Even as Fort Bend ISD remains under fire in the wake of allegations of misconduct against the district’s police chief and claims school administrators interfered in a police investigation, it has now come to light that Director of Facilities Michael Johnson had his personal pickup truck serviced at a district maintenance facility.
A photo of the truck being worked on by district personnel has also surfaced.
PRIVATE WORK BY PUBLIC EMPLOYEES ? – This photo, taken by an FBISD employee, shows Director of Facilities Michael Johnson’s personal pickup truck being worked on by district maintenance personnel.
The information came to light when district insiders, troubled that Johnson was using district resources to do maintenance on his personal pickup, reported the incident to FortBendNow. The information also appeared on an Internet blog called “Fort Bend ISD Employees.”
When asked if any Fort Bend ISD employees were permitted to have personal vehicles serviced at the district’s maintenance facility, Chief Communications Officer Mary Ann Simpson said no employees have such a benefit in their contract.
Simpson did admit, however, the district was aware Johnson had work done on his private vehicle following what was described as a minor traffic accident in December.
“The district acknowledges that on Dec. 19, Michael Johnson was involved in an accident that occurred when he was driving back to the FBISD Police, Facilities and Construction Complex from a district meeting and lunch. Mr. Johnson’s truck was rear-ended and although the accident was minor, his truck would not start,” Simpson said in an e-mail message. “A staff member from facilities was driving by at that time, stopped and gave Mr. Johnson’s car battery a jump. He then drove to the Facilities Complex and had two employees check under the hood of his vehicle. Again, his battery was charged. Approximately 20 minutes were spent by two employees who worked to charge the battery.”
Simpson said Johnson was counseled about using district resources for personal reasons.
“Mr. Johnson has been made aware that this was an inappropriate use of staff time and appropriate action has been taken,” Simpson noted.
The district did not disclose what type of “appropriate action” was involved.
A careful examination of the photo of Johnson’s truck in the district maintenance facility did not show any damage. Maintenance personnel said that was because the photo was taken in January when the truck was brought in for routine maintenance, and not following a December fender-bender.
“The work order was created by Mr. Johnson (on Jan. 6) and under the items requested are log odometer, change oil and filter, check pressure in tires, check/replace wiper blades, grease chassis, check/replace oil filter and check fluid levels,” one district insider told FortBendNow.
Another district employee said maintenance personnel were scared the question the work.
“In this district, when one of the small fry questions anything the big shots want, the small fry ends up in trouble,” the source said. “Everybody knows its wrong but they’re scared to say so out of fear of losing their jobs. With times are hard, nobody wants to get fired. That leaves them caught in the middle when they see something wrong.”
When told about the Jan. 6 maintenance work, Simpson said she had been told that the district’s software system showed no work order for Johnson’s truck.
In a follow-up telephone message, Simpson said any work order showing maintenance work on Johnson’s truck was a fake.
“We have looked into that and it’s totally false; totally fabricated,” Simpson said. “All those work orders are listed or entered electronically. There is no truth to that Jan. 6 invoice.”
The source, however, insisted the invoice was legitimate. The work order, according to the source, was number 199829 in the district’s work order database.
The source also said he would not be surprised if the work order was deleted from the system to cover up the misconduct.
“If you can enter something into a district computer system, you can take it back out again if somebody turns up the heat,” the source said.
He also said the photo speaks for itself.
“You can clearly see (Johnson’s) truck in the service area. There’s no damage to the rear end,” the district insider said. “If it happened the way the district said, there should be damage to the rear end. This is just another example of the school district covering up wrongdoing on the part of one of its upper-level managers.”
Another maintenance employee said any non-management employee caught doing the same thing would be fired.
“They’d fire us in a heartbeat if we got caught having our own cars worked on,” he said. “For management, it’s slap on the wrist and a cover-up.”
District personnel spoke to FortBendNow on the condition their names would not be disclosed. All said they feared for their jobs if their identities became known to district administrators.
Johnson did not respond to requests for comment.
27. January 2009 at 5:09 am
Willie,
When dealing with issues like this, I think those who have been personally affected will have to be the initiators. I cannot explain the logic, but generally that’s how it works; I could be wrong, though. The pursuit of just can be a lonely battle. My best advice is to stay focused and keep your head: “If you can keep your head while all the ones around you are looking theirs and blaming on you”—Rudyard Kipling.
My advice is in the complete form of Rudyard Kipling’s poem below:
If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
And make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet, don’t look too good, nor talk too wise,
If you can dream –and not make dreams your master;
If you can think—and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Of watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build them up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breathe a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on, when there is nothing in you,
Except the will which says to them; “Hold on!!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue
Or walk with kings—nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes, nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With 60 seconds worth of distance run;
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And which is more you’ll be a man, my son!!!
By Rudyard Kipling
26. January 2009 at 9:23 pm
It is a deep wander to my peaceful slumber; writing you at 4:40 AM. all my best of luck in “arriving” at the truths, whatever that may be. If only hard feelings didn’t get in the way…
Sweet dreams goodnite.
26. January 2009 at 6:31 pm
Has anyone called or emailed DA John Healy about this matter and ask for an investigation? If the district has admitted that the actions by Mr. Johnson occured, wouldn’t the DA want to investigate this matter and determine whether or not a crime took place? Doesn’t anyone think that at least the DA should investigate this alleged crime?
26. January 2009 at 4:44 pm
Kampf says:
January 25th, 2009 at 5:28 pm (#)
“As for the very few (2) that defend these apparent cover-ups I think the longer you visit this site you will find a common modus operandi for them.”
what’s your agenda muckyducky?
26. January 2009 at 12:32 pm
Aha! “School tax” is left out of the discussion ….again, again, again, again, again, & ah…gain!!!!!
“Hopefully, not reasonable people paying their property taxes [...] ~ Kampf
Thank the sweet lord, I have pretty “read blue-eyes”
26. January 2009 at 11:26 am
WRT: “taxpayers dollars used for personal gain” …
Essentially, school tax monies fiscally allign accordingly: bonds are debts incurred by a school district and sold by the
District to competing lenders to raise funds for the costs of construction, renovations and equipment. They are repaid
over a period of years. Most school districts in Texas utilize bonds to finance their facilities.
Personally speaking, the year was 2006, when our school ISD initially passed every accumulative line-item, issued in our
school bond. Since we are speaking about the relative controversial aspects to taxpayers monies, facts to the following
should be provided:
The “financial impact” to clarity, prior to bond passage, is merely projected as a guideline as it relates to my district:
2007-2008 = .06 rate increase = $79.71/annually
2008-2009 = .05 rate increase = $66.42/annually
2009-2010 = .03 rate increase = $39.85/annually
Total tax impact for next 3 yrs $185.98
—————————————
I shall continue to side with John Pape’s editorial that admits the FBISD administrator is “accused” of misconduct, as it relates to a crime abused by our taxpayer monies, but until then it all remains questionable as to perhaps there maybe more to the story than taxes. That’s my opinion for now….
26. January 2009 at 4:40 am
Morning everyone!
Willie is your mattress firm? Firmly standing one’s ground is considered quite chivalrous — do you firmly agree with this statement as I presently present to you this wee morning?
25. January 2009 at 8:11 pm
Touché.
25. January 2009 at 7:08 pm
Thank you for the words of support FS. I understand that there are some who like to detract attention from the real issues. The issues are plain and clear, and the fact that that they have occured is without question. Any talk other than that which concentrates on the already admitted to behavior of Mr. Johnson, is pointless.
25. January 2009 at 6:06 pm
Willie,
Don’t sweat the small stuff when you know you’re right.
Walk it and talk it. Stay focused and stay cool.
25. January 2009 at 5:46 pm
Please notice the following statements:
Willie: “A child stealing a few gulps of soda [...] How can you justify the stealing [...] ? ”
aos4567: “Rationalizing stealing is as bad as stealing [...]”
Willie: “What?”
_______________
Just braking it down………..
* Stealing is or is not a crime?
* Why has DA Healey not pressed charges?
* Is the truck “photoshopped”?
* Does the sticker on the truck actually say:
“The rest is a smoke screen and fluff”?
or
Does it say “Who cares”?
Similiar to your own statement….these are my thoughts as I state them to you. Shall you wish to care, I am available from the hours of 8AM – 5PM Monday thru Friday. As for this moment, I have “kids on board”, if that is your truly care.
25. January 2009 at 5:28 pm
“Now, if FBISD had not admitted to Mr. Johnson’s actions, then the validity of the truck’s pictures and any other issue could have been brought to question. But, this is not necessary since FBISD has admitted Mr. Johnson’s actions. ”
Exactly Willie and if more than one such visit has occurred, then an investigation should take place. As for the very few (2) that defend these apparent cover-ups I think the longer you visit this site you will find a common modus operandi for them.
Keep your head up, for you are a local hero and we are sorely in need of many such as you! Much like the police officer, that did his duty in the campus drug story and the report which came from the police sources on the chief. A culture of silence has been in place for some time in this area, but with local activism and good reporting it is slowly falling apart. As long as there are good people such as yourself and those officers willing to stand tall against injustice. Voters and taxpayers do have every right to know. -Thanks Willie
25. January 2009 at 5:03 pm
Thank you FS for the words of support. I am amazed that some chose to argue a point that has already been admitted to have happened by FBISD. There is no wiggle room on this. FBISD has stated that Mr. Johnson has had work performed on his personal truck by FBISD personnel. The truck in the picture, whether the hood is from another vehicle, or any other argument does not remove the fact that Mr. Johnson used FBISD resources for personal gain. While it is true that Mr. Johnson has not been charged with a crime, it is true that FBISD has admitted that he has committed this action. Now what do we call someone who uses tax payer dollar for personal gain? Now, if FBISD had not admitted to Mr. Johnson’s actions, then the validity of the truck’s pictures and any other issue could have been brought to question. But, this is not necessary since FBISD has admitted Mr. Johnson’s actions. I am at a loss of some here who argue points on whether the picture is really Mr. Johnson’s truck and this and that when FBISD has already admitted the behavior. It seems that some people, in their zeal to argue the opposing viewpoint, will not even take FBISD’s admission that Mr. Johnson used tax dollar for personal gain. If we acknoledge that what FBISD is saying is true and that Mr. Johnson used tax dollar for personal gain, what do we call this? Is this a good action? Is this a proper action? Is it ok for our tax dollar to be used for persoanl gain? These are the real points to debate. The rest is a smoke screen and fluff meant to detract away from the real issue.
25. January 2009 at 4:10 pm
Aha! The truck has been photoshopped!
25. January 2009 at 1:34 pm
FS in your mind every post makes your point concretely….
25. January 2009 at 12:48 pm
For someone over 100 years old…no it is not a great day.
Peace out.
25. January 2009 at 12:44 pm
JBB,
Your response makes my point, concretely.
Live, laugh, love—–Is life great or what?
25. January 2009 at 12:43 pm
Excellent observations Mary. Presumption to emotions as stated from Willies P.O.V, appears to lack empathy for stating the obvious. Posed in another way, what if a “red-light camera” caught this particular truck in a moving violation?
25. January 2009 at 12:20 pm
Please read 47, 48, 65, & 66 above…again, I don’t know the truth…but please be objective. Good day all!
25. January 2009 at 12:17 pm
WRT: “alleged” violations
Allowing readers an option to remain undercover and “silent” free from all poster admonitions — perhaps a survey could be appropriated. Honorably, Bob Dunn, would suit-up well as presiding Judge =-)
25. January 2009 at 11:44 am
Willie, I like your style of quick wit revealed within your commentary. Quit wit is a necessity skill in cutting to the chase and maneuvering through dissonance to sidetrack reinterpret, and undermine your intended message within your expressed commentary. Good Job in remaining focused to your intent of message.
25. January 2009 at 11:35 am
“due to the fact that the truth does not translate the same for everyone”…..well said FS according to you and some others here “the truth is whatever we choose to believe today”.
While you’re entitled to your opinion I cannot disagree with you more…..the “truth” always comes out….and will always be the “same for eveyone”….the difference is what one “chooses” to believe.
The “truth” here is Mr Johnson has not been either charged or convicted of theft…except in the minds of a few. However many “un-founded allegations” have been “alleged” as the truth. another “witch hunt”.
25. January 2009 at 11:22 am
P.S. to my 65: …and does the appearance of possibly a hood up in the background belong to the truck or another vehicle?
25. January 2009 at 11:19 am
P.S. to my 47…How can one tell it is his truck when the photo does not show the plate number?
I have read this article very, very carefully.
25. January 2009 at 11:11 am
John: #53, kind of reminds me the standards to our elementary teaching techniques.
“Once that toothpaste spills out, it’s hard to put it back in.”
You may apply that anyway you wish to, I trust your respect.
25. January 2009 at 11:02 am
John,
I appreciate your #59…
25. January 2009 at 10:49 am
P.S.: “Even as Fort Bend ISD remains under fire in the wake of *allegations* [...]”
Speaking from a jurors standpoint, in a prior court case back in my hometown in Houston, then Judge Ted Poe legally entertained his authority for our jurors to re-read transcripts. Innocence prevails prior to admonishing a guilt sentence, which by the way one juror adamently withheld her guilty plea. I am here, to legally state, that yes it does take a “toll” on everyone.