By Tawnell D. Hobbs and Matthew Haag
Staff Writers

Dallas ISD administrators have hired an outside attorney to investigate complaints against Trustee Bernadette Nutall, surprising school board members who were told about it for the first time Thursday night.

DISD general counsel Jack Elrod told board members in closed session that the district hired former U.S. Attorney Paul Coggins to lead the investigation, trustees told The Dallas Morning News. The complaints were made by three employees – after Superintendent Mike Miles ordered police to forcibly remove Nutall from Dade Middle School last month.

“The fact that this is coming up right now, to me — the timing of all this seems peculiar,” board President Miguel Solis said Friday.

Miles, who oversees the district, said he was unaware that Coggins was hired.

“I don’t know anything about Paul Coggins being hired,” he said Friday. “The person you need to talk to or could talk to is Jack Elrod.”

Elrod couldn’t be reached for comment. Dallas ISD spokesman Jon Dahlander said he wouldn’t comment about items discussed with trustees in closed session.

Nutall, who attended Thursday’s meeting, said the district has bigger issues to address.

“Dade Middle School is still in a state of flux, and children are suffering,” Nutall said in an email late Friday. “If Mr. Miles put as much thought, energy and effort in working with all parents, communities and trustees as he does working against certain ones, all while evading responsibility for his actions and subpar results, then this entire district would be performing better than it has under his leadership.”

The Dade incident sparked outrage among some community leaders, who are calling for Miles to resign.

Solis said he first heard about Coggins being hired Wednesday and confirmed it with Elrod before Thursday’s meeting. He said he asked Elrod to inform trustees about the investigation during the meeting.

Trustee Lew Blackburn said he also found the timing of the investigation suspicious.

“It is a strong coincidence,” Blackburn said. “I was surprised. I’m concerned that the superintendent has allowed an investigation to begin about a trustee before letting the board know from the onset.”