Florida Keys News
Thursday, March 19, 2009
School records show excess
Purchase orders join credit cards in dispute
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

Monroe County school records show a former administrator who is the superintendent's wife regularly overspent purchase orders and repeatedly was asked by the Finance Department to explain the extra expenses.

Finance Department records show Monique Acevedo, using both a district credit card and purchase orders, purchased items that included clothing, groceries, indoor and...

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Lets get this taken care of!

Submitted on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 11:55pm
You are mad, then do something about it! Here is contact info for Charlie Christ (FL Governor)! If your upset about this send an email or call him. I know him personally and you will get results! This needs taken out of the hands of the locals, or this too will be brushed under the rug. (Hint: send one or two emails a day, the more the better, if you have time to blog, you have time to write an email) Charlie.Crist@MyFlorida.com (850) 488-4441 HERE IS THE LT. GOVERNOR Jeff.Kottkamp@MyFlorida.com

Randy Acevedo

Submitted on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 8:32pm
[Let me] first introduce myself to you all who have become so cruel to a friend of mine and also a family member. My name is Kenny Pickens, I was born and raised in Key West, Fl. Many will remember me for the negative reputation I had on several character issues, but the ones who really know me knew me to be a loyal friend,a pretty good athlete, and one who always stuck up for the underdog. I am the older cousin of Randy Acevedo, and I was always the one he looked up to growing up.If it had not been for a great woman in my life and moving out of Key West, I would have been dead or in prison. Now, I have five great children and two grandchildren who I love dearly. I have two BS Degrees and am one class away from obtaining my Masters. Yes, I am a very lucky man! What kills me is when I read some of the names criticizing Randy, who I grew up with, and know thier families very well. Wow! People who live in glass houses should not throw stones! Some of you and your fathers and uncles (from the names I am reading), were no saints either, and trust me, they did a lot worse things than what Randy and his wife are being accused of. This type of activity is why Key West is just a place to visit, but not to live, and why many of us born there moved out of the once community involved environment. A place where neighbors picked each other up when the times were down. If you did wrong deeds, you payed the price, but no one sat around writing terrible things about you! People remember, what goes around comes around! You need to think about his children first before writing ugly things. In any case, I love Randy, and will always be there for him.Some of you need to grow up and remember the things you did and are probably still doing now. God doesn't love UGLY! Kenny Pickens (Always Randy Acevedo's Big Cousin!)

PERFECT CHARACTER WITNESS

Submitted on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 12:00am
NEXT TIME I NEED A CHARACTER WITNESS I AM CALLING COUSIN KENNY

Yankees Go Home

Submitted on Wed, 03/25/2009 - 9:29pm
I didn't want to say this in my last letter,but here it goes. YANKEES GO HOME-YOU RUINED KEY WEST! Cousin Kenny

We need to think of her kids???

Submitted on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 10:09pm
You made a comment that we should think of their children, before we say things? Are you for real? She didn't give a flying crap about her kids when she was ..., it is her fault if this hurts them. I care about all children, but you need to realize we are not saying anything about her kids, its just the Acevedo's. Sorry if the kids get hurt, but it really is all their fault in the long run! They should have thought about that before [allegedly] stealing from Me and MY KIDS, and the rest of the law abiding citizens in this area's, children!!!!

Oh, this is very funny!

Submitted on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 4:22pm
This is real 'wisdom' from someone who's been a part of the KW thievery and bubba-ry all those years. Uh huh. When you steal from people, you should be treated horribly! Terrible things SHOULD be said about you! That's part of the punishment for criminal acts. And if I were a neighbor of the Acevedos, I'd certainly NOT pick them up 'cause I'd not want that 'attitude' to rub off on me.

And...we're supposed to be impressed by this?

Submitted on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 11:25am by *.*
Exactly why should we be impressed by this posting? So, we're supposed to allow thievery and fraud because they're your cousins? It just supports what we've said all along - that Conchs and their families and friends will turn a blind eye to illegal behavior. And, what makes you think, Mr. Kenny Pickens, that we live in glass houses? Perhaps we actually ARE honest, law-abiding citizens who would not steal and who would not commit fraud and would not steal from children. Did you ever think of that? Did you ever for once consider that the people who are the most upset are honest people who are doing the right thing? We all have a right to be upset when our elected officials and their wives [allegedly] mis-spend money and take it away from our children. Junkets, family 'no bid' contracts awarded, skirting school board policies, outrageous spending which took the district from a healthy surplus to a dangerous negative level - all are a reason for real outrage. You can love your cousin or not - it makes no difference to us and it has zero impact on the acts they've been involved in.

Randy So you are saying???What??

Submitted on Mon, 03/23/2009 - 11:44pm
I don't get it, what are you saying? That she should get away with [allegedly] stealing from "Children" and the community, just because she is a Conch? If you can't understand why people are upset, then you don't know all the facts! She is [allegedly] a thief, THIS CAN BE PROVEN! But we should let her off the hook, because living in KW is hard, and there are other people who have done things worse than her?? What are you talking about?? She [might deserve] to go to PRISON, for a very long time! Family or not! This is not just a couple of dollars we are talking about here. This is a lot of money, 3 School fundraisers, sunglasses, clothes, household goods.....We all know the list. She [allegedly] should be in jail right now waiting trial! She knew better and did not care for anyone but herself! . . . You say that "people in glass houses..." Blah blah blah! I have NEVER stole so much as a dime from anyone, I am not a criminal, and I am not throwing stones, I am throwing facts and the LAW. Sorry, you left, you may have known this family growing up, but obviously you don't know them now!

Hey Cuz

Submitted on Sun, 03/22/2009 - 8:40am by just ask me
Hey Cuz, you said it all, you left town, look at your reasons. It's nice to stick by your relatives, Randy is a sinking ship and why would anyone stay on board.

this whole thing

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 7:17pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
is what I call a hot mess...

Thirity years I have been a

Submitted on Fri, 03/20/2009 - 11:29pm
Thirity years I have been a fresh water conch and have watched the ridiculus hieriechy of conch bubbaism. This truly takes the cake

I've only watched it for 15 yrs

Submitted on Tue, 03/24/2009 - 11:27am by *.*
I've only watched the conch bubbaism for 15 yrs and indeed, this is the worst I've seen. Or at least, it's the most blatant. I'm sure there's worse, but it's been hidden for all these years.

The Acevedo's Private Counsel

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 4:23pm
Not to beat a dying heard of cattle but I had to let you all know I read elsewhere that Randy is now speaking with attorney Michael Halpern (aka Southernmost House, Fury) "just in case." I could say more about the prudence of this alignment with Halpern but this would never make print. But I hear he is a brilliant attorney anyhow..... albeit controversial.

Developing Story Citizen

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:03pm by just ask me
The Developing Story headlines in today's Citizen states that Key West High School Principle, John Welsh, has ask School Board Attorney, Richard Collins, to investigate why Monique Acevedo, failed to turn in money from 3 fund raisers. Now the game is on, when a major Randy Supporter, Welsh, has filed a complaint, this should be an opening for all school employees who have info but was scared to say anything, now is the time to get it off your chest.

Did Randy not take you to

Submitted on Sat, 03/21/2009 - 8:37pm
Did Randy not take you to Prom or what?

Go above Collins

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 4:03pm
Inform Collins, but go to the staorney, governor and FBI.

Local Prosecutors

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 5:12pm
Since the local prosecutors have not acted yet, make sure you write to the governor and request that he appoint a special prosecutor to take over the investigation. We cannot risk having this brushed under the rug by local cronies. Also, we need to review the source of funds, and if any is federal, bring in the United States Attorneys Office as well.

Federal Funds

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 8:01pm
Federal funds are involved. The Department of Defense provides funding to the school districts based on local military and defense department civilian school aged children demographics. Don't let the State investigate this! While Dennis Ward is unproven I have a great deal of mistrust of the power brokers in this town, this County, and in this State. They will throw Acevedo to the wolves in order to minimize their own exposure to the entrenched cronyism here. Call in the Feds and start cleaning house under section 1964(c) of the RICO Act. Call in the Feds!!!!

John Welsh

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:14pm by just ask me
KWHS PRINCIPLE, JOHN WELSH, I AM PROUND OF YOU, YOU ARE DOING THE RIGHT THING, THAT TOOK COURAGE TO, THAT IS WHAT GREAT LEADERS DO, THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!!

John Welsh

Submitted on Sun, 03/22/2009 - 9:59am
what is courages about reporting theft after the thief has been caught? Seems like the principal, who wants to keep his retirement check and his top of the pay scale check, is trying to cover his *ss. If he really wanted to be a hero, he would set the example by not "double dipping" into quickly disappearing education budget. I have yet to see any kind of leadership from anyone in this whole mess. Maybe state attorney Ward will ride in on his white horse and save the day.

Ditto

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 4:05pm
We need more courageous people to come forward. Safety in numbers. Acevedo cannot fire all of you.

That is the John Welsh...

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:33pm
I remember growing to respect so much during my time at KWHS. He cares about ALL students, even the bad ones. Pay attention Randy. This is what reality is like. Mr Welsh, if what I read is true, I commend you , sir.

Sounds like a animal hous private party

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 6:55pm
I just ask my school kids if they worked in finance and had to question a purchase and the items were wine, beer, moutain dew and red bull which ones they would question. answer: Duh the beer and wine dad its not rocket science! you mean the kids know better Wow!! whats going on at the school board building were did they get there education? wake up school board members the eyes are on you and the public demands a cleanup atleast four of the top need togo for this animal house management were is dean wormer when you need him!

I wonder how long that was

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 6:06pm
I wonder how long that was going on? It's easy to beat the dead horse now!

Beer and wine okay?

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:51pm
It appears that Red Bull and Mountain Dew were the downfall of one purchase. I only ask why no one questioned the beer and wine on the same reciept. Is beer and wine an acceptable expense for the school board?

Beer and Wine

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:29pm
Yes it's OK if consumed in moderation! One to two drinks may benefit your health.

Exactly

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 6:40pm
Two for me two for the plants. Put it on my tab and close it out. Cash back? Sure $80.00... no make it $100.00

Just a thought

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:41pm by hope and change
Obviously Monique has a problem with her spending. It seems to me that the Acevedos have a history of personal financial mismanagement. Through all what we have seen why did Randy allow her to keep on spending. Did he just ignore all the problems they were having with money or is he as bad as her. Now it seems he is feeding her to the sharks. She is guilty of using that school credit card and she is possibly going to get a criminal charge as well. So why did Randy allow this to keep going on. The sad part is that it is obvious that Monique is "sick". I know your all going to criticize me but I feel sorry for Monique. Dont get me wrong she deserves to be punished for all this. Randy must also be punished. He allowed this to go on. His alibi of not noticing is stupid and nothing more than statements of guilt on his part. She needs counciling and help. Randy is obviously very concieted. He is going to do what ever it takes to keep his job. Monique on the other hand I feel is going to take the brunt of this issue. This is very sad. What will most likely happen next is he will divorce her and leave her stranded. This could be considered as the ultimate in abuse. Randy should have taken care of his family first and put his ego out of it. Like I said I feel sorry for Monique.

On Randy Keeping His Job

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:43pm
It would behoove Monique if Randy DID keep his job... then what would she do? She may be more than happy to take the brunt of this in order for Randy to keep his job and handsome salary. On the other hand, perhaps jail time and/or the experience of homelessness might be the humbling experience that they both could use to give them fresh perspectives . . . Just a thought....

On some level, I agree with this.

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:11pm
Consumer spending and the use of consumer debt has become such a standard thing in American homes that we have stopped recognizing it for the problem that it is. This country is teetering on the edge of another great depression, and has been for well over a year. I have personally watched countless friends go through the pain of losing a job, and worrying about how they will pay the next month's rent/mortgage/utilities. The fact that during this time, somebody was spending public funds in such an extreme amount, for ridiculous things like overpriced, brand-name furniture and clothing, is truly an outrage, and a slap in the face to all those people who spent sleepless nights this year trying to figure out how to make ends meet. When the economy was booming, sure, we could all feel a little happier with some nice new things we bought at the mall. But in this economy, if you take your joy from shopping, rather than from watching your cash savings grow, then your behavior is SELF-DESTRUCTIVE and DESTRUCTIVE to your family's immediate interests and well-being. Anyone with these kinds of shopping addictions needs immediate counseling and help.

Well, she's no different....

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 8:13pm by *.*
She's no different than all these people who just had to keep treating their homes as if they were ATM machines, taking cash out, buying just one more friggin' SUV or one more big fat big-screen TV. Now? They're whining, wanting a bailout 'cause they were 'swindled'. HUH? They made these decisions. They read the 30 disclosures on their loan docs. Monique and Randy are no different. They wanted to live large but they were [allegedly]living large on the taxpayers' dime. I have no sympathy whatsoever for any of these - the Acevedos or the people who have borrowed more than they absolutely KNEW they could pay. What were they all thinking? And why is it that reasonable people who have done the right thing, acted reasonably have to keep paying the bill for these [people]?

Anti Hispanic

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:24pm
There seems to be a great deal of anti hispanic rhetoric out there. Are all of you people racist or ethnically challenged? Don't use your hate language and ideas to go after him because he is hispanic.

play the race card

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:34pm
when all else fails..play the race card!

i'm Hispanic, Randy Is not Hispanic!

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:30pm by hope and change
Just because he has a spanish surname does not make him hispanic. Monique is a gringa! Randy does not even speak spanish. He may eat our beans and rice but he does'nt walk the walk or talk the talk. Dont insult the latinos of this community adding this [guy] to our culture. Racism? Come on that is stupid, no one has called him any racial names throughout this whole thing. Only that he is a corrupt Conch. If you were hispanic you would know this. Your a ... wanna be latino. ...

No NO NO !

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:25pm
Sorry we lost you. I am hispanic and I'm going after him because he is an apparent thief. I believe that is what all these other people are outraged about as well.

Huh?

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:18pm by *.*
I've seen no anti-hispanic rhetoric here. Besides, Monique doesn't seem to be from a hispanic background. You need to stop reading more into this than there is. It's criminal activity, pure and simple.

National Enquirer Reports Giant Fruit from mystery food

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:04pm by Not a bozo
Pictures of fork lifts used to pick up single tomatoes are forthcoming as well as a banana longer than Abe Lincoln and a apple larger than anyone who wears a 4x large shirt. No one knows what produced these extraordinary fruit, but a clue might be gathered from the 3,500 empty cans of Mountain Dew that litter the area. Peole in the area have long felt it was martians that did this, but in next weeks edition the truth will be told. Here are some photos that were released this morning. http://www.fruitfromwashington.com/Varieties/art/big_fruit.htm

experiments with fruit!

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 3:01pm
That is funny....it must have been the leaked results from the receipts for the plant experiments at Marc House!!...to think that Mountain Dew would do this..My bet was on the Red Bull!! ...or maybe the chandelier was a grow light!! Clever!! there may be a Nobel Prize for science here somewhere...and a great source of income for the district. We had better get those lesson plans and experimental results and patent the process!!

more experiments...

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 8:08pm
And maybe the supplies purchased from the dive companies was for a hydroponics project!!

Giant Vegtable

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:39pm
How about the Red Bull? Did it have any effect on the plant growth? Although a can of Mountain Dew is much cheaper and more cost effective than a can of Red Bull. Can you imagine how much it would cost to fertilize plants with Red Bull. It's like $2.50 a can.

Bubba Bob speakith

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 2:20pm by hope and change
"Both are used in experiments," she replied. "They put nails, tools, plants, food, paper, etc. in them and document what happens. They 'feed' them to different plants and document what happens, then all this is put into a film format for confidence boosters This babe is either coo-coo or she is telling the truth. In my humbal opinin she should have used beer! Just not my Beer!

Careful... remember one of

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 8:36pm
Careful... remember one of the last film editing projects was awarded to family

BUBBA BOB ANNOUCEMENT

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 10:51am by hope and change
Randy's gonna be on the radio friday. Does any one have a radio? Can eyes borrow it? US-1 radio in da mornin!

USI RADIO

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 12:16pm by M
You can listen to USI radio on your computer. Just click on their website and there is a live feed.

Tentacles of Greed

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 10:06am by Not a bozo
The State Attorney needs to investigate some of those over the top randy supporters from the election. See which ones have financial gain either from contracts or salary increases or supplementals. Now maybe people will understand why they so desperately needed randy to win. Had he lost this would have been exposed back in Novemeber when a new superintendant would have taken office. This can be Armegeddon for corruption in Monroe County. I hope Dennis Ward is the man to wield the sword, if not get the feds in here right away.

Spending Education Money

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 9:25am
She is spending money on personal stuff. At the same time my daughter who is in the KWHS has been asked by teachers to bring in dry erase markers, hand sanitizer, paper etc. for extra credit.

Blood Thirsty

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 9:17am
You all sound like blood thirsty wolves. Remember when we rushed into a war with that Patriotic fervor. You were being manipulated by "evil doers" to sing Lee Greenwood songs and support an unnecessary war where hundreds of thousands have lost their lives. Now you want to rush to the hanging. Take a step back and wait for the experts that we are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars to do their job and report to the School Board. Once all of the facts are in, then you can prosecute if the evidence warrants it. Don't buy into this daily trickle of information that the Citizen keeps printing. Their interest is to sell papers. That is often in conflict with your interest as a civic minded community member. Let's put down our fists and pick up our brains. Don't be BUSH WHACKED again.

another useful idiot

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 11:36am
take your fist, and reach deeply inside for your brain, which is still infected by bush derangement syndrome.

Some trickle. . .

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 11:24am
The Citizen is actually doing what a real newspaper does - thank god we have a local paper that is looking into this closely, and fighting to get the records (remember even the school board held these records close to the chest for more than a week before releasing them Monday - I'm sure The Citizen's legal actions had something to do with it!). . .And I bet there's so much info out there that it's taking them awhile to go through it.

Go Citizen!

Submitted on Thu, 03/19/2009 - 1:56pm by *.*
I'm really glad we have them doing this. It's for us, the citizens of Key West and it's for what is right. It's really a shame that it takes the press to get government to do the right thing. BUT this goes to show that we shouldn't ever elect an entire gaggle of any one group to do anything. (For instance, letting Conchs run the school board, and Conchs have the accounting oversight). And along the same lines, even though I'm a Dem, I really see the value of having watchdogs on both sides to be sure abuses do not occur when it comes to anything government related. We saw the damage that a Repub administration and a Repub Congress did. Now we are seeing the damage a Dem Administration with a Dem congress can do.
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