Florida Keys News
Friday, March 6, 2009
Superintendent: Card misuse 'not uncommon'
Acevedo allowed personal credit card charges with repayment

Using school credit cards to buy personal items then repaying the district is not new among employees, Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo told The Citizen Thursday.

"Yes, it has happened before," Acevedo said, "and no one has been terminated or disciplined unless they financially gained and tried to hide it."

Though School Board Policy 6424 bans employees fro...

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disobeying policy

For school staff to disobey their own policy regarding school credit card use is poor role model behavior for the students. Students have to obey rules and policies or receive a sanction. Same acoountability for the adults! In addition to removing credit cards from the hands of teachers and etc. I suggest drug testing all Monroe County teachers, child advocates, case workers and etc. I know a ton of them smoke weed.

Credit Card Use

Teachers, we are told, are informed persistently not to use the cards for personal use. I believe that. Administrators have and use a different standard. A teacher caught using a card inappropriately would be - at the very least - embarrassed and put through the wringer. Why a double standard for the bosses?!? No, let's not do that. OK, School Board Members, get out your switches!

conch bashing

In response to those with so much disdain for conchs - CONCHS are who built Key West into the city we all know and love. Please do not wait until the next wind gust to evacuate. And please make sure to take the other malcontents along. Be assured that you won't be missed.

Conchs

Put out an American Flag and I would hope all "Conchs" and "Non-Conchs" would defend that flag with equal vigor. Don't forget we are all Americans and it is shameful to see what is on this website. Look at countries who are currently fightly in the middle east. We are acting as stupid as they are on this issue. "Do unto others as you would like done unto you" - GOD Bless America!

No you are wrong!

You act as if the only place that matters is Key west. Maybe the rest of us should seperate the county at the Key West bridge entrance. You can survive by your selves. The problem is you have to leave the island once and a while and see that there is a whole big world out thier not just a few money grabbing corrupt politicians. The Conch Republic Idea is not such a bad Idea as long as its borders are at MM 5!

One Human Family

Well i guess our key west motto of "ONE HUMAN FAMILY" is nothing but an advertising ploy to get tourists down here. It's so disheartening to read all of the hateful comments here, especialy for all the world to see on the internet. Shameful and terrible advertisement for us. Key West is a good place filled with mostly decent people. I hope the people reading all this filth online, remember that. If all the people running their mouths about this issue took as much time to go to our schools and volunteer, our schools would be in much better shape. We all need to practice what we preach.

Conch bashing and 1 human family

Are you guys asleep in key west or have you missed the issue here. We have a self admitted CONCH who was also applauded by conchs as being their home boy when he was running. I remember the call was to save key west for conchs. I do agree that there are good and bad in everybody. The sad part is that he is a proud and arrogant conch. He revels in that. He is supported and advised by the old time conchs. Now they are probably seperating themselves from him. It is sad but true that this is an embarrassing conch issue. Hopefuly he will admit he is wrong and resign and let an honest conch do the job. People are mad and they are fed up. So let them expell tier frustration and may be we can all get along.

Keel haul 'em

Arrrgggghhhhh matey. Randy does us proud...... Round 'em up sheriff Bob and keel haul the citizens of this county for not fittin' in with our way of life.

credit card abuse.

You have got to be kidding me. Hang them all from the highest yardarm.

card misuse

wrong is wrong, using the credit card to charge over $300.00 is a felony. I think it should be investigated and she should be charged, and I don't mean credit card, and I think her husband should be charged if he knew or gave her permission to do it.

Great Entertainment

Reading this pile of horse manure written by you people is great entertainment. It is better than the Citizen's voice or Nancy Grace. Keep it coming or I'll have to go back to watching the cat flush the toilet on YouTube.

RICO the County and City Governments

Conversion of something of value to one's own use is the definition of embezzlement .. even if it is converted back at a later time

I suppose if a Conch robs a bank there is no crime if the money is replaced.

A healthy nepotism rule would do wonders to thin out the gene pool from the rather shallow end that is out County and City governments

.

Right / Wrong

This is not a conch issue, this is a right and wrong issue. End of story.

Avoiding Sales Tax

Sales tax is not charged by the merchant to those government credit cards! The fraud is not paying sales tax on items by using the card!

WE MISS MIKE LANNON

THIS KINDA OF STUFF WOULD OF NEVER HAPPENED.

Mike Lannon????

He quit to get a job up north. He walked away when we needed leadership. ... During the campaign he backed Randy Acevedo and disregarded Doctor Fred Colvard as bad for the school district. He himself hired doctor Colvard. Lannon no way your dreaming. You must have voted for Acevedo!

Fred Colvard Train

You need to stop waiting for the Fred Colvard train, it's has already left the station. Colvard has more baggage than a 747, he was a lousy Principle at Marathon HS, had several law suits file against him in his prior Supt positions in Virginia and West Virginia, been out of school work for nearly 10 years, couldn't sell real estate, needed a paycheck, so he ran for Supt. Colvard isn't going to take you to the promise land, wake up and smell the Conch Chowder, it's burning.

Conch Chowder is burning

Its not the chowder thats burning its democracy at the grass roots level that is heating up. The people are recognizing that Acevedo is corrupt. They are demanding change and political responsibility. This is a very exciting time. Lawsuits can be because many different reasons. Just yelling someone had lawsuits is as bad as saying a BA degree in computer business systems is better that a PHD. Lawsuits are a way of business in education. We both agree that we need a change then!

Mike Lannon

You need to get your time line straight, Mike quit to take a Supt position in a larger district, not a crime to better himself, hiring of Fred had nothing to do with the campaign for Acevedo. Lannon was replaced for nearly 2 years by a Gov. Appointee, John Padgett who was defeated by Randy.

Remember Randy said "all the Supers did it."

Padgett only served for a year and a half therefore Mikey would also be guilty?

Time line huh????

Lannon hired Fred Colvard. He quit to go to job up north. Padget yes was appointed by govenor to take over for Lannon. Lannon dissed Colvard when he supported Acevedo. So what are you talking about time line???? Forget Lannon. There were rumors of why Lannon left but thats not inportant now.

ACEVEDO RESIGN NOW!!!

ACEVEDO RESIGN NOW RALLY... FRIDAY 2PM ......MARATHON HIGH SCHOOL

The union will supply a mic and sound system

I heard that the council will be there too. They will answer questions. Also called the attorneys office too. They should send a rep. We need to attend and stand up to this tyranny. Impeach the swine. We need a tea party!

Conchs

It's about time we see what goes on behind closed doors. I've been a part of the school system for over three years and am shocked at how things are run. I've seen it all, all coming from Conchs. If your a Conch-anything goes and the Bubbas make sure of.

Sunny Booker is not a conch

and look at her. She was a drama teacher when she was hired to be an assistant principal at Marathons high school. She then moved up the ladder and became an district administrator. She makes great money. She is also able to make command decisions. She made a success out of challenge day, She help make band camp a school function. She recruited Tina Belotti. Now she has brought a school dance program that is suppose to give students the tools they need to excell in math, reading and sciences. What a fantatstic rise to power. Whew my head is spinning. She was also instumental in getting Randy reelected! So stop being jealous of conchs. We are people too!

Where is State Attorney

Where is State Attorney Dennis Ward on this?

look at the facts

Randy Acevedo has been at odds with John Dick and Steve Pembranski over the heart of running the school district. The issues have always been money. It seems that financialy acevedo does not seem to know what he is doing. The schools are up and running but in what shape and at what cost. Acevedo keeps bragging that the students are up to par with their education. Yet scores dont show this. Other fancy hyped up activities such as challenge day are being funded by the district but have not shown to reduce crime and violence in the schools. Teachers are complaning about the lack of supplies and pay. Yet the admin is living off of the fat of the land. In these times we as tax payers and voters need to look at survival and our best interests. We should be asking for the current adminstration to step down. Randy has said that his wife resigning was so as to not make this political. Well it may be criminal! We need change and hope. We need to think about us and we need to be the change!

Card misuse 'not uncommon'

Acevedo allowed personal credit card charges with repayment

a policy which 'allows' conversion of school board asset of value for personel use .... you mean embezzelment

...... but they're Conchs they're entitled .... the rule of law doesn't apply to Conchs

I see that Berman and the parking meter guy are back on the municipal dole

.

Look back to the Key West High Band trip in 2006

The Key West High band took a trip to London England in 2006. Randy, Monique, their three children (and I hear Randy's parents) all went on the trip. Dennis Ward and the auditors need to look into who bought (and didn't reimburse) all the airplane tickets, the hotel rooms, the meals and the incidental expenses. Misuse of the school district credit card goes back way beyond July 2008 and Randy Acevado knew all about it. The band kids worked incredibly hard raising funds and families had to scrimpt and save the $3,500 it cost to send their child but I am sure the Acevado's illegally went on the taxpayer's dollar. This is a clear misappropriation of public monies by the Acevado family and we cannot allow this to continue.

Conch

You don't have to be a Conch to steal or to be a judgmental idiot.

no your wrong

During the election Key West was proud of their Boy Randy. The common call was he's our "home Boy"; conch pride; Conch rule: and so on. There is also a long history of such cultural attributes to conchs in political posisitions. I know there are many great and good people in Key West. Its sad that the conch dark side ruins the good in Key West. Pirates of the Carribean! Yo HO Yo HO a pirates life for me!

School Credit Card

My daughter is not an employee of any school district, but she has a company credit card. Last year when we were Christmas shopping, she accidentally bought a present on it. The way she found out was the item never showed up on her personnal credit card, so she asked her boss if it was on the company card. This has happened to her several times. Point: these things DO HAPPEN. One should be able to tell whether it is blatant misue or a simple mistake that could be made by anyone. My question is: why are we all so quick to rush to jusgement ?

Company Credit Card

Your daughter cannot distinguish between her personal credit card and the company credit card? Interesting.

Company Credit Card

No, my daughter can not distinguish between the company credit card & her personnal card -- they are issued by the same company & look just alike. You wouldn't be able to tell either ! AND...I am willing to bet she is better educated than you and smarter, too ! And still she makes an occasional mistake (unlike you, I am sure, but like her Mom who typed 'judgement' incorrectly). She does keep these cards in different areas of her pocketbook now as she did learn something from her mistake.

Lesson Learned

Well thank goodness she learned something! In one of my previous jobs I too had a company credit card and NEVER did I mistakenly use it to purchase a personal item. That was because they reminded us constantly about it. I think you are missing the big picture here. These purchases were made in June 2008. It is now March 2009 and we are just finding out about it. There is obviously a lack of checks and balances in our district accounting department. This should have been discovered way before this time. And, why did Monique resign if it was truly just a mistake? That seems like a very loud "I'm gulity of something." She should have just produced the proof that she repaid the bills and we would not be having this "posting party!" Sorry if I misspelled anything...I am sure you will let me know if I did!

Lesson Learned

I do agree w/ you about 'the big picture'.....and it DOES sound like something is up here. However, my point is, as a society we ARE too quick to judge. I am hopeful all the facts will come out & judgement will be mandated by those with authority over Monique (& perhaps Randy, too - time will tell on that one) The good Lord has yet to send me an engraved invite to sit at the judgement table with Him........

what u talkin about u cant even spell

ITS JUDGEMENT AND THERE IS ALOT OF COVER UP FOR THE BIG BOY.......

"cant" even spell

There is only one "e" in judgment. Now STOP YELLING.

'cant'

My spelling is fabulous, my typing is not so good !! However, you should move from your glass house because 'cant' is actually 'can't'. 'Alot' is actually 'a lot' Do something constructive with that pile of rocks you are slinging at others , why don't you ?

We are so quick to judge

We are so quick to judge because it's BS!! Have you not looked at the finacial crisis that our schools are in?? Teachers are being laid off, funds taken, fear of losing jobs every other week and now we here that his wife is sporting $300 sunglasses. We are all struggling while his wife, son and self are making the big bucks. That is the problem. We are tired of watching these ignorant people run this town and get jobs based on their name!!

Is his name an important

Is his name an important name? Oh yes the long list of prominent Key West Acevedos I forgot.

School Credit Card

Wasn't one of the "misuses" of the card a flight to NC? When booking a flight you actually need to view the card and read off the numbers. It's not like your handing it over to a cashier while on a cell phone. Mistake my 4ss.

What Company Does She Work For?

I agree these things happen. But a mistake should only happen ONCE. The company should discover it and inform/counsel the employee. If it continues, the employee should lose the ability to have a company credit card.

Do you live in Key West?

one:Its against the law two: its tax payers money three: its using the tax payers credit line without paying fees or interest four: your ignorant? Need I say more. Oh and Randy is criminally liable. They just have to have the almonds to go after him!

Bill Becker

Just heard Randy on us-1. Seems Randy explained that there was no intent to steal. The intent was there. The mere fact he is the head guy in charge shows his and Moniques intentional disregard for the rules. What BS! Randy was sad and eating some humble pie. Quite the difference from HIS OBNOXIOUS RUDE BULLYING SELF. We need change. We need to get rid of Randy Acevedo! Bill becker was his on the fence self. We need investigative type reporters to put these thieves to task. Thank god for Jon Dick and Steve Pembranski. Thank you Key West Citizen. I just re-upped my subscription. The Keynoter sucks!

Card "Misuse, Not Uncommon"

Randy said card misuse is not uncommon, where in any business class does it say using company funds for personal use is ok. He certainly wouldn't be able to manage a business in the private sector with that type of thinking or his own business. OH, That's right, he can't manage his own business, he's in foreclosure.

Kinda Like McPherson

Why should we trust any of them. Time to get rid of these crooks. ALL of them.

I thought Randy was the superintendant of schools

doesnt this job come with certain responsibilities and rules that he should know or be an expert at. Did we elect a common criminal to run our schools. Is he just there to dip into the gravy train. He and his wife have suffered from credit card problems, foreclosures, the questioning of his ability to run the schools finances. Where does it all end???

Hey Bookie did it

So why can't I!

John Padgett

I would guess John Padgett never used the school board credit cards for personal items. It kind of makes you wonder now about the true motives of those school board employees who campaigned so feverishly against him.
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