PPS Board Holds Meeting About Superintendent's Résumé Discrepancies

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Pittsburgh Public Schools Board met for the first time Friday about alleged discrepancies on the new superintendent's résumé.

Specifically, plagiarism was at the heart of the discussion.

Allegations of plagiarism and inaccuracies came to light earlier this week regarding Dr. Anthony Hamlet's résumé. He has since acknowledged that at least one item on his résumé was an error.

School District Solicitor Ira Weiss called Friday's meeting to be able to talk to all of the board members.

"To let them know where things stand, in terms of everything we have heard and read about this week," Weiss said.

The nine board members, along with Weiss, emerged after three hours of executive session talks behind closed doors.

Weiss released this statement on Friday's meeting, that he also read aloud to reporters:

"The Board had a preliminary meeting to discuss next steps related to issues that have arisen this week with respect to Dr. Anthony Hamlet. There will be another meeting on Monday. We don't expect to have further comment until after that meeting."

Weiss said that meeting will also be held at the district office. He said they have not yet scheduled a time.

Some members said the plagiarism allegations made it hard to support Hamlet.

"In light of the new plagiarism allegations, that's a deal breaker for me. I think we owe it to the students and our community to have the best superintendent, and we have to be able to hold up a leader we feel has integrity," said board member Lynda Wrenn.

However, changing gears on his hiring might not be easy for the board.

Current Superintendent Dr. Linda Lane's last day is going to be at the end of the month. It's also the same day that Hamlet's resignation from his current job in Florida will take effect.

Should the board go in a different direction, it's unclear what legal action Hamlet would be able to take.

A petition has been launched at Change.org, asking the school board "to freeze the hiring of Dr. Anthony Hamlet for a reasonable amount of time to allow the school board to properly review and consider his candidacy."

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