Florida Keys News
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
School Board reprimands superintendent
School Board assures public it considers violation to be 'serious'
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

The Monroe County School Board on Tuesday voted unanimously to reprimand the superintendent for not enforcing rules prohibiting employees from using district-issued purchasing cards for personal purchases.

Randy Acevedo has said it was "not uncommon" for employees to use the cards, which allowed them to avoid paying sales tax, then "try" to repay the district before t...

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Conch Broom

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 8:46am

Listen closely

It's the sound of yet another Conch Crime being swept under the rug in full view of the sheeple

.

Wow wee, now Johnny P was

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 3:04pm
Wow wee, now Johnny P was drinking with the school board credit card - He must have known better than to use the card to drink with - I guess you can buy a Harvard Education

Wait until you see the amount of greed here

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:59pm
This is more than just sales tax evasion. This is a ripoff of money that could have been used to help the kids. Remember the motto for some here is not Whatever it Takes instead its Whatever we can take

School Board

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 2:52pm
I'm trying to remember which School Board member had his own problems with other people's credit cards and forging names and having his automobile repossessed for financial reasons. Since I can't remember and the Citizen won't do a followup story on that whole fiasco I guess I'll just have to assume it could have been any of them.

Pribramsky

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 9:23am
I don't think that they were false accusations because it appears that Mr. Pribramsky agreed to settle the two cases that were filed against him. It is public record. I guess his white horse just got alot darker and shorter. You may also want to find out how much money the school board pays for Mr. Prbramsky's unnecessary travel expenses in these hard financial times. I think he should go without travel expenses so our teachers can have afford paper in the classrooms.

Pribramsky Donates His School Board Salary

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 10:55am
He hasn't taken a dime from this district. He donates his entire salary so stop trying to drag his name through the mud . . .

He should use his salary to

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 3:06pm
He should use his salary to pay his property taxes. That is public record too and he hasn't paid them for years - Look for yourself on a conchs web site - Tax Collector Dee Dee Henriquez's

Citizen not wasting it's ink on non-issues

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:15pm
The Citizen is smart enough to not be distracted by ignorant people . . . who think that bringing up old FALSE accusations against Mr. Primbramski will cover up the attrocities that the ACEVEDO FAMILY have committed. If you must know, Mr. Primbramski was fully exhonerated of all allegations and that does not sell newspapers (just ask Dennis Cooper.) Also, Mr. Primbransky has never been reprimanded by the Board and never bought his wife shoes with a School Board credit card!!!!

Follow Up

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:01pm
I do believe that "misinterpretation of the facts" was cleared up already. Just as the misunderstanding about the Acevedo's not paying their mortgage and the impending forclosure action was cleared up. Don't try to "misinterpret" something when the guilty party has already admitted to doing what she was acused of and her husband has said "eveyone else did it" too. Which Bubba are you?

Board Lost Its Focus

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:22pm
It's been over a week, and at least two Board Members will stop at nothing to get Randy. There's been a policy violation- there has been a reprimand. But it will never be enough blood for the Board. Watch how they parlay this into much worse. It's disgusting, but that's their focus: trashing the Superintendent. Let the State Attorney do his job, and stop speculating. The Board keeps throwing punches...those $300 sunglasses might come in handy to hide the black-eyes given by the Board!

You have no touch of reality

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:09pm by hope and change
RANDY is so misunderstood!

Blame it on the Board Bubba

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:09pm
That's right, it's all the board's fault. Monique did nothing wrong. She has earned the right to make more than most teachers, even without a degree, and certainly no one should give her or Randy any trouble for using the school district credit cards for personal use and tax evasion. Now how about my district credit card and supplement bubba?

Tip of the iceberg, folks!

Submitted on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 1:30pm
This is just the tip of the iceberg. The school district employs and contracts many who aren't qualified for their positions: an Art teacher promoted to teach Special Education; Sugarloaf hired a Counselor who is "working" toward that degree/certification (they should be interning until met, not employed and NOT drawing a salary); "contracted" Lifeskills Counselors who do not hold a Master's in Counseling/Social Work and are diagnosing and providing "treatment" to YOUR children! This is the Bubba System at it's best. Wake UP and take a look at what's truly going on in your school district. You'd be surprised! But I guess money speaks the loudest in Key West public schools....

Board Lost Its Focus

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 8:44pm
You're kidding, right?

That was Steve Pribamski,

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:19pm
That was Steve Pribamski, when he purchased an appliance store in Key West. I believe that there was a civil case over this and do not know the outcome of that. It seems to me that this was a little over a year ago.

and I believe prior to that

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 6:50am
and I believe prior to that in Chicago that several banks wanted their money back from his failed real estate ventures he refused to pay them for. and if he is the self-proclaimed defender of our 80 million school budget, well then, i want to know all about his financial dealings as well...right down to the last penny. I think the Key West Citizen has an obligation to fully inform the voters about all of them not just a select few.

School Board

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:09pm by just ask me
If I knew I wouldn't posted it, move on.

It was Pribramsky and he

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 4:19pm by M
It was Pribramsky and he still got elected to this board. It was when he owned Reed Appliance and used credit lines still in their name.

What does anything have to do with the kids?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 1:49pm
Here is a run down of some of the more controversial things Randy Acevedo’s administration can lay claim to. 1. Purchase of the Marathon Manor for shady Cay Clubs deal. 2. Providing free health care for 70 plus administrators while teachers and other employees cover the difference. 3. Bungling Harris school sale to state in order to hold for developer buddy. 4. Adding an additional 10 days of testing. 5. Manipulating district grades to make it appear that Monroe is number 1 in the state. 6. Give his wife and other district administrators huge supplements for jobs they are already doing during the school day. These are just a few things that come to mind. Now, can someone please tell me what these decisions have to do with kids and their education? Randy has admitted to using the cards to avoid paying sales tax and now we are faced with the possibility that funds were used for personal purchases and not paid back. This is outrageous. So to all you people who are now saying let’s just focus on the kids, I say where have you been for these past 4 years?

i agree

Submitted on Sun, 03/15/2009 - 9:09am
I agree. This has gone on too long. I truly believe a superintendent should not have any family members under him. Acevedo cares more for admin not teachers because his friends and family are there. I am still confused why anyone makes more than the teachers. Why do staff get credit cards and not teachers for supplies for their classes. I am shocked so many people have credit cards!

Johnny P

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 4:22pm
I guess he had a few cocktails on the school board dime, but he paid it back. wow wee

Wow and the sheep still elected him

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 3:45pm by hope and change
This is true clarity. Its mind boggling that the voters knowing that these problems were apparent went to the polls and put him back in office. We have three and a half years to put up with this . . .

A RULE IS NOT A RULE UNTIL IT IS ENFORCED

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 12:51pm
The root of this problem is cultural. Because everyone knows everyone down here, people get away with anything and everything. Rules in the school system (county and city too) are a waste of paper. A RULE IS NOT A RULE UNTIL IT IS ENFORCED. No one wants to be held accountable for their actions. Do we really trust the people to know what's best for our school district? We need to have our Superintendant appointed rather than elected. Schools should not be in the business of politics. Just educating the leaders of tomorrow. Sometimes the decisions in the best interested of the students are avoided because in the back of the mind... there's always another election a few years away. Don't whine when someone comes in that actually makes you do your job and holds you accountable for your actions. Set your standards high!

Elected v. Appointed

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:26pm
WE have had this very point on the ballot many times and it has been defeated HANDILY. It really needs to be seriously considered.

Elected v. Appointed

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 2:50pm
The ... conchs are not going to vote to take away their right to pick one of their own to lead the school system. Someone might come in and make changes and not take excuses. Oh no! It will never be overturned by the voters unless the upper and middle keys voting populations grow significatly larger than Key West. Ignorance breeds ignorance. How do you deal with a culture of people who think they know what's best, but really have no clue?

If you don't like Key West

Submitted on Fri, 03/13/2009 - 10:05am
If you don't like Key West, remember. . . "Delta is ready when you are."

Move

Submitted on Thu, 03/12/2009 - 5:47pm
You can move to a county who has an appointed super if you want, that is your right, but in America (and yes, Key West is still in America) 50%+1, gets it their way. The voters have decided, so move on or go to Burger King.

Great point! Good post.

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 7:54pm
Great point! Good post.

not about the kids

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:22am
Come on folks. Stop attempting to put the kids in here. This has nothing to do with the students. It is about tax funds and theft. Plain and simple. Stealing. Quit trying to say "Oh save the kids, what about the poor kids". That is a diversion from the facts.

As a teacher I say...

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:38am
This is sad. Nobody really knows what is going to happen with the finacial situation in this district. Teachers are worried whether-or-not they will have a job next year. Entire programs are in danger of being cut. Our students will be the ones who pay the price in the end. Who do they think will be running this system in 20 years? Will they have anything to work with? Wouldn't a little forward thinking be helpful? Instead of turning a clear-cut violation of School Board Policy into a week long fiasco, shouldn't we get back to Student Success, Whatever IT Takes! If it takes disciplinary action on district personell and/or the superintendant then so be it! Get it done and lets get back to the business of educating our students.

Please

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:28pm
Tell me you were home sick and not supposed to be teaching. Way to go! Good point but seriously.

We are educating our students...

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:05pm
...about right and wrong. It is right to follow the rules. It is wrong to break those rules, or bend those rules, so that you can benefit from them.

Shouldn't you be teaching

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:20am
Shouldn't you be teaching right now? It is 9:38am and you are writing on this blog! Wow - If that "ain't" calling the pot call the kettle black!!!

I've been caught!!

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:04pm
Touche!

Shouldn't you be teaching?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 4:57pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
Point well made

Playing for the camera

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:12am
I will not minimize the severity of accountability in the present environmental climate. In business, as you move forward, you find holes in processess and you make corrections. Most businesses handle these things in board rooms, make corrections and quietly implement change. Can anyone tell me what the dollar amount in total charges or inappropriate charges are? If this is a significant part of the overall budget, that perhaps it is worth all the attention it is getting. What I am afraid is happening here is that this is a relatively insignificant item. Yes, absolutely, it warrants attention and correction. But what this show looks like to me is that the school board has found an issue they think they can bury the superintendent with and are now playing for the camera's. Stop wasting my tax dollars on your personal crusades and please get back to the business of running a school system. Our kids deserve this. The school superintendent has managed to produce one of the most successful school districts in the state, from whatever angle you choose to evaluate it.

Even one penny is too much

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:15pm
to charge if it is not supposed to be charged on the purchasing card. Don't you get it? We need every penny we can get our hands on at this point to help run our school system. You are correct our kids deserve the best, but that costs money. If the money is being spent on $300 sunglasses and airline tickets and who knows what other personal items for the Superintendent's family, than we need to look into this "whatever it takes". Then we need to make sure that we get that money back from all who have misused the system and put that back into our schools.

The TEACHERS, STUDENTS AND PARENTS have produced

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:07pm
one of the most successful school districts in the state with the help of the Superintendent and ALL OF THE OTHER ADMINISTRATORS that work with the schools. We are not where we are because of just one person...it takes a village and a county and the members of all to get where we are in the rankings.

Randy is this you????

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:06pm by hope and change
Oh everything is okay! THE CHILDREN ARE GETTING THEIR MONEYS WORTH! We are all paying big taxes to make sure each child gets the full benefit of every cent. Every thing is hunky dory! Randy is as honest as Abe Lincoln. Monique poor soul should get her job back, Im so happy! Go green! Love peace and long hair. This corruption is deep seated within this ignorant pirate culture in the keys.

response to playing for the camera

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:37pm
Randy Acevedo has NOT made this district one of the most successful districts in the state...it has been the teachers and the students who now will work for less since he didn't pay his sales tax on big ticket items. How is that for helping the district?

I agree with most of the

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 12:16pm
I agree with most of the above assesssment, but please note that not all of the school board members are "playing to the cameras". In my opinion, Matthewson and Walker have not done so. They have not been trying to destroy careers while all of the facts have not yet been researched by the state auditors. Griffiths, while generally being fair, does have a tendency to "play to the cameras".

Play to the camera

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 5:07pm by just ask me
. . .How would you suggest the Board Members and Admin Staff act, I believe all the meetings have been handled with class. That isn't remotely the issue.

Are you for real?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 3:40pm
Are you implying that other board members are trying to destroy careers? No one forced the Acevedo's to break the law. They knew the rules and broke them. They should accept the consequences and not blame board members for doing their job. As for Matthewson- he does nothing, but Walker is always playing to the cameras with nasty attacks on other board members.

play to camera?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 2:46pm
Could you be more specific as to when Mr. Griffiths ever seemed to play to the camera?

Lights, Cameras, Action

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 6:11pm
I don't think that John and Steve play to the camera either. In fact, I remember one meeting when John Dick actually said that he would sit with the camera to his back (and I believe he did for a while) since they were at a workshop and the table was round.

The Teachers deserve the Credit

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 11:28am
I am sick and tired of hearing how this superintendent has produced the most successful school district in the state. The teachers are the ones who go to school each day and teach regardless of what is going on around them. They don't show up in mass to board meetings to fight for their share of supplements, benefits, or blackberrys because they have a job to do. Our kids deserve a school board and superintendent who put teachers and students first. How is it that some schools are out of paper and yet some people still have a blackberry? Is that what you call putting students first? I know of at least two board members, Dick and Pribramsky who have always tried to put students and teachers first. Their efforts should be commended. They have stood up to those administrators who show up in mass numbers to protect their pocket book. What this superintendent allowed his wife and others to do is WRONG. He should step down.

Obviously someone's

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:59am
Obviously someone's Professional License was on the line. Fraud was suspected and that person could not sign their name to the document stating otherwise. BIG OR SMALL, FRAUD IS FRAUD. How deep it goes, how long has it gone on, will the investigation go that far?? Probably not. And as for wasting your tax dollars, Your not paying attention, you should be outraged!

Tax Fraud?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:54am
Tax fraud is a Third Degree Felony with MANDATORY penalties. That's just Florida. If there were other states where the cards were improperly used, then there are felony charges in those states as well. Same with any federal or local taxes evaded from airline or hotel purchases. Wow. Just wow. Do you have any clue how serious this is?!?

You must be one of the credit card carriers

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 10:52am
Actually I think the teachers produced the successful district.

What constitutes a crime?

Submitted on Wed, 03/11/2009 - 9:31am
If the people who have these purchasing cards (93 of them from what I understand) use these cards to purchase personal items and then pay back the district is this wrong? Yes! Even if they pay the district back the full amount of the purchase - they still have not paid the State Sales Tax on those items and they can't pay it because by using those cards, they are tax exempt. How can you pay back more than you owe...how do you balance the books then?
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