Ray Pier This is Me

 View all 11 references Web References

1. 1. Franklin Township Online News, Marion County, Indiana, FTONEWS.com

   www.ftonews.com - [Cached]

   Published on: 5/7/2005   Last Visited: 9/28/2006

   ** Raymond Pier, director of admnistration, CTEC, termination
   ...
   An attempt to overturn the recent firing of the Franklin Township Schools' director of operations, Ray Pier, failed Monday, September 25, by a 3-2 vote during contentious exchanges among School Board members at their regular monthly meeting at the Dr. E.B. Carver Community Education & Technology Center.
   
   At issue was the handling of the administrative termination of Pier, who was fired on Monday, September 11, following an internal investigation of allegations that he made untruthful representations about the involvement of School Board members relating to the school district's purchase of a Chevy Tahoe vehicle.
   ...
   During discussion of the motion, Horen indicated that FT Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Bourke had not recommended the firing of Pier, although a letter of termination handed to Pier contains Bourke's signature.
   ...
   When asked by Horen who had ordered the firing of Pier, Bourke said the termination was ordered by the School Board's president, Matt Hamner.
   ...
   Hamner and other School Board members indicated the decision was made to dismiss Pier during the board's executive session on Tuesday, September 5.
   ...
   Board member Randall Bland said the decision to terminate Pier emanated from discussion at the closed meeting.
   ...
   Horen acknowledged that the current make-up of the School Board obviously would not prefer an option that includes the Tahoe, adding that "Ray Pier did not violate any procedures" in making the selection.
   ...
   Pier, who had been driving the Tahoe for several weeks, has said previously it never occurred to him that the Tahoe would represent a surprise to the School Board, and pointed out that one board member, Steve Randall, had even ridden in it.
   ...
   "Ray Pier admitted his mistake in memory when it was brought to his attention," Horen said, indicating that Pier had no reason to try to deceive anyone about the Tahoe.
   ...
   "Ray Pier admitted his mistake in memory when it was brought to his attention," Horen said, indicating that Pier had no reason to try to deceive anyone about the Tahoe.
   ...
   Board president Hamner and board members Bland and Randall voted against Horen's motion to rescind the firing of Pier.
   ...
   Hamner also was chastised by Horen for comments the board president made on a local television station pertaining to Pier and the School Board's recent consideration of the proposed lease purchase agreement for the Chevy Tahoe, a vehicle that was to be utilized by Pier in carrying out his duties as director of operations.
   ...
   Ray Pier has been fired as director of operations for Franklin Township Schools following an internal investigation of allegations that he made untruthful representations about the involvement of FT School Board members relating to the recent purchase of a Chevy Tahoe.
   
   After being suspended on Thursday, September 7, Pier was notified through a letter handed to him early on Monday, September 11, by FT Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter Bourke that his employment was being terminated.
   ...
   In accordance with School Board policy relating to non-certified personnel, Pier was given a notice of 10 working days of his dismissal, with termination to be effective on Friday, September 22. He will continue to receive regular pay until that date, in addition to being compensated for any accrued vacation days to that point.
   
   Following a special board meeting on Monday evening, September 11, Bourke confirmed that Pier was being terminated, and that the matter would be part of the routine personnel report submitted for School Board approval at the regular monthly meeting on Monday, September 25.
   ...
   The purchase of the Tahoe - for use by Pier in his role as the district's operations director - became a contentious issue during a School Board meeting on Monday, August 28, when Rod Caldwell, the corporation's retiring business director, presented a lease agreement resolution for the purchase of three vehicles and two pieces of equipment.
   ...
   Also at that same meeting, Pier insisted the items in the lease purchase agreement resolution were necessary in the operation and maintenance of FT Schools. Pier, in fact, had been driving the Tahoe since a local car dealer had delivered it some months earlier.
   
   When several School Board members indicated they knew nothing about the vehicle purchases, Pier said he assumed they knew about the Tahoe and that, in his recollection, one board member, Steve Randall, had ridden with him in it. Randall reportedly denied having ever ridden with Pier in the Tahoe.
   ...
   Pier later agreed that Randall was correct - the two had, in fact, ridden in a different vehicle, one that Pier had been driving on a daily basis prior to delivery of the Tahoe.
   ...
   Pier later agreed that Randall was correct - the two had, in fact, ridden in a different vehicle, one that Pier had been driving on a daily basis prior to delivery of the Tahoe.
   ...
   "I have done absolutely nothing wrong," said Pier, who has been the FT Schools director of operations for nearly five years. He said his currently annual salary, including a recent slight increase for administrative personnel, was $94,800. Before coming to Franklin Township, he had held the same position in the Greenwood School Corporation for seven and one-half years.
   
   "It is very disappointing to be terminated for something that is really a misunderstanding," Pier said.
   
   "I thought I would be at Franklin Township Schools until I retired," added Pier, 59. "In the time I have been on the job, I have saved this school system millions of dollars. In fact, I and others in operations and maintenance have on several occasions even been commended for that by current board members."
   
   Pier indicated he would seek legal advice to determine his rights, if any, relating to the termination.

2. 2. INFORMAL INQUIRY RESPONSE

   www.ftonews.com/archives/infor - [Cached]

   Last Visited: 11/19/2007

   Monday, September 11 - Archived FTONEWS.com news article reporting firing of Ray Pier, the former FT Schools director of operations
   ...
   The complaint against the FT School Board centered on the manner in which Ray Pier, the school district's former director of operations, was dismissed amid charges of misconduct. Pier was terminated following a closed (executive) School Board session on September 5, and prior to a public School Board meeting on September 25, when a formal vote was taken to fire Pier.
   ...
   "In reviewing the events that culminated in the firing of Mr. Pier," the Davis response continues, "it appears that the School Board made a determination."
   ...
   Horen, however, also disputed that any consensus to terminate Pier had been reached in the executive session.
   ...
   At the request of Horen, the Board unanimously agreed to consider Pier's listed termination as a separate item apart from the full personnel report.
   ...
   A motion at the public meeting then followed to formally terminate Pier. The motion passed 3-2, with Bland, Hamner and Randall favoring the firing of Pier; Horen and Wood voted against the employee's dismissal.
   ...
   On the day following the executive session and after a telephone poll of Board members was conducted by President Hamner, the superintendent was informed that a majority of the Board members desired to see Pier terminated.
   ...
   According to previous news reports, Pier was fired as the FT Schools director of operations following an internal investigation of allegations that he made untruthful representations about the involvement of School Board members relating to the school district's purchase of a Chevy Tahoe.
   
   In accordance with School Board policy relating to non-certified personnel, Pier was given a notice of 10 working days of his dismissal, with termination effective on Friday, September 22.

3. 3. FT SCHOOL BOARD

   www.ftonews.com/archives/black - [Cached]

   Published on: 1/20/2007   Last Visited: 5/28/2007

   The appointment also comes six weeks after Ray Pier, the former FT Schools director of operations, was fired, and four weeks after Pier's termination was upheld by a 3-2 vote of the School Board.