MCPS releases less redacted version of Jackson Lewis investigation on Beidleman

BOE says ‘intent is to help create a fuller picture for the public’

February 8, 2024 8:13 p.m.

The Mongomery County Board of Education on Thursday released a less redacted version of the Jackson Lewis law firm’s investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by former Farquhar Middle School principal Joel Beidleman, prior to a meeting with the Montgomery County Council. 

The new version of the report is available here. 

“While it still has a number of redactions to protect the identity of staff, the intent is to help create a fuller picture for the public of the investigation findings, while continuing to protect the privacy interest of our employees,” the school board said in a letter to community members accompanying a link to the report. “Today’s release aims to reassure the community that the Board of Education is committed to transparency, openness and accountability while we begin to heal our community and re-focus on the work of learning and teaching. 

- Advertisement -

Last month, County Council President Andrew Friedson (D-Dist. 1) publicly called for the release of an unredacted version of the investigative report of Beidleman, which was conducted by the Baltimore-based firm. The firm had presented the report to the school board in September 2023. At the time, the board and MCPS issued a bullet-point summary of the report. Under pressure from the County Council and members of the public, school leaders in October released a heavily redacted version of the report. 

On Friday, Friedson issued an official letter addressed to Board of Education President Karla Silvestre (At-large). 

“We are responsible for the appropriation of taxpayer dollars … as such, we must be informed of the extent and nature of the current endemic problems in MCPS leadership, and we must see meaningful and swift progress from the Board to address those problems,” Friedson wrote. “In the interest of transparency and accountability, we urge the Board to publicly release the full, unredacted Report immediately to the fullest extent permitted under the law. The public deserves no less.” 

Digital Partners

Enter our essay contest