Operating Officer Rick Hartigan were both put on paid administrative leave by a vote of four to one. Board members Kappy Hodges, Lori Prussman, Chris Danford and Brad Haggard all voted in favor of the two men being placed on leave. Dan Colgan was the only board member to vote against it. However, Martin Rucker was not present for the meeting and told News-Press he was working in Jefferson City and could not make it to the meeting. Dennis Snethen attended the meeting with members of the state auditor's office, after which he left and did not return for the vote about Czerwonka and Hartigan's leaves.[5] Both exited the building without comment. On February 20, 2015, the school board voted 6-0 in a closed executive session to fire Czerwonka. Colgan was the only board member not present at the meeting.
2015 financial audit report, "poor" rating
On February 17, 2015, a 53-page financial report was released by the Missouri State Auditor. Approximately 250 parents and community members attended its release at a new elementary school that opened in 2014. Missouri Auditor Thomas Schweich (R), revealed his findings to the crowd: a widespread lack of financial control. Schweich pointed to stipends unknown and unapproved by the school board, financial mismanagement that is now speculated to date back as far as 2000. The total number of dollars involved in the stipend system could range from $25 million over eight years to $40 million over 14 years. In either case, says Schweich, "a staggering amount of money" is involved.
At the forefront, the audit points to two of the district's top administrators, former Superintendent Fred Czerwonka and Chief Operating Officer Rick Hartigan, for adding thousands of dollars to their compensation without board approval and for other expenses charged to the district. For example, Czerwonka was given an additional $6,000 on top of his $190,000 salary for having a graduate degree. That degree is required for the position and was not listed anywhere in Czerwonka's contract. Hartigan’s base salary in 2014 was $97,700, however he received an additional $35,343 in stipends for being on the superintendent’s council, night duty, longevity and for something simply labeled "additional." According to Schweich, no one at the district could explain what this "additional" expense could be.
Schweich also rated the district’s performance as "poor." St. Joseph is the only Missouri school district to be rated that low by the state auditor’s office. According to school board member Chris Danford, the strain of this investigation is hurting the district's students. "We don’t have textbooks for everyone. We have larger classes. I mean, we could have done so much more for our students. They don’t get those years back." The audit also says the district has too many no-bid contracts, does not have an adequate system for tracking district property such as cell phones and tablets, and has too many employees with credit cards.
Allegations of nepotism
Nepotism is also a significant problem in the district, according to Missouri Auditor Thomas Schweich (R). The audit singled out Human Resources Director Doug Flowers and school board member Dan Colgan, a retired St. Joseph superintendent. Doug's wife Tammy Flowers and Czerwonka's wife Wendy both received controversial promotions and raises in 2014. According to district sources, both women were recently interviewed by the FBI in their district offices.
In regard to Colgan, the audit criticizes the district for providing him with medical insurance for life when he retired in 2005. In 2014, the amount paid for Colgan's medical insurance was $4,600. Additionally, Colgan’s son, Mark, also manages the district’s warehouse. In 2014, he was promoted, along with a $16,226 raise. The audit says no documentation detailing Mark Colgan’s additional duties was created. The position also requires a master’s degree, which Colgan does not have.
The audit says the district "has not established adequate policies and procedures for the hiring, supervising and tracking of related employees."
Flowers' response to nepotism allegations
On March 27, 2014, Flowers sent an email to board of education member Chris Danford, which was copied to the St. Joseph News-Press. The letter, which the paper published in full on their website the following day, can be read below:
| “ | Mrs. Danford,
This is the second time this week you have publicly and personally attack my credibility and compliance with Board policy and the Sunshine Law. You alluded to on Monday night that I violated a Board directive by not completing a staff salary booklet. Again today you infer my violation of Board policy. First of all, there was never a vote by the BOE to complete such a book. Secondly, if there were such a vote the BOE would have given the directive to the Superintendent (Dr Smith at the time) per Board policy CB which states “The superintendent shall be the representative of the Board and the channel through which all directives from the Board to its employees or students shall be communicated” and policy CA which states “The Board shall be responsible for clearly specifying requirements and expectations of the Superintendent, who in turn shall be responsible for clearly specifying the same for all other administrators. Therefore, it would be impossible for me to be “insubordinate” to you as you indicated last week. Board policy GBL indicates that pursuant to law, the names, positions, salaries and lengths of service of all employees are public information and must be released upon request. Since the BOE did not vote to direct the Superintendent to give such information any individual board member has no additional rights than any other citizen of our community, per Boardpolicy BBA which states the “Board will make its members, the district professionals and support staff, and the district patrons aware that the Board has authority to take official actiononly when it is acting as a whole.” Therefore, any request by individual Board members would require a formal request made to the “custodian of records” (who is also the Board secretary) per policy BDDL and the Sunshine Law. Board policy GBD also clearly states the channel of communication between staff to BOE and BOE to staff be “through the superintendent.” Based on several emails from you last week it is clear you have violated that policy with your communication with CHS staff members. I have completed an Attorney General’s complaint regarding your continual perceived violation of the Sunshine Law. The latest being the email you sent to at least 2 other Board members yesterday without concurrently transmitting that message to the custodian of records per Missouri Revised Statute 610.025. Additionally, you and the BOE may have violated Missouri Revised Statute 610.021 #1 and #3. Board policy BBF clearly states all Board members will: #2 Obey all laws of Missouri and the United States, #3 Recognize that individual Board members have no authority to speak or act for the Board, #15 Express personal opinions but, once the Board has acted, accept the will of the majority, and #16 refrain from divulging confidential information presentedduring closed sessions, except required by law. Board policy AC states additional prohibited behavior includes “Demeaning or otherwise harmful actions are prohibited, particularly if directed at personal characteristics including, but not limited to, socioeconomic level, sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation. Policy AC also defines harassment as a form of discrimination that occurs when the school or work environment becomes permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive enough that it unreasonably alters the employment or educational environment. The “hostile working environment” you have created has been pervasive and seems to be retaliatory because I did not follow your individual directives. One of your fellow Board members stated recently “there seems to be a Doug Flowers witch hunt.” I have served our district loyally and faithfully for 23 years. I call St. Joseph and the St. Joseph School District home and have never had my character or work performance criticized until your arrival on the BOE. My hope is I can come to work, as I did my first 21 years with the district, free from harassment, retaliation, and the hostile work environment you have created. Doug Flowers Director of Human Resources St. Joseph School District[6] |
” |
| —Doug Flowers (2014)[7] | ||
Editorial calling for removal
After the Missouri State Auditor released a 53-page financial report on February 17, 2015, the St. Joseph News-Press published an editorial on February 18, 2015, calling for Flowers' removal. According to the editorial, the district "should move quickly to relieve Doug Flowers of his duties" as a result of alleged money mismanagement. The article goes on to cite various findings within the financial report, including that Flowers gave an extra $2,700 annually for four years to a teacher for a master's degree she did not yet hold and an unapproved $9,090 in annual compensation to another district teacher. The News-Press staff concluded by saying that St. Joseph is in need of professionalism and competence "now more than ever" and the St. Joseph community "should expect more than a divisive figure who has failed in many of the basic requirements of his position."[8]
Firings continue
A week after the St. Joseph board voted to fire Superintendent Fred Czerwonka, Chief Operating Officer Rick Hartigan was also relieved of his duties at St. Joseph on February 28, 2015. Hartigan had previously been in charge of all district vendor contracts. On the same day, the board demoted Human Resources Director Doug Flowers and offered him a teaching contract for the 2015-2016 school year. In July 2015, the board came to an agreement with Flowers and paid him a $32,000 severance package in order to leave the district.[3] These three top administrators were roundly criticized in a report from the Missouri State Auditor. According to sources, all were interviewed multiple times by the FBI as part of the ongoing investigation.
Colgan resigns
As a result of the overwhelming controversy surrounding him, school board member Dan Colgan resigned from his position on March 5, 2015. The resignation came after much speculation regarding his status, largely because as an elected member, Colgan couldn't have been ousted. There is no law that allows St. Joseph Board of Education members to be recalled by voters. Colgan sent a terse resignation letter to St. Joseph Board President Brad Haggard, calling his decision to resign difficult "as I dearly love the St. Joseph School District." The board will now take applications for the open seat. Board member Chris Danford says they hope to fill the open slot by the April board meeting.
Campaign contributions
Prior to 2015, Flowers made the following campaign contributions in Missouri:[9]
| Contributions | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Recipient | Election | Amount |
| 2009 | Our Children. Our Future. Our Decision. | St. Joesph School District Levy | $500 |
| 2008 | Jay Nixon  |
Governor of Missouri | $50 |
Additional reading
- St. Joseph School District by the Numbers: Part II (June 8, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District by the Numbers: Part I (June 4, 2015)
- St. Joseph reacts to the school district scandal (June 1, 2015)
- Superintendent Czerwonka skips dismissal appeal, quits St. Joseph (May 4, 2015)
- Education experts weigh in on St. Joseph School District scandal (May 1, 2015)
- Musser lawsuit settlement released (April 13, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District settles Musser lawsuit (March 27, 2015)
- St. Joseph investigation widens; acting superintendent considers new job (March 25, 2015)
- Ballotpedia publishes video report on St. Joseph School District scandal (March 18, 2015)
- Dan Colgan resigns seat on St. Joseph Board of Education (March 6, 2015)
- Another firing, more fallout in St. Joseph School District (March 2, 2015)
- Board votes to fire St. Joseph School District superintendent (February 21, 2015)
- Criminal investigation called for in wake of St. Joseph School District audit (February 19, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District rated "poor" in financial audit (February 18, 2015)
- St. Joseph School District administrators placed on leave (January 22, 2015)
- Secret tapes revealed, scathing audit expected in St. Joseph School District saga (January 19, 2015)
- St. Joseph school board CFO deals with $2M shortfall, emotional return (December 11, 2014)
- St. Joseph school board rescinds CFO suspension (November 18, 2014)
- FBI narrows probe in St. Joseph stipend scandal (July 28, 2014)
- Stipend scandal erupts in St. Joseph, Missouri (June 30, 2014)
Recent news
This section links to a Google news search for the term "Doug + Flowers + St. + Joseph + School + District"
See also
| St. Joseph School District | Missouri | School Boards |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 St. Joseph School District, "Human Resources," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 St. Joseph School District, "Doug Flowers, Director of Human Resources," accessed December 18, 2014
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 KCUR 89.3, "House Cleaning In The St. Joseph School District Complete," July 30, 2015
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, "Firm to investigate Musser suspension," November 5, 2014
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, "Board again waives attorney-client privilege," January 29, 2015
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ News-Press, "E-mail from Doug Flowers," March 28, 2014
- ↑ St. Joseph News-Press, "Remove district HR chief," February 18, 2015
- ↑ Missouri Ethics Commission, "Contributions & Expenditures Search," accessed December 18, 2014
