HISD tech chief returns to work after inquiry
Lawyer says Schad has been cleared of allegations of bias, harassment
Houston ISD’s chief technology officer has returned to work after an investigation cleared him of the most serious charges that led to his placement on temporary leave this summer, his lawyer said this week.
Lenny Schad, the district’s CTO since 2012, was cleared of allegations that he discriminated against and harassed an employee who raised concerns about a now-discarded information system, as well as claims that he made racially insensitive and sexist remarks about colleagues, said Schad’s lawyer, Christopher Tritico.
HISD officials did issue a “finding” in connection with an allegation that Schad improperly communicated with a district employee during the investigation, Tritico said. He declined to elaborate on the finding or whether any sanctions were issued, other than to note Schad was not suspended, demoted or docked pay.
“(Lenny) is certainly pleased that he was cleared of all substantive issues, because he didn’t do anything wrong,” Tritico said. “He’s happy to be back at work and to have this whole thing behind him.”
HISD officials did not respond to requests for details about the investigation’s findings and did not dispute any of Tritico’s
comments.
The district “has addressed this matter appropriately and I have confidence in Mr. Schad’s ability as HISD’s Chief Technology Information Officer,” Interim Superintendent Grenita Lathan said in a statement.
The resolution ends yet another chapter in the tumult among HISD’s administrative ranks, beginning with the unexpected departure of then-superintendent Richard Carranza in March.
In subsequent months, four of the district’s highest-ranking officials — the deputy superintendent, chief of staff, chief human resources officer and chief student support officer — all retired or took other jobs. Earlier this month, a slim majority of HISD’s board of trustees voted to oust Lathan but reversed course days later when her named replacement, former HISD superintendent Abelardo Saavedra, backed out of the job.
Schad, whose $219,680 annual salary ranks fourthhighest in HISD, initially faced allegations in July when a colleague filed an Equal Employment Opportunity Complaint against him.
The colleague reported that Schad made derogatory statements about her to other HISD employees after she disagreed with him about the readiness of a new student information system purchased through the vendor Infinite Campus, according to the EEOC complaint.
HISD trustees voted in 2016 to approve a $3.7-million deal with the Minnesota-based company, but they terminated the agreement in August following complaints about the system’s performance. Schad’s colleague said she raised concerns about the system’s efficacy while Schad pushed forward with implementing it, leading to friction.
The colleague also said Schad commented that his black male colleagues “all look the same to me,” made insensitive statements about employees of Indian heritage and repeatedly called her pejorative terms for women over several years.
The complaint did not include attachments or witness statements that corroborate the allegations, though the complainant provided three names of potential witnesses. HISD officials refused a request from the Houston Chronicle to release documents detailing evidence obtained and findings reached by the outside investigator.
Lathan notified Schad in mid-July that an outside investigator would review the claims against him. Three weeks later, HISD officials received a report that Schad spoke with a district employee about the complaint against him, which made the employee feel intimidated.
Lathan then placed Schad on temporary leave pending the outcome of the investigation “based on the seriousness of these allegations.”
Tritico said Schad’s intent “was not to intimidate that individual,” adding that “the finding was made and Lenny has moved on.”
Schad joined Houston ISD after serving as Katy ISD’s chief technology officer for nine years.