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FYI: First of all, this is NOT a bogus Harford County Public Schools website despite what a few well-placed Harford County educational figureheads would have you believe. There are at least two sides to every story! Maybe you know about some of the county's lies and denials already.... contained herein is another perspective. The citizenry should be very suspicious of the same county figureheads after they state (incorrectly) that "none of the allegations contained in these web sites is true," particularly when a high ranking employee of the same Harford County Public School system has been criminally charged with "participating in an unnatural and perverted sexual practice." That's NOT a slanderous assertion.... it a known fact already on the public record!
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**ANNOUNCEMENTS ** NEWS** The Aegis (Vol 141, No. 43, October 22, 1997) School Official Placed On Leave After Sex Charge (by Ginger Rigney) A high-ranking employee of Harford County Public Schools was placed on paid administrative leave Monday after Board of Education members learned he was charged by Baltimore City police with participating in an "unnatural and perverted sexual practice." Joseph P. Licata, assistant superintendent for operations, was charged with perverted practice August 21 when undercover officers from Baltimore's southeastern precinct found him and a 26-year old Baltimore County woman egaging in oral sex in Licata's car, according to court documents. According to Donald R. Morrison, director of information and publications for the school system, the decision to place Licata on administrative leave with pay was made Saturday and became effective Monday. A 21-year employee with the school system, the 43-year old Bel Air resident will continue to earn his $70,065 salary pending the outcome of an administrative review. School system leaders said they could not comment on Licata's case, even to speculate how long that review might take, because it is a personnel matter. Generally speaking, however, Morrison said inquiries into alleged employee misconduct are "customized" and are similar only in that those reviewing the matter try to consider "all factors involved with an allegation" before deciding what, if any, action to take. "Depending on the severity of the allegations, the number of allegations and many other factors, a person could be reprimanded, suspended.... or terminated," Morrison said. "Each case is taken on its own merit." While other school officials said they could not comment on Licata's job performance, his career with the school system has been one of increasing responsibilities. He started in 1976 as a teacher at Havre de Grace High School and also taught at Fallston High School. Licata joined the school system's central administration in 1987 as an administrative assistant in facilities in charge of construction. Throughtout the 1990s, when building of county schools boomed, Licata's title changed many times but he remained in charge of construction until July 1, 1997, when he was named assistant superintendent for operations. Licata continues to oversee construction, but he also oversees "everything to do with the school system that's not classroom oriented," including transportation, maintenance and custodial services, Morrison said. Licata could not be reached for comment, but court records show his trail date has been set in Baltimore City District Court for November 10. According to charging documents against Licata, Baltimore City police were working undercover in the 4100 block of East Lombard Street the night of August 21 when they saw a woman get into Licata's car and the two drove to a "secluded location" in the 3700 block of East Baltimore Street. When police approached the parked car, they saw Licata and the woman --- later identified as Donna M Heil, 26, of the 6700 block of Havenoak Road in Golden Ring --- engaged in oral sex. Each was charged with perverted practice, and Licata was released on his own recognizance. Had Licata been a more recent employee of the school system, board members may have known about the arrest sooner. A state law, passed October 1, 1986, requires all school personnel to be fingerprinted and subjected to background checks. Those fingerprints are on file with police agencies and, any time a school employee is charged with an offense punishable by jail time, the school system's Human Resources Office is notified. However, Licata and others hired by the school system before the law took effect are not required to be fingerprinted. |
