Pittsburgh Public Schools Board Votes To Keep Hamlet

OAKLAND (KDKA) -- Following months of controversy, the Pittsburgh Public Schools board decided Wednesday to keep its new superintendent despite accusations some found troubling.

The school board voted to retain Hamlet at a special meeting Wednesday evening after reviewing the results of an independent investigation of Dr. Anthony Hamlet's credentials.

The media and the public may not see the details in that new independent review of Hamlet until he's officially sworn in as superintendent on Friday. School board member Terry Kennedy's motion to rescind his contract was supported by only one other board member.

"If we knew the information we know now when the board was determining which candidate to hire as our next superintendent, I would not have supported Dr. Hamlet," Kennedy said.

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The vote to hire him back in May was unanimous, but then came the troubling news of discrepancies in his performance ratings and plagiarism on his resume.

"I was angry, like many parents in the district, at the disbelief we had just hired a leader who might have been less than forthright with us," school board member Kevin Carter said, "but after much listening, interviewing, reviewing and deep thought, I have come to the conclusion Dr. Hamlet had no ill intentions nor was misleading in any way."

"He regrets these discrepancies and understands the concerns," board president Dr. Regina Holley said.

Holley admits the path to a final decision has been a difficult one.

"The process is over, but the work still continues," Holley said, "and we're ready to get down to the work of helping our children."

KDKA's Kym Gable: Those regrets were specifically voiced to you? He articulated those regrets?
Holley: Yes.

"Regardless of all the drama, regardless of whether or not people sit on the same side of this argument, what's really important is if he can do the job," parent Valerie Allman with the Education Rights Network said, "and I think he can."

The solicitor has to remove any private or personal information from that independent review before it is made public, but KDKA was assured that the board members got a good look at it before Wednesday's 6 p.m. meeting.

Hamlet will undergo quarterly evaluations to make sure his performance is up to par.

"I regret the concern this situation has caused and I apologize to the parents and communities for this unintended distraction. My focus has always been the children," Hamlet said in a written statement.

He officially begins the job on Friday.