It's been over a half-year since the DeKalb County School District announced an investigation of undisclosed improprieties with high school marching bands and investigators still haven't revealed what, exactly, they think was amiss.
The probe led to the temporary suspension of band activities. Students can march again this fall, but adults associated with the music program remain under a cloud. They are now the focus of the investigation, but officials are forestalling further revelations — and any action — until a review by the local prosecutor.
"I don't want to characterize what we found," said school system spokesman Walter Woods, "but it was enough to turn over to the solicitor-general."
DeKalb Solicitor-General Sherry Boston handles misdemeanor cases, which can draw sentences of up to a year in jail. Her spokeswoman declined to discuss the case.
The probe is angering parents who say it has tarnished the reputation of some of metro Atlanta's most storied band programs, affecting students' viability for scholarships.
"The investigation has been going on for more than six months," said Keith Sailor, the past president of the band boosters at Southwest DeKalb High School. "If it's that hard to find, there ain't nothing going on."
Officials have hinted at hazing. The investigation was announced in December, soon after allegations of hazing in the beating death of Florida A&M drum major Robert Champion. He was a graduate of Southwest DeKalb as was Bria Hunter, a FAMU clarinetist injured in an earlier alleged hazing incident. So were two band mates who were charged with breaking her leg. A third defendant graduated from Druid Hills High, also in DeKalb.
Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson suspended band activities for about a month. Upon lifting the suspension in January, she said all high school principals and band directors had been reminded of "their responsibility and accountability for students." Woods explained at the time that the investigation would focus on band directors, assistant band directors, alumni helpers and band volunteers. He said the district had heard about a "small number" of incidents of "harassment and intimidation."
One target of the investigation was then-county music director Don Roberts. The DeKalb grand jury revealed his name in a report about a December meeting when Atkinson and Ramona Tyson, a top official, were summoned for questioning.
Internal documents reveal that three months later, the school system received a tip that prompted another investigation of Roberts. Investigators subsequently concluded he failed to "properly report his personal time and attendance," according to the investigative file, which was obtained by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution under Georgia's open records act.
His file also contained details of an investigation last year into allegations of conflicts of interest involving students and subordinates and outside music productions.
Despite those inquiries, Roberts survived the annual summer re-hiring process. Woods said he was offered a job overseeing all school music programs, after his old position was abolished and merged with another.
Roberts wouldn't comment Friday, saying he was under orders to refer questions to Woods. But Sailor, a friend since they attended college at FAMU, said Roberts was the victim of a "witch hunt."
About the Author
