DeKalb Co. School Official Investigated

A sweeping investigation of a DeKalb County school official may have an impact on another big legal battle involving the DeKalb County School System.

Lawyers for a construction management company involved in a lawsuit with the county have asked for records seized by authorities in the DeKalb County case.

In October, investigators seized documents at a DeKalb County School System operations center in Tucker. The probe focused on the office of Chief Operations Officer Patricia Pope.

A search warrant spelled out authorities' interest in construction records for six DeKalb County schools.

In papers filed at the DeKalb County courthouse, lawyers for the school system's former construction firm want access to some of those records seized by investigators.

The Heery-Mitchell Construction Management Company claims it was earlier removed by the school system so that control of construction projects could be handed to Pope.

The DeKalb County system ousted the company three years ago and has sued the firm, claiming management abuses and over billing on construction projects. The company had already sued DeKalb County for unpaid invoices.

Pope remains chief operations officer, but with the investigation still underway she no longer has oversight responsibility for the system's multi-million dollar construction program.

There was no comment Tuesday from lawyers representing the construction management firm
A spokesperson for DeKalb County Schools said the system could not discuss active litigation. The DeKalb County district attorney's office said its investigation is ongoing.