Pittsburgh Public Schools intends to fire its human resources chief for having an “inappropriate relationship” with a subordinate.
The school board last week suspended Milton Walters without pay as it moves to terminate his employment, district solicitor Ira Weiss said. Mr. Walters had been on paid leave since January.
According to an outline of the charges against Mr. Walters, a copy of which was obtained by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the district argues that he violated PPS policy by hiring and supervising a woman with whom he had an “intimate relationship,” sent her “inappropriate communications” after work hours and during meetings, and then lied about their relationship when confronted about it.
The subordinate, Yvonne Mathis, is no longer employed by PPS, Mr. Weiss said. As the district last year conducted a review of her job performance as assistant director of human resources, she brought her relationship with Mr. Walters to the attention of other administrators.
“It came to our attention because the subordinate alleged harassment and a nonconsensual relationship,” Mr. Weiss said. “Upon investigation, we discovered there was evidence of a relationship. We do not believe it was harassment, but we believe it was clearly inappropriate under district policy. The chief human resources officer should not be having that relationship.”
Mr. Walters did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He has requested a hearing to contest the charges against him, Mr. Weiss said.
Mr. Walters came to Pittsburgh from the Youngstown City School District in Ohio, where he was an assistant superintendent and head of human resources. He resigned, citing personal reasons, before being hired in Pittsburgh in October 2016 with a starting salary of $145,743. Ms. Mathis, who also came from the Youngstown district, was hired by PPS in January 2017.
According to the district complaint, investigators reviewed more than 700 text messages exchanged by Mr. Walters and Ms. Mathis between September 2016 and November 2017. Many of them include expressions of love from both sides, and some of them are sexually suggestive.
“I know you are ready for your call tomorrow from PPS,” Mr. Walters texted on Dec. 11, 2016, according to the district document. “So just smile and say yes to the offer (numerous smiley face emojis).”
The district said Mr. Walters tried to hide evidence by deleting the text messages from his phone. The texts show he visited Ms. Mathis at her home at least once, even though he denied doing so, the district said. The district also accused Mr. Walters of having contact with her after she was placed on leave in June 2017, even though the solicitor’s office warned him not to.
Mr. Walters also, the district argued, failed to hold her accountable for limiting the scheduling of due process hearings within the district, failing to schedule grievance hearings, failing to send letters and reports in a timely manner, and violating the district’s residency policy, among other things.
Elizabeth Behrman: Lbehrman@post-gazette.com, 412-263-1590 or @Ebehrman.
First Published: March 27, 2018, 10:00 a.m.
Updated: March 27, 2018, 10:19 a.m.