Cecil County executive files ethics complaint against superintendent during school funding clash

Cecil County Executive Danielle Hornberger filed an ethics complaint against the county’s superintendent Tuesday, escalating a political brawl over the public school system’s budget.

Hornberger accused Jeffrey Lawson of using taxpayer dollars for political purposes during school hours and Cecil County Public Schools meetings. Hornberger and Lawson have been publicly feuding over who’s to blame for a budget shortfall that’s expected to eliminate teacher positions and school programs.

The impending terminations drew thousands of people to rally outside the county executive’s office this winter. Hornberger accused Lawson of attending, promoting and endorsing a rally during which local political candidates gave speeches and providing a school bus to transport protesters.

A district social media account and student and family email lists were also used to promote “one-sided political viewpoints,” Hornberger said in a statement Tuesday evening.

“This disturbing pattern of conduct has completely eroded our faith in the Superintendent’s ability to lead our public education system, and he must be held accountable for this breach of the public trust,” she said.

Lawson on Wednesday said he categorically denies that he has done anything improper, and its part of his legal duties as superintendent to try to secure adequate funds from local authorities “in every way.”

“That statutory obligation includes, among other things, correcting factually incorrect information that the County leadership has put forth in their attempt to justify an inadequate level of funding to meet the needs of the Cecil County Public Schools,” Lawson said in a statement.

A CCPS spokesperson declined to comment about the specific information that Lawson said was incorrect.

Lawson and the Cecil County Board of Education raised alarms during budget hearings this winter that positions and programs would be cut if the county didn’t cover the budget shortfall.

In her county budget, Hornberger directed $4 million over the legal minimum requirement for public school funding, which she touted as the largest-ever appropriation of operational funding. Still, the county budget was $13 million short of fulfilling Lawson’s school budget request.

“I do not apologize for standing up for the needs of the School System and the students that it serves, nor do I apologize for making our budgetary needs known to the public,” Lawson said.

More than 15,000 students attend Cecil County’s 30 public schools.

Hornberger said parents have complained to her about school officials’ political ideologies. Print materials with campaign ads for local candidates running for office in Cecil County are available in at least three public school buildings, she said.

All Maryland public officials are governed by state or local ethics rules. Hornberger outlined nine local and state ethics violations she says Lawson committed, including conflict of interest, distributing government materials, lobbying and misusing school property.

Hornberger referred her complaint for investigation to the Maryland Inspector General for Education, the Maryland State Board of Education and the Cecil County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The county school board appoints a superintendent to four-year terms. Hornberger can’t remove Lawson; only the county school board or state superintendent can.

A spokesperson for Hornberger’s office did not immediately provide a statement.