*On March 9, 2018, Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), Office of Inspector General (OIG) Deputy Inspector General, Investigations Frank Cabibi was forced to resign in lieu of termination. The reason for Frank Cabibi’s sudden, teary-eyed, departure is a closely guarded LAUSD secret. In the era of hashtag #MeToo and based on my personal working relationship with Cabibi; I understand why his firing must not be known.
In 2015, while employed as a senior investigator assigned to the OIG Investigations unit, I filed a complaint of discrimination and harassment with Cheryl Broussard Supervising EEO Investigator Office of General Counsel (OGC) Equal Opportunity Section, against Frank Cabibi.
My complaint went ignored by [then] superintendent Ramon Cortines, Deputy Superintendent Michelle King, General Counsel David Holmquist and the Board of Education: Steven Zimmer, Monica Garcia, Dr. George McKenna III, Dr. Ref Rodriguez, Scott Schmerelson, Dr. Richard Vladovic a violation of the District’s whistle blower policy
After filing the March 2015 discrimination/harassment complaint; an unrelenting retaliation campaign followed. The three very powerful men in charge at the OIG, Investigations Unit whom I affectionately refer to as “the unholy trinity”: Inspector General (IG) Kenneth (Ken) Bramlett, Deputy Inspector General Frank Cabibi and Supervisory Investigator Jorge Urquijo led the way.
In October 2015, I sought refuge from the retaliation and met with Cortines and Michelle King; requesting whistle blower protection and an immediate investigation.
In January 2016, I was subjected to the combined weight and might of the OIG & LAUSD.
Since the District’s powerful administrators could not quiet me I was sent home and an LAPD-style task force was convened.
The “Dorsey Task Force” members consisted of approximately thirty (30) employees from the OIG, OGC, Student Safety Investigation Team (SSIT) and Staff Relations under the command of the first black woman to lead the Los Angeles Unified School District, Superintendent Michelle King.
LAUSD General Counsel David Holmquist, dispatched a battery of attorneys; Lynn Ibarra, Lorri Gosset and Kathleen Collins. Apparently, Superintendent Michelle King thought it more important to investigate me, for previously undocumented district policy violations, rather than relegate one staffer to investigate my complaint of retaliation and malfeasance.
Be clear; complaining comes with consequences. This is not an anomaly nor unique to me.
- In December 2014, LAUSD awarded Archie Roundtree $3.3 million dollars in a whistle blower law suit which involved retaliation.
- In October 2015, the LAUSD was slapped with a $1 billion dollar lawsuit to end “teacher jail”.
- In July 2017, Saif Hussain filed a lawsuit against the LAUSD claiming he had been fired for reporting harassment.
In February 2016, I again contacted [then] superintendent Michelle King requesting her assistance by way of an investigation. The very next day, OGC attorney Lynn Ibarra emailed me directing me, ‘not to contact Michelle King, she is aware of your concerns and the District is working toward a resolution.”
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