BALTIMORE – A father of two younger kids hopes a lawsuit will result in extra transparency and enhance pupil outcomes in Baltimore’s embattled public college system.
“I am all for funding colleges,” Jovani Patterson, informed Fox Information. “Nevertheless, you do not simply maintain giving cash with out investigation on the place the cash has gone, particularly with the quantity of corruption and misuse of funds which have taken place for years in Baltimore Metropolis.”
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Patterson and his spouse allege the varsity system misused taxpayer funds, reported ghost college students — kids not truly enrolled — with the intention to acquire extra funding, falsified pupils’ data to push failing college students by way of to commencement and extra. Their swimsuit names Baltimore Metropolis College Board of Commissioners, metropolis council and Mayor Brandon Scott as defendants.
“It is all about energy and management,” Patterson mentioned of the varsity system. “There’s some huge cash in schooling.”
That is $1.62 billion a yr in Baltimore Metropolis Public Colleges, to be actual. Baltimore has the fourth-highest funded giant college system within the nation, behind solely New York, Boston and Washington, D.C. Attraction Metropolis’s college funds elevated 16% this college yr, based on the town.
All that cash — roughly $21,600 per pupil — is not including as much as higher outcomes. Baltimore had the bottom commencement fee throughout Maryland over the past college yr. At one highschool, 77% of scholars learn at an elementary or kindergarten stage.
And in February, FOX45’s Venture Baltimore broke the information that 23 colleges had zero college students rating proficient on a state math examination. The state then eliminated the information and re-uploaded a heavily-redacted model.
“I believe that they are making an attempt to cover that the general public college system is in worse form than we thought,” a whistleblower who beforehand labored within the Maryland State Division of Training informed Venture Baltimore.
Patterson agreed, telling Fox Information “there’s clearly a cover-up happening right here.”
Jovani Patterson is suing the Baltimore Metropolis College Board of Commissioners, metropolis council and Mayor Brandon Scott, alleging the colleges have misused taxpayer funds. (Megan Myers/Fox Information Digital)
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“There’s clearly issues that we see that they do not need the folks of the general public to know in relation to educating our youngsters,” he mentioned.
The query is straightforward for Patterson: Ought to Baltimore Metropolis college students obtain a great schooling?
“For those who consider the reply to that’s sure, then you need to be joined in with this lawsuit as effectively,” he mentioned.
Baltimore’s schooling woes are uniting folks throughout the political spectrum. Patterson made an unsuccessful bid for metropolis council president as a Republican in 2020. However outstanding civil rights lawyer Ben Crump has joined his lawsuit.
“For those who don’t get a top quality schooling, usually occasions you end up a sufferer of the school-to-prison pipeline,” Crump informed FOX45. “Hopefully, with this lawsuit, we will get it proper and that method it could assist make – not simply Baltimore higher – however it could assist make cities throughout America higher.”
A spokesperson for Baltimore Metropolis Public Colleges known as the Pattersons’ lawsuit “meritless as a result of it fails to establish a present controversy justifying judicial intervention” in an electronic mail to Fox Information.
“Even when the plaintiffs’ lawsuit recognized present considerations with Metropolis College insurance policies or procedures, there’s a sturdy native, state, and federal infrastructure to deal with a majority of these points,” the spokesperson continued, including that “Metropolis Colleges stands able to reveal our steadfast dedication to offering a top quality schooling to all college students.”
The authorized course of may drag on for years, based on Patterson’s lawyer. A choose allowed the case to maneuver into the invention and deposition section late final yr after denying the town and college system’s request to dismiss the swimsuit.
Baltimore has the fourth-highest funded giant college system in america, however college students have low proficiency charges in core topics like math and English. (Kim Hairston/Baltimore Solar/Tribune Information Service through Getty Photographs)
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However Patterson mentioned he is in it for the lengthy haul.
“Somebody has to remain and battle,” he mentioned. “I met my spouse right here, [had] each of my youngsters right here, I used to be born right here, purchased my first home right here. I planted my flag. So I’ll battle as lengthy and as laborious as I can.”
To see the total interview with Patterson, click on right here.
Jon Michael Raasch contributed to this report.
