LevittownNow.com’s investigative reporting has been supported in part by funding from In The Know Club members.
LevittownNow.com’s investigative reporting has been supported in part by funding from 
Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com
The Pennsbury School District has spent more than $12,400 keeping secret at least two reports, including one that reviewed allegations of potential illegal activity, completed in 2018 by an outside official.
LevittownNow.com has been seeking to obtain the reports since last February and the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ruled last summer that Pennsbury failed to meet the burden of proving the taxpayer-funded documents were exempt from being made public. Pennsbury appealed the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records decision to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. For months, the appeal has been stalled and no judge has taken on the district’s request to keep the records fully or partially secret.
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This news organization had offered to discuss potential compromises with the district to obtain near-complete copies of the records with mutually agreed upon redactions, which is not uncommon in disputes over public records. However, the solicitor for the district did not move forward with the idea.
Previously, the district released a small portion of a 2018 report by Dr. Joseph O’Brien of the Chester County Intermediate Unit that dealt with personnel issues, including ones that led to two lawsuits. The majority of the report was not made public and there were redactions to the small portion that was released.
LevittownNow.com has reviewed the report dealing with personnel matters and published sections that could be confirmed with multiple sources.
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“Pennsbury takes great pride in the excellent, transparent financial management of our taxpayers’ funds. We have produced every portion of Dr. O’Brien’s report not excepted from public access under Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law,” a statement from Pennsbury said.
In recent weeks, LevittownNow.com has confirmed the existence of a second 2018 report by O’Brien, which would have been covered by the initial Right To Know request. The multi-page report deals with allegations of “kickbacks” in the district. O’Brien’s report, according to multiple sources from among the more than two dozen contacted as part of ongoing reporting, deals with a “kickback” scheme that was said to have involved school district officials and contractors. The document is titled “Allegations made and follow-up.” The report concludes there were “serious allegations” made, but O’Brien stated there appeared to be a lack of proof.
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As of Tuesday evening, there is no evidence that has been made public that confirms there was a “kickback” scheme or illegal activity.
It was not clear if the district, staff, or school board members contacted law enforcement because of the serious allegations.
Several law enforcement agencies declined to comment on whether the allegations were reported to them or investigated. It is not uncommon for law enforcement agencies to decline comment on whether reports were made to them or whether investigations were opened and/or closed.
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“The District denies any allegation of kickbacks in the strongest possible terms. We will continue to follow both the letter and the spirit of the Right to Know Law to ensure that the public has access to public records, and that the School Board has all the information it needs to look into important issues as they may arise, without fear or favor,” the district said Tuesday.
Between February 2019 and December 27, 2019, Pennsbury paid Rudolph Clarke, the law firm that represents Pennsbury, just over $12,400 to look into and fight the full records making their way into the hands of the public. The invoices were obtained through a separate Right To Know request.
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Invoices show the request for O’Brien’s reports sparked a number of telephone calls from the law firm. The recipients of the calls were redacted. The lawyers also spent numerous billable hours on research and reviews.
O’Brien’s work on the reports cost taxpayers $8,000, records previously obtained stated.
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O’Brien retired from the Chester County Intermediate Unit last year. Despite attempts, a reporter was unable to contact him for comment this month on the content of his reports.
Previous Reporting:
- Superintendent Calls Student Protest ‘Hurtful,’ Board Members Comment On Lawsuits
- Students Protest After Troubles In Pennsbury
- Debbie Wachspress Ends Campaign After Use Of Offensive Language Comes To Light
- Pennsbury School Board President Reacts To Lawsuits, Claims Of Misconduct
- Lawsuit Claims Congressional Candidate Used Offensive Terms In 2018
- Two Former Admins File Lawsuits Against Pennsbury, Claim Discrimination
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