UPDATE (May 11 at 9:45 a.m. PT) — School activist Linda Nezbeda has filed complaints with the Oregon Department of Education, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission and the Oregon State Bar.
In the complaints, Nezbeda alleged that Portland lawyer Liz Large has directed Portland Public Schools investigations to her own private firm.
The school district said it does not see any basis for Nezbeda’s ethics complaint. It said its contract with Large's firm was handled in a manner consistent with practices for the district, and said those comply with state ethics laws.
Large is listed as a co-founder on the website of Office of General Counsel Network, a Portland-based law firm. She's also a public official, the interim general counsel for Portland Public Schools.
At a Feb. 4 board meeting, the school board approved an amendment to its contract with the Office of General Counsel Network. The board green-lit the new $310,000 contract unanimously.
“The point at which the public can no longer clearly identify whether a person is acting as a public agent or in their capacity as owner of an affiliated business is surely a violation of the public’s trust,” Nezbeda said in her complaint.
Nezbeda said that Jennie Chandra, who is associated with the Oregon General Counsel Network, has been assigned to several school-related investigations.
School board member Julia Brim-Edwards said the board made the decision to contract with the Office of General Counsel Network publicly and with understanding of Large’s connection to the firm.
“The allegations in your most recent complaint to the Ethics Commission appear to be based on a lack of information or perhaps misunderstanding,” Brim-Edwards wrote.
The complaints submitted to the Oregon Department of Education and the state bar allege that PPS has violated state standards for school districts (called Division 22 standards). The complaints allege that school board vice chair Julia Brim-Edwards became directly involved in a family's formal complaints against the district.
Brim-Edwards said the whole board was included in communication with the family.
“Her version of what she thinks happened is not at all supported by the facts,” Brim-Edwards said.
According to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, its executive director will review the complaint it received to ensure it falls under their jurisdiction. The complaint filed with the Oregon State Bar Association will be reviewed by the bar's client assistance office to determine if there is “sufficient basis” for an investigation.
UPDATE — The Oregon Department of Education has denied Nezbeda's complaint filed against Liz Large. In a notice dated April 28, the Oregon Department of Education said it "does not have the authority to take complaints alleging that a public official or public employee of a school district has committed a violation of government ethics."
With regards to the similar complaint filed to the Oregon State Bar, the organization sent a message to Large May 8 requesting her “account of the matter” by the end of the month. Once the Oregon State Bar Client Assistance Office reviews all documentation and information, they will determine if the complaint warrants further evaluation.
