Friday, June 26, 2009

A majority of Monroe County School Board members say they want the governor to appoint an outside candidate as interim superintendent -- sooner rather than later.

John Dick, Steve Pribramsky and Chairman Andy Griffiths share that sentiment, which for the former two at least is being fueled by how Acting Superintendent Mike Henriquez is handling crucial personnel decisions about who keeps their jobs in the aftermath of the financial scandal.

Henriquez on Tuesday recommended all administrators retain their jobs, including those who allegedly violated the district's financial policies.

"It has to be someone from outside the county and someone with an educational background," Dick said Wednesday. "We need someone soon, too, because we have to determine whether we can continue with the administrators on [Henriquez's] list. Perhaps a new superintendent might have a different idea of who should go or stay."

Pribramsky also complained about the way Henriquez handled the situation with Key West High School Principal John Welsh. Superintendent Randy Acevedo, before the governor suspended him, announced a controversial decision to replace Welsh with Assistant Principal Christina McPherson.

Welsh said Henriquez on June 18 promised him another year in the job, but on Tuesday left a voice message on his cell phone saying he'd changed his mind.

"The way John was treated was horrible," Pribramsky said. "The way the assistant principals were treated wasn't good either. First you're promoted, then you're not promoted. We left it up to Mike to fix that; he was supposed to talk to Welsh and figure something out."

Pribramsky said he thought Business and Fiscal Services Director Pedro Fraga and Transportation Director Dori Collins should lose their jobs, and he asked the School Board attorney to check other administrators' qualifications to determine whether they should be replaced.

Fraga oversees the Finance Department. Collins is accused of exceeding her district credit card limit by using the Maintenance Department's, and approving Monique Acevedo's use of the maintenance card as well.

Acevedo, the superintendent's wife and former adult education coordinator, is at the heart of the financial scandal, having been charged with fraud and theft of more than $180,000 in school money.

When Henriquez had the choice of reprimanding them, demoting them or not renewing their contracts, he opted for the status quo, Pribramsky said.

Henriquez himself was mentioned in a June 9 investigator's report as failing to catch Monique Acevedo's alleged theft. He was her supervisor.

Another question the interim superintendent will answer is whether Henriquez can renew his own contract as deputy superintendent.

School Board attorney Richard Collins is researching the state statutes.

"An interim super can decide whether to put Mike's name up for a renewed contract or not," Dick said. "We won't know until we get that post filled by the governor."

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has no definitive timeline on when he will make that decision.

"We continue to review the applications as we move forward through the appointment process," spokesman Sterling Ivey said Thursday.

Two new candidates applied for the post on Wednesday: Jeff Arnott, a Horace O'Bryant Middle School assistant principal who took over the Adult Education Department after Acevedo resigned March 3, and Miami Elementary School Principal Aline Sarria.

Arnott has been credited for repairing the financial controls at the Key West High School cosmetology classes and developing strict access and cash deposit documentation.

He's also inventoried property and supplies at the cosmetology classes and tweaked the way supplies are ordered, tracked and paid for.

The new applicants join 11 others who previously applied.

The appointee will keep the job until the superintendent is allowed back or, if not, until the 2012 election.

jguerra@keysnews.com