Investigators Look into Third Employee's Computer in Grosse Pointe Schools

The investigation that led to the weekend resignations of continues as police analyze a third employee's computer for possible inappropriate adult images.

The third computer seized was not from Grosse Pointe South but from another location within the district, said Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Tom Harwood on Monday. He declined to identify the other location. 

Harwood said the investigation began May 2. Grosse Pointe School Board President John Steininger said the investigation was the result of an "outside source warning of a possible breach of the technology policy."

Monday night was the board's first meeting since the resignations of Allan Diver and Brandon Slone, former principal and assistant principal of South, and the atmosphere was tense. Most board members commented about how difficult the last several days have been, noting the need to focus on students as they finish their school year.

The board unanimously approved the resignation of Slone on Monday. His resignation, given on Saturday, was added to the board’s monthly human resources report.

Inappropriate adult images were found to have been in emails that were found on Slone's and Diver's school computers and Blackberries, according to the district.

One parent from South, Fran Willson Bedan, addressed the board briefly concerning the resignations. She told the board she was disappointed with the political pull of a few parents, and related their resignations to a behind-the-scenes power struggle that ensued in the fall concerning an athletic coach.

Complaints about the coach were first lodged with Diver and then later with Harwood. The eventual outcome is that the coach is still with the district and emails that circulated among hundreds of Pointers show he had strong support from the community.

Board member Brendan Walsh said the situation is unfortunate, noting that he considers both Diver and Slone to be friends and he hopes to continue those friendships. He said they are good men who made bad decisions and while he does not support their bad decision, he believes they are still good people.

Walsh also spoke to the parent’s comment, explaining that he was in full support of the coach as well and did what he could to prevent something from happening that shouldn’t have but said it’s a mistake to link the recent resignations to the situation with the coach.  The investigation and results were purely administrative, he said.

Walsh described the situation similar to the grieving process following a death. Acknowledging the situation is not to that extreme, he said the board, parents and educators are likely to go through a grieving process that happens in stages.

Steininger also explained that the investigation has nothing to do with the board. The board was kept apprised of the situation as it evolved but was not a part of the investigation.

Steininger said he wished "to further dispel that there was any undue influence on the administration to (urging) the investigation," he said. "I commend them for acting swiftly in this situation."

Steininger also said that to blame the resignations on anything other than the unbiased administrative investigation would be out of denial or misplaced anger. All parent complaints that come to the board must be investigated, he said, explaining it's a responsibility of the board. "I personally will never apologize for that," he said.

Board member Judy Gafa said she is hopeful that this will be a learning opportunity for the district. She said her main goal is to provide a positive environment for the students.

Both men worked at South for years.

Diver began in 2001 and filled a position that had been a revolving door. He started his career in Blissfield, MI, where he worked for 20 years before moving to Chippewa Valley, where he worked at both high schools and helping with the opening of Dakota High School.

Slone began as a social studies teacher, worked as the athletic director and then finally as an assistant principal.