WASHINGTON – The Prince George’s County Board of Education called an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon and, hours later, two high-level staffers were gone.
Sources tell WTOP two Prince Georges’ County School System staffers were fired: Matthew Stanski, the Chief Financial Officer, and Roger Thomas, Chief Legal Counsel were terminated.
One source says as the Board of Education members filed in to the central offices in Upper Marlboro for their emergency meeting, Stanski, carrying boxes, was on his way out.
The same sources say the firings came after Board members learned Stanski and Thomas arranged for a six-figure check to be issued to Synthia Shilling, the school system’s former Human Resources Officer. Shilling resigned in August. At the time, she faced charges of leaving the scene of an accident.
Shilling had been with the school system since 2006.
Attempts to reach both Stanski and Thomas were unsuccessful. By 3:30 pm the school email accounts for both men had been disabled.
The school board declined to offer any details on the firings, citing that it was a personnel matter.
Briant Coleman, spokesman for the Prince George’s County School system, sent the following statement to WTOP:
Last week, an allegation was brought to the attention of the Board of Education and the interim Superintendent that specific Board directives issued in July and again in August regarding severance packages for members of the executive cabinet who resigned from employment were not properly followed. The Board immediately directed the interim Superintendent to investigate the allegation and take personnel action if he determined it appropriate to do so. Certain personnel actions have been taken. However, because information relating to personnel investigations and actions are confidential, no additional information will be provided at this time. This matter continues to be under review. The Board is taking this matter very seriously. Any abuse in complying with the Board’s directives, policies and procedures will not be tolerated.
WTOP’s Kate Ryan contributed to this report. Follow Kate and WTOP on Twitter.
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