With story after story detailing allegations of corruption in the ongoing investigation into former two-year college Chancellor Roy Johnson’s tenure in the system, it seemed a given that he should be fired and receive no other pay.But when the state Board of Education terminated his contract in July, he was put on paid leave for eight months. That’s because, as board member David Byers noted, the allegations were just that at the time — allegations.
But on Thursday, interim Chancellor Thomas Corts presented the evidence needed, showing that Johnson misled the board on a no-bid contract for computer software. The contract signed was for $862,500 to be paid over a two-year period. But Johnson told the board the contract was for $450,000.
He also told the board that it was not subject to the bid law because it was the only company that provided this type service. Not only were both statements untrue, there were other companies whose products would have been a better fit than the one that gained the contract.
It is but one confirmed incident among the countless allegations swirling around Johnson, but taxpayers should be encouraged that the former chancellor is now officially off the payroll.
Since July, he had collected more than $86,000 of his $237,000 annual salary, a disgrace in what has been a nightmare for the credibility of the two-year college system.
But despite the allegations turning into confirmed evidence as this saga continues to unfold, taxpayers should not lose sight of the viability of the two-year college system in this state. Two-year colleges offer hope and opportunity to thousands in this state who otherwise would not have access to higher learning.
What happened here were the failings of the people in charge, not a failure of the two-year college system itself.
The safeguards that could have prevented what is purported in these allegations of corruption and nepotism were noticeably absent, and the board is now trying to clean up the mess Johnson left behind.
New policies and guidelines ensuring a system of checks and balances is being developed, and Johnson’s official firing sends a strong message that there is more action to come.
The whole series of events is unfortunate and whittles away at the public’s confidence that their taxes are being well spent. The board deserves support as it tries to restore that confidence once again.
