Judgment day nears for schools chief; is it near for school board chief, too?

The petition is on change.org; from left, embattled school board chair Shane Downs, suspended Rochester School Supt. Annie Azarloza (Courtesy images)

ROCHESTER - It appears the investigation into alleged wrongdoing by Rochester Schools Superintendent Annie Azarloza is complete, but the school board has not yet released its final finding and possible action with regard to her employment status.
An email obtained by The Rochester Voice that was sent out by School Board chair Shane Downs on Friday stated that "While the investigation is complete, the matter has not yet reached a final resolution, and it remains an open personnel matter."
Azarloza was placed on paid administrative leave in February, less than a year after she was hired.
No other information was in the email by Downs, whose own position may be vulnerable after an online petition for his removal began circulating online.
According to the petition, "The decision (to remove Azarloza was made under the tenure of Downs, creating an environment of secrecy and mistrust."
The author of the position, who has not given The Rochester Voice permission to release their name, also states that Downs' actions led to the ethics complaint against school board members Karen Stokes and Sandra Keans. The ethics complaint is being investigated by the city's inhouse attorney.
"It is essential for Shane Downs to step down as chair of the school board," the petition concludes.
Downs, a Rochester Police patrol officer, has also come under fire for signing a memorandum of understanding between the Rochester Police Department and the school department that lists "best practices" as mutually agreed to by both parties that gives deference to police in how to handle all "criminal acts."
The petition also accuses him of "pushing for criminal charges against special needs children--a step that is not only harsh and unjust but fundamentally misconstrues the role of educational leadership. This also violates Federal laws."
The MOU was passed on a voice vote at the school board's March meeting after Downs said it had been sent down by the state and "there's nothing we can do to change it."
Part of the MOU states that all school and disciplinary policies "are not intended to nor shall it usurp the mandates and responsibilities of the SRO, the Rochester Police Department and the Attorney Generals Office."
The petition has already garnered more than 100 signatures after being up just a week.

The petition also states that Downs has an obvious conflict of interest in these matters because he works for the police department.

The Rochester Voice reached out to Downs for comment multiple times by phone and email, but he has refused comment.
The petition is published on change.org
To visit the page click here.