Former Walton County Assistant Superintendent Under Investigation

Former Walton County Public Schools Assistant Superintendent Harvey Franklin is facing a federal investigation in Mississippi for a reading program that he took with him to Mississippi when he left Georgia.

According to a report in Southern Education Desk, the program was called “Early Detection, Necessary Action, or EDNA. An investigation against the person who developed the program, Edna Goble, has been under way for a while.

The program was used in the system during Franklin tenure and was reportedly touted as a success by him when he took up the superintendent position in Greenville after leaving WCPS.

According to Southern Education Desk, Franklin claimed he had seen it work in Georgia. The Greenville Public School System went on to invest $1.5 million in the program. School officials in Greenville are now reporting that federal and state investigators are now looking into whether Franklin took a cut. The Associated Press is reporting that Goble is not commenting on the investigation or her relationship with Franklin. Mississippi state auditors reportedly have information showing some supplies and training were never provided or were inadequate, but that Goble is standing by the effectiveness of the program. Investigators, however, say it did little to improve failing reading scores.

It is reported that since the investigation by federal agents began, nobody has seen Franklin.

Patch is checking with WCPS officials whether investigators have contacted them concerning Franklin's involvement with the program while with the school system. WCPS officials have also been asked how much money the school system invested in the program during Franklin's tenure and whether the EDNA program is still in use in Walton County. An update will follow as soon as that information is made available.