Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ethical Advocate Whistleblower Report topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
APS audit committee reviews Ethical Advocate whistleblower data for July—Nov 2024
Summary
APS staff reported 42 whistleblower complaints filed to the Ethical Advocate system between July 1 and Nov. 30, 2024; staff said some concerns are addressed through the district—s Let's Talk Now service and that "non-APS" refers to people not affiliated with the district.
Courtney Jackson, chair of the Audit Committee, heard a report Jan. 21 on whistleblower complaints filed to APS— Ethical Advocate system covering July 1 through Nov. 30, 2024.
James Aveather, identified in the meeting as executive director of the Student, Parent and Employee Service Center, presented the data and said the district received 42 whistleblower complaints in that period. Aveather described the Ethical Advocate system as the district—s anonymous reporting channel for whistleblower complaints and said he follows a procedural directive to route reports to an employee—s direct supervisor and one additional supervisor above them so two levels of supervision are notified.
Board member Josefina Dominguez asked what accounted for a sharp drop in complaints from the 2023—24 to the 2024—25 reporting period. Aveather said he could not be certain but noted that the district—s Let's Talk Now service provides an avenue for employees, families and community members to get answers quickly, and that some concerns may be resolved through that service rather than filed as whistleblower complaints.
Board member Heather Benavides asked about a category labeled "Non APS" on a complaints-by-location chart. Aveather explained it refers to reporters who are not employees, students or staff of APS or otherwise did not identify an APS affiliation.
The committee did not take formal action on the report; presenters stood for questions and the meeting moved to the next item.
