Saturday, April 27, 2024
An investigation conducted by a law firm at the request of Granbury ISD Superintendent Jeremy Glenn and then-School Board president Barbara Townsend found no legal or ethical wrongdoing by Jimmy Dawson regarding his use of an airplane owned by the school district.
However, during an hour-long presentation at Monday night’s School Board meeting, attorney Miles Bradshaw of KBS Law said that there were “some gray areas.”
Included among the law firm’s recommendations was possible disciplinary action against Dawson, but Bradshaw suggested a written warning and training rather than the stronger punishment of a reprimand.
“I just don’t see it as intentional or knowing misappropriation of school property,” he said. “I just don’t see it.”
GISD owns the 1962 Cessna 172 because of its Texas Education Agency-approved aviation program. The program helps students learn a variety of aviation-related skills and offers them the ability to obtain a pilot’s license at reduced cost.
Dawson, a longtime district employee, is one of two licensed pilots listed on the district’s insurance policy. He provides demonstration flights for students.
The investigation came about because of a report that aired last month on WFAA Channel 8 detailing a flight that Dawson took to Abilene with his wife, also a GISD administrator. The roundtrip was about 250 miles.
The couple’s daughter attends college there. She posted a message on Facebook thanking her parents for flying to Abilene and taking her to lunch for her birthday. The post included a photo of Dawson in the school district’s plane.
A statement released by GISD after the segment aired said that the Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots to conduct three takeoffs and three landings every three months. It also stated that “the district encourages its pilots to fly often enough to be proficient at the airplane and keep it in mechanical shape for flights with students.”
The audit revealed that Dawson flew the plane 19 times in a 19-month period. He flew solo six times, flew with students three times and made 10 flights that could legitimately be categorized as “pilot training.”
However, a family member was on board during six of those pilot training flights, which Bradshaw said represented “a gray area.”
One of those flights was the Abilene trip, Bradshaw said, and the other five involved Dawson’s son, who is also a licensed pilot. He said that Dawson, not his son, flew the plane.
Bradshaw noted that Dawson was transparent in listing the relatives in the plane’s flight log.
“Every time a family member rode, it was recorded,” he said. “They weren’t trying to hide anything.”
Bradshaw advised that school officials create specific guidelines or protocols for use of the plane so that it is clear when rules are violated.
Reading from the 24-page report, Bradshaw stated, “While Assistant Superintendent Jimmy Dawson had 6 flights where a family member accompanied him as a passenger, it is my opinion that these flights did not violate any law, policy, ethical canon, or District procedure. The flights may have provided a ‘combined benefit’ to both Dawson’s family and the District, but any personal benefit was merely incidental to Dawson otherwise carrying out his duties to regularly fly the plane.”
Bradshaw wrapped up his report with a list of recommendations, including that the superintendent consider “an appropriate level” of disciplinary action.
Following his presentation, Bradshaw responded to questions from members of the school board.
Audience members also weighed in. Some defended Dawson, while others expressed concern about the program’s oversight.
Trustees took no action regarding Dawson but did discuss their commitment to continue gathering information, reviewing the law firm’s recommendations and performing a cost analysis of the aviation program.
The board also approved the agreement with KBS Law for the report but with trustee Melanie Graft casting a nay vote.
The district has not yet received a bill for the service and Bradshaw said he did not know what the amount of the bill will be.
FULL REPORT
Video of the School Board meeting can be found at youtube.com.
Glenn’s introduction of Bradshaw begins at about the 1 hour and 49 minute (1:49) mark.
GISD has posted KBS Law’s report and exhibits online.
To find them, go to granburyisd.org. Click on Departments, then on Communications, then on News and then on the news release titled “Trustees Hold Monthly Board Meeting.”
Links to the report and exhibits are under the heading “Informational Report on Aviation Program.”
