(Photo by Lorie Shaull)

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser has claimed for months that she didn’t initially know about the events which eventually led to the resignation of former schools Chancellor Antwan Wilson. However, a new report appears to challenge what the mayor knew, and when.

Wilson resigned in February following reports that he circumvented the school lottery system to transfer his daughter from Duke Ellington to Wilson High School. His testimony within the Inspector General’s Office’s report alleges Mayor Bowser knew of the transfer months before his resignation in February.

In the report, Wilson says he did not view his actions as “improper” because he says he discussed it with the former Deputy Mayor of Education, Jennifer Niles, and Mayor Bowser. The mayor calls those allegations false, saying she didn’t find out until February.

The October 2017 transfer, deemed a violation of DCPS policies, lead to the resignations of both the former DME Niles, who helped facilitate the transfer, and former Chancellor Wilson. The former Chief of Secondary Schools, Jane Spence, who also arranged for Wilson’s daughter to receive “preferential treatment” left the position before any reports of the event surfaced.

According to Wilson’s account within the OIG report, Bowser was first told about his child transferring to another school during a meeting on September 20, 2017, months before the event was made public and his resignation was tendered. Niles was also reportedly present during the event.

Chancellor Wilson stated that during this conversation, Mayor Bowser asked how his family was transitioning. He replied that they were facing challenges at Duke Ellington but that his wife was working with DME Niles to resolve the problem, to which Mayor Bowser replied, “Keep me posted.”

A month later, Wilson says he did, indeed, keep Bowser posted.

Former Chancellor Wilson states in the report that during the week of October 11, 2017, “he told the Mayor his child moved to Wilson and ‘how that happened.’ Chancellor Wilson did not recall Mayor Bowser responding to his comments.”

Statements from the former DME do not fully corroborate Wilson’s testimony, but do suggest that the mayor knew the former Chancellor’s daughter was “doing better” and had transferred to Wilson High School.

DME Niles said she had no recollection of Chancellor Wilson telling Mayor Bowser that his child was having trouble at Duke Ellington but did recall a meeting at which Chancellor Wilson told the Mayor that his child was “doing better” and attending WHS. DME Niles could not recall what prompted that statement but characterized the exchange as “small talk” before a meeting. DME Niles did not recall Mayor Bowser acknowledging Chancellor Wilson’s response.

Officials from the mayor’s office say Bowser’s response to the event has not changed. She told the Inspector General’s office that she didn’t know of the situation until her general counsel informed her that the Inspector General was looking into the circumstances surrounding Wilson’s daughter’s transfer.

Aside from Wilson’s testimony, the report recommended that the mayor:

• “Take actions deemed appropriate,” and
• “Review all policies and procedures relevant to the placement and transfer of students to ensure they are clear, consistent and effective.”

The mayor’s office says they have already fulfilled both recommendations.

This story was originally published on WAMU.