Dear Mr. Griffiths, I'm writing to you Andy because I am extremely disappointed and upset with the Acting Superintendent's recommendations that all of the administrative staff's contracts be renewed and that two Principles on the DROP list be removed. Let me please address these issues separately: Contract renewals for Admin staff. Mr. Mike Henriquez. Deputy Superintendent. Acts or omissions: Mr. Henriquez supervised the Adult Education Coordinator Ms. Monique Acevedo. He knew her job description was changed and he approved it. He knew that admin employees were negligent in processing their P-Card purchases within reconciliation time periods. He also approved staff seminars and boondoggles in Orlando and other Key West locations; he oversaw and processed the funding approvals. He is at the top of the food chain and needs to be fired for gross incompetence, insubordination of state law, and supervisory malfeasance in not reporting gross infractions of policy and law. Ms. Kathy Reitzel. Finance Director. Acts or omissions: Ms. Reitzel oversaw the broad application of financial controls within the district. She knew that Mr. Henriquez was not applying strict controls or oversight of his employees compliance with P-Card policy and law. She only came forward when her own position of oversight and reporting of questionable activities by Ms. Monique Acevedo (the superintendents wife) might implicate her in the lax oversight and administration of policy within the district. She is at the top of the food chain for financial oversight and needs to be fired for gross incompetence, insubordination of state law, and supervisory malfeasance in not reporting gross infractions of policy and law. Mr. Mark Hooper. Vocational Education Coordinator. Acts or omissions: Mr. Hooper violated the public trust and laws by not reconciling his P-Card in accordance with district and State policy. Mr. Hooper violated, knowingly or unknowingly, the separation of funding program set asides or purchases reserved for other agency funding. He may have known these policies existed but ignored them when consequences for this ignorance was not applied to him. He needs to be given a harsh letter of reprimand, reinstruction in ethics, and training for application of funding laws and P-Card processing approvals and reconciliations. Ms. Linda Walker. Assistant Finance Specialist. Acts or omissions: Ms. Walker violated the public trust and laws by not providing adequate instruction or controls for the reconciliation of P-Cards in accordance with district and State policy. She needs to be given a harsh letter of reprimand, reinstruction in ethics, and training for application of funding laws and P-Card processing approvals and reconciliations. Mr. Don Collins. Transportation Director. Acts or omissions: Mr. Collins violated the public trust and laws by not reconciling his P-Card in accordance with district and State policy. Mr. Collins violated, knowingly or unknowingly, the separation of funding program set asides or purchases reserved for other agency funding. Specifically, he also purchased materials not under his departments control (construction). He may have known these policies existed but ignored them when consequences for this ignorance was not applied to him. He needs to be given a harsh letter of reprimand, reinstruction in ethics, and training for application of funding laws and P-Card processing approvals and reconciliations. Mr. Ken St. James. IT Director. Acts or omissions: Mr. St. James knowingly employed a member of the Acevedo family under a contract that was known to favor Wade Acevedo with gross disregard for competition. He also knew of funding kickbacks in regard to seminars initially paid for by IT funds and later reimbursed by contractors working for the district. He needs to be given a harsh letter of reprimand, reinstruction in ethics, and training for application of funding laws and P-Card processing approvals and reconciliations. DROPS: Mr. Martin and Mr. Welsh. Principles Coral Shores and Key West High Schools respectively. Acts and omissions: The district lacks a consistent and documented accessions and retirement plan. Allow these two gentlemen to be retained for an additional year while the district prepares a strategic and tactical personnel accessions and retirement plan. Failing this one year retention proposal apply the same standard that the superintendent imposed on these gentlemen by requiring application of the same standard to other double dippers in the district e.g. Mr. Pedro Fraga. I'm going to monitor your progress in these matters and hold you accountable for my vote. We have had our differences before when I pressed you for answers regarding the Sigsbee School Charter, the budget, and the boards recommendation to close Sigsbee but I want to assure you, our differences aside, that I believe you are doing a great job reminding the board and the administration that you work for us and we appreciate candor and fiscal responsibility in matters that concern our children's education.

Will we really be paying a Finance Director and a CFO when more money should be going for salaries? These jobs should be combined. I know that some people pointed out about $5000 in misspending but how did the other half a million slip by? Maybe the people mentioned for not doing their job correctly could try a lesser job until they can prove their worth.

Hey a "Bubba" in the Governor's mansion how about that. Senator Crist knows who is going to support his bid for the senate. Bubba roots run deep throughout the state. Don't forget he was once the Education Commissioner of Florida. So hang on to your seats when he makes his announcement. Go Charlieeee

FACE IT, THE ALL POWERFUL BUBBA SYSTEM IS LETTING YOU KNOW THAT THEY RULE THE ROOST AND THERE IS NOTHING THAT YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT. PUBLIC OPINION IS JUST A MERE ITCH BEHIND THE EAR. HOW CAN THEY BREAK THE RULES, IF THEY MADE THE RULES. GO FIGURE.

Its touche' there there

Our children and our community deserve more than someone with an online degree and little to no experience in education. While it is true that Key West is one of a kind and that sometimes it is helpful having a conch in a leadership position, I encourage everyone not to settle for a conch without qualifications. Find someone, conch or otherwise, who has a legitimate doctoral degree, experience both as a teacher and building administrator, and someone with a sound mind, generous heart, and clear conscious. We need to set higher expectations that apply to the head of the district down to every cafeteria employee, bus driver, teacher, student, and parent. I believe in the people and children of this community, but we need to be led in the right direction. Mike Henriquez is not the man for this job.