News of the school superintendent's arrest Thursday morning had a ripple effect across the community throughout the day.

School Board Chairman Andy Griffiths was expected to ask School Board attorney Richard Collins to return from Georgia so he can better communicate with the board members, who are prohibited by law from directly contacting each other.

Board members lamented the situation in interviews with The Citizen.

"If someone has obstructed justice or just withheld information that could have resolved this information, I support legal action," board member Duncan Mathewson said of the grand jury indictment.

Board member Steve Pribramksy said he is "confident the board will rally the troops and we'll get through this."

"It's a sad time for the Monroe County school district," said board member John Dick, "but it could be a new beginning."

Key West High School Principal John Welsh said he has not had much time to reflect on the superintendent's arrest.

"It's sad," Welsh said. "I hate to see things like this happen to anyone. It never needed to be this way. There are already too many victims in this whole chaotic episode."

Welsh himself is seeking whistle-blower protection since Schools Superintendent Randy Acevedo informed him his contract would not be renewed after three decades with the high school, not all of them as principal. What Acevedo said was a sound business decision, Welsh called retaliation for him notifying the School Board attorney in March that Monique Acevedo hadn't turned in money from three ninth-grade fundraisers.

The superintendent's wife and former adult education coordinator has been charged with two felony counts of stealing school money, though not the fundraising proceeds.

Amid the news of Randy Acevedo's arrest, schools were preparing for graduation ceremonies at Marathon High School Thursday night and Key West High School tonight, which Acevedo said he would not attend. Deputy Schools Superintendent Mike Henriquez will give the superintendent's address and hand out diplomas instead.

"Graduation is a special time for our students and their families," Acevedo wrote in a press release. "With the utmost love and respect for our kids, to avoid any distractions, I have decided not to speak or present diplomas."

Acevedo learned he would be arrested shortly after giving a speech at the Coral Shores High School graduation Wednesday night.

Welsh said he will tell students they are not to demonstrate their feelings about the superintendent's arrest or other public show of either support or displeasure.

"I will tell them I do not want any incidents Friday," he said. "This should be a night they can remember proudly for a long time; they should understand this is the last impression of the class of 2009 people will have and it should end on a good note."

Amid Thursday's unfolding drama, Acevedo had his supporters.

As Acevedo was leaving the State Attorney's Office on his way to jail, Pedro Fraga, the schools' executive director of business and fiscal services, was there to lend moral support, along with a half-dozen women, presumably courthouse workers, who called out to Acevedo, "We love you, Randy," and asked State Attorney's Office investigators, "Why are you doing this to him?"

Fraga asked agents if he could give Acevedo a hug before he got in the car.

United Teachers of Monroe President Leon Fowler, who has supported Acevedo throughout the investigation, said his membership is about to begin collective bargaining for next year's salaries and benefits.

"This is a sad day for everyone -- our community, our school system, the students, the teachers and the children and family of Mr. Acevedo," Fowler said. "I think the governor should take the appropriate action, which I believe is to remove the superintendent until these matters are resolved through the judicial system."

Monroe County Commissioner Mario Di Gennaro, a personal friend of Acevedo's, issued a reminder that "a man is innocent before proven guilty."

jguerra@keysnews.com