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Investigators have seized former state schools Assistant
Superintendent G.A. McClung's computer and plan to
review his e-mail messages, according to state education officials.
State Commission on Special Investigation agents have
interviewed Department of Education employees about a vacation
cruise McClung took last March. McClung says he paid for the vacation.
"That's my personal life," he said."Hell, I've paid for it."
Department of Education employees are being investigated regarding
their role in a $2.4 million classroom furniture deal McClung
arranged for longtime friend Phillip "Pork Chop" Booth.
Booth's company, National Equity, sold the furniture and kitchen
equipment after floods swept through schools in McDowell and
Wyoming counties in July 2001.
Booth's company charged between two and four times the
normal price for new furniture and equipment.
The Gazette-Mail requested McClung's e-mail messages on Dec.
3 under the Freedom of Information Act.
But Monday, investigators confiscated McClung's computer.
They've promised to return the computer intact, state officials
said.
McClung's phone logs show that Booth called him more
than 100 times from April to October, sometimes three or four
times a day.
Stewart may take personnel action against other department
employees in the coming weeks.
"If there are employees in the Department of Education whose
employment should be terminated due to wrongdoing, I have
every confidence Dr. Stewart will take appropriate action," said
school board President Howard Persinger Jr. in a prepared
statement. "We are continuing our vigorous internal investigation."
The U.S. Attorney's Office is also investigating.
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