Courier-Journal: Felner Inquiry Timeline
1997: While director of the University of Rhode Island’s School of Education, Robert Felner establishes the National Center on Public Education and Social Policy there. He is the center’s director until 2006.
October 2001: Felner associate Thomas D. Schroeder of Illinois helps incorporate the National Center on Public Education and Prevention in Illinois, serving as its executive director.
July 17, 2001, to Feb. 12, 2004: Several bank accounts are opened under the National Center for Public Education and Prevention’s name, including accounts in Illinois, Rhode Island and Louisville. Authorities allege Felner and Schroeder funneled $1 million from the Atlanta Public Schools meant for the Rhode Island center to the Illinois center.
July 2, 2002, to Sept. 24, 2007: Authorities allege Felner and Schroeder funneled $326,000 from Buffalo, N.Y., and New York Middle School Association meant for the Rhode Island center to the Illinois center.
Sept. 9, 2002, to Dec. 20, 2004: Authorities allege Felner and Schroeder funneled $375,000 from the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District to the Illinois center that was meant for the Rhode Island center.
July 2003: Felner is hired as dean of the University of Louisville’s College of Education and Human Development.
Jan. 1, 2005: Felner hires Schroeder to work as his research assistant and pays him $2,400 a month through April 2008.
Jan. 26, 2005: Felner is informed he is the recipient of a $694,000 congressional earmark secured by then-U.S. Rep. Anne Northup, R-3rd District, in the 2005 federal budget to create the Center for Research-Based Educational Improvement and Assessment: Support and Continuous Improvement of No Child Left Behind in Kentucky, also known as the NCLB Center.
Aug. 19, 2005: Federal officials inform U of L that the grant for the federal earmark is approved, and is to run from September 2005 to Aug. 31, 2006.
March 2006: Faculty at the College of Education and Human Development initiate a no-confidence vote against Felner. It passes 27-24.
April 1, 2006: Felner initiates a $60,000 subcontract with the National Center on Public Education and Social Policy at the University of Rhode Island for research associated with the NCLB Center.
May 5, 2006: Felner executes a $30,000 contract with the Rhode Island center for work associated with the U of L NCLB Center. U of L issues a check for the work in June.
Jan. 3, 2007: Felner executes a memorandum of agreement with the Rhode Island center, which is paid with two $15,000 checks sent by U of L in March.
Jan. 5, 2007: Felner executes a $250,000 personal-service contract with the National Center on Public Education and Prevention in Illinois. The contract is paid between March 15 and June 29. The money was deposited in a Louisville bank account controlled by Felner.
July 27, 2007: U.S. Department of Education approves a project extension until July 31, 2008.
July 31, 2007: A U of L check for $50,000 to the National Center for Education and Prevention is deposited in a Louisville bank account.
Oct. 12, 2007: The grants management office requests that Felner provide justification for adding a subcontract, and how that affected the scope of the project’s work. Felner provides that.
Oct. 26, 2007: U of L, on behalf of Felner, asks the federal education department to allow reallocation of funds for a $200,000 subcontract with the National Center for Public Education and Prevention in Illinois.
Dec. 3, 2007: Felner executes a $200,000 contract with the National Center for Public Education and Prevention in Illinois. The money was deposited in a Louisville bank account controlled by Felner.
May 2008: Felner announces he is leaving U of L at the end of June to become chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside.
May 12, 2008: Felner attempts to use $120,000 from the Offutt Endowment Account to pay for an extension on the contract with the Illinois center.
June 20, 2008: Federal investigators seize documents and a computer from Felner’s university office, and announce an investigation centering on the grant is under way.
June 24, 2008: Felner’s attorney, Scott C. Cox, confirms his client is the focus of the investigation. Felner withdraws from the Wisconsin post.
July 21, 2008: U of L President James Ramsey announces the university is conducting an internal audit of the education college’s finances and an external audit of the university’s grant and research management. He also asks the Faculty Senate to review the university’s grievance process.
Sept. 10, 2008: U of L officials appoint a committee to investigate allegations that a doctoral degree was improperly awarded to John Deasy, a Felner associate who is now superintendent of Prince George’s County Schools in Maryland.
September 2008: U of L initiates reviews of governance and management policies and its ethics policies.
Oct. 2, 2008: U of L officials announce they will create an Ombuds Office to deal with faculty and staff conflicts, disputes and complaints.
Oct. 22, 2008: A federal grand jury indicts Felner and Schroeder on charges of stealing $2.3 million in grants and contracts.
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