Patrick Renfro Affair Undercuts School Gains

SEATTLE School Superintendent John Stanford's pledge to review district contracting rules is the least that should come from the Patrick Renfro affair.

Renfro, the schools' construction manager, has every right to pursue other career alternatives. It's what he did - or didn't do - after he flew to Las Vegas last winter to interview for a job with Heery International, a company expected to be awarded a construction management contract, that is so troubling.

Renfro failed to tell relevant supervisors about the interview. Eight months later in August, he blessed the recommendation of several other key parties that Heery be given the sole management contract on a project previously expected to be divided between Heery and another firm, CRSS.

Renfro should have disclosed his dealings with Heery and should not have participated in any decisions involving the firm. Now he should do the district a favor and step down.

It matters not that he was never actually hired because Heery didn't win the construction contract in Las Vegas. Renfro's actions constitute a conflict of interest or at the very least the appearance of a conflict - the state auditor's office is trying to determine which - at a most delicate time.

Under Stanford's strong leadership, Seattle schools are slowly building a new and better public image. The tenuous link with the public has everything to do with how two upcoming levies, one for operations, another for technology needs, will be viewed seven short weeks from now.

The Renfro affair sours the good vibes and undermines public confidence. Adding insult to injury, the levy oversight committee appointed to watch out for the public interest in this $330 million project attempted to keep its meetings closed. The public's worst fear - that the panel was hiding something - has now been confirmed.

Stanford declined to fire Renfro because he believed he had no legal reason to do so. That doesn't mean Renfro can't get out of the way himself for the good of the district. The school board recently revised conflict-of-interest policies, which are separate and distinct from contract rules now under review. The policy now says staffers must not be involved in any activities in which they have a direct or indirect financial interest.

Beyond that, Renfro should take personal responsibility for his actions and step down. The issue is not about a single incident or individual. It's about the district's delicate relationship with its public.