IPS Board Awaiting Disciplinary Recommendations From Dr. Ferebee For Failure To Report

IPS' high-paid top administrator, Dr. Lewis Ferebee, knew the very day an official at Longfellow Alternative Schools learned from a parent that a student counselor, Shana Taylor, was having sex with students. Yet Dr. Ferebee took no actions to ensure IPS reported the suspected child abuse either to the Department of Child Services or even the police department the school system operates. Instead, an assistant principal took that action six days later after realizing nobody had bothered to make the report state law requires be made immediately upon discovery.

Dr. Ferebee, whom the IPS board just awarded a massive pay raise, takes no responsibility for the failure. Instead, he blames at least five other school administrators, including the school's principal, who was out on medical leave at the time recovering from a stroke. Mark Cosand says he resigned as principal effective March 7 for "personal reasons," although it was clear Dr. Ferebee blamed him for the reporting failure. Cosand had been contacted by the school's assistant principal and made aware of the allegations made by a parent against Taylor the day it was first reported but assumed either the assistance principal, Dr. Ferebee or other persons at IPS' administrative office made aware of the allegations would ensure the proper reporting took place.

According to Dr. Ferebee, he had no responsibility to report to DCS because he didn't have the "relevant facts." "I did not have age, name, text messages, photos, anything that was associated with this claim," he told The Star. "So I just want to be clear about that. If I had that type of information, obviously I would have an obligation there. But I did not have that information." "It is not in my purview to confirm every CPS reporting or to confirm every allegation or report," he said. The fact he didn't ask those questions when made aware of the allegations speaks volumes about his imcompetence. He must have had more important things to do at the time like shopping for new clothes or being wined and dined by developers seeking the opportunity to purchase and redevelop the Coca-Cola property.

The Indianapolis Star and the rest of the news media in Indianapolis have given a complete pass to Dr. Ferebee despite the fact he is the school's superintendent. The board members who hired Dr. Ferebee to dismantle the school system have also directed no blame at Dr. Ferebee. They're actually allowing Dr. Ferebee to decide who gets disciplined despite his own culpability. "Board president Mary Ann Sullivan said the board is waiting for recommendations from Ferebee," The Star reported. "When asked whether the board would pursue disciplinary action against Ferebee, Sullivan said she could not comment on a personnel matter." "He�s doing a good job," said board member Kelly Bentley when his pay raise was approved. "He�s doing what we�ve asked him to do."