NEWS RELEASE
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For Immediate Release
November 4, 2024
OIC PUBLISHES ADVISORY SUMMARY & INVESTIGATIVE FINDINGS
OF FORMER MISSING PGCPS BOARD MEMBER DAVID MURRAY
Upper Marlboro, MD - Today, the Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) Office of Integrity and Compliance (OIC) released its official Advisory Summary and Investigative Findings Report on former PGCPS Board of Education (BOE) member David Murray, after news media reported Murray was working out of state, while still maintaining a seat on the Board. Murray officially resigned from his duties as a Board member on July 16, 2024.
The report reveals the PGCPS OIC alerted the PGCPS Board as early as March 2024 that board member absenteeism policy violations needed to be addressed by the Board immediately. The OIC investigation revealed that the PGCPS BOE: 1) failed to promptly address and hold Murray accountable for violations to attendance Board policy; 2) failed to pursue a timely procedural remedy to request his removal based on willful neglect of duty; and 3) demonstrated a lack of knowledge and/or understanding of their own internal policies and applicable law.
The OIC report concluded the inaction from the Board allowed payroll salary disbursements of PGCPS funds totaling $9,792.32 to a Board member who abandoned his Board member duties and responsibilities. The July 2024 Board requested OIC investigation centered on determining if Murray was still considered a resident of Maryland during the period he was working at his new job in Missouri, while still a member of the PGCPS Board. Unfortunately, the OIC was unable to reach a definitive determination on his residency status, as there was limited evidence available over the seven (7) months in question to evaluate the total facts and circumstances to determine if Murray continued to maintain his domicile in Maryland or to confirm the amount of days to date he was physically present in Maryland.
The OIC sought an interview with Murray through numerous communication channels, but no responses to contact attempts were received from Murray. In addition, the OIC reached out to Ferguson-Florissant School District in St. Louis, Missouri (Murray’s new employer) seeking an interview. The school system responded to the OIC inquiry in writing stating they declined to answer the PGCPS OIC interview questions.
Please direct all inquiries to: Email: oic@pgcps.org Phone: 301-952-6113
Advisory Summary & Investigative Findings
