2020 05 15 Request For Investigation EC

Memo
To: Christina School District Board of Education

From: Robert Silber, Chief Financial Officer
CC: Superintendent Gregg
Date: May 15, 2020
Re: Request for Investigation
Below, you will find information sent to the Auditor of Accounts, this morning, requesting an
investigation of the relationship between a Vendor and a Private School. I am sharing this information
with you, because one of the individuals referenced is an appointed member of the Citizens Budget
Oversight Committee.
I wish to repeat here, what I have included in the message to the Auditor. We have no information to
suggest the Private School did not received appropriate value for the services provided by the Vendor,
nor do I have any information to suggest that a potential violation was intentional. That said, an
investigation is warranted. Please treat this information as confidential.
Thank you
Good Morning Kathy,
I write you this morning, seeking the assistance of your office. The nature of my concern is the
relationship between the Tarbiyah School (School) and a Tristate Health Consulting Inc.
(Vendor). Christina School District (District) is involved in the transaction(s) through Federal Funds
(both Title I and Title II). The District supports the equitable share requirements through contracted
services or purchase of materials. The District cannot provide funds directly to private schools.
We recently were requested to approve four contracts between the School and the Vendor, in the
aggregate amount of $48,000. The District has had contracts with this Vendor dating back to FY 2015,
in the aggregate amount of ~$130,000. And, we have no information to suggest that the School did not
received appropriate value for the services provided by this Vendor. The first contract forwarded to me,
with the May 26-May 28 professional development plan, contained a number of irregularities.
(Documents Attached) These irregularities were recognized based on information not readily
available. Let me explain.
Dr. Naveed Baqir, has recently become an active member of our school community. In 2019, he
expressed interest in serving on the Christina School Board, filling an open seat in District D, until the
FY 2020 election cycle. The School Board interviewed a number of candidates, ultimately not selecting
Dr. Baqir. Dr. Baqir immediately volunteered to become a member of the Christina School District
Citizens Budget Oversight Committee, and was appointed to the Committee in December 2019.
Richard L. Gregg, Superintendent
The Christina School District is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, gender (including pregnancy,
childbirth and related medical conditions), national origin, citizenship or ancestry, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, genetic information, sexual
orientation, or gender identity, against victims of domestic violence, sexual offenses, or stalking, or upon any other categories protected by federal, state, or local
law. Inquiries regarding compliance with the above may be directed to the Title IX/Section 504 Coordinator, Christina School District, 600 North Lombard Street,
Wilmington, DE 19801; Telephone: (302) 552-2600.
During this current election cycle, Dr. Baqir filed documentation with the Department of Elections as a
candidate representing District D. Dr. Baqir withdrew from this race in April 2020 and subsequently
filed an application to the Board for consideration to fill the open seat for District F. The Board
interviewed multiple candidates and ultimately Dr. Baqir was not selected. However, through these
events, the District became aware of several addresses for Dr. Baqir.
In the review of the contractual documentation associated with the professional development activities
between School and Vendor, there are several indicators that suggest a relationship Dr. Baqir, the
School and the Vendor. Dr. Baqir is a founding member of the School, and I believe the School is
operated or at least employs individuals related to Dr. Baqir. The information leading to the potential
relationship between Vendor and Dr. Baqir include:
• The business address for the Vendor is listed as 688 Old Baltimore Pike. This is the same
address currently disclosed as the personal residence of Dr. Baqir. [Disclosed while as
submission of interest for the Board Seat District F]
• The address on the Temporary Business License is 131 Arielle Dr. This was the previous
address of Dr. Baqir.[Information previously disclosed as submission of interest for a Board
Seat District D, and the address utilized when the Board appointed Dr. Baqir to the Citizens
Budget Oversight Committee]
• The email address utilized by Mark Quinn (contract signatory) is @techxponent.com. Dr.
Baqir is associated with Techxponent
My initial concerns regarded a potential conflict of interest, the potential appearance of a conflict of
interest, and the possible violation of Federal Law. (No disclosure or relationship between Vendor and
School). I reviewed these concerns with District counsel, and there is agreement on the irregularities.
Dr. Baqir does not hold a position on the School Board, and as such the concern of a potential conflict
or appearance of conflict of interest no longer exist.
I communicated my concerns and questions to the Department of Education (DDOE), seeking

guidance. I provided similar information (as shared above) and noted that if there is a violation of
Federal Law, this violation could track back over many years. I noted that we have no information to
suggest the School did not received appropriate value for the services provided by this Vendor, nor do I
have any information to suggest that a potential violation was intentional. I asked that if DDOE believes
there is a violation, or a potential violation, the appropriate next step would be to have appropriate
parties perform an investigation, and asked who should we ask to perform the investigation?
I received notification from the Secretary of Education that should the District believe that there has
been an inappropriate use of funds we should investigate the matter. The Secretary also suggested
we may choose to confer with your office.
We informed the School that we had a concern regarding a potential conflict of interest and that we
were seeking guidance from the Department of Education. We not taken any other steps.
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Memo

To: Christina School District Board of Education

Good Morning Kathy,

Richard L. Gregg, Superintendent

I communicated my concerns and questions to the Department of Education (DDOE), seeking

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