Florida Keys News
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Randy Acevedo faces two new felony counts
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

The same grand jury that indicted the schools superintendent on an official misconduct charge June 10 added two more counts when it convened Wednesday.

Randy Acevedo will not be arrested and booked into the Monroe County Detention Center as he was the first time, said his attorney, Catherine Vogel. Instead, a hearing on the new charges is set for 8:45 a.m. Wednesday at th...

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Hooper in charge of at risk girls?

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:29pm
What are his credentials to have this position? What a bunch of bunk!

reply

Submitted on Mon, 08/17/2009 - 1:58am
Please learn to spell. Has the MCSD failed you?

Credentials? He no need no steekeen creedentials!

Submitted on Sat, 08/15/2009 - 10:44am
Mark Hooper and sunny Booker were running all over t he county campaigning for Randy for both elections. Mark is a whiz at spreading rumors and taking credit for other persons work! During the campaign he set up email letters criticizing the opposition. Those E-Mails could be viscious. He also jumped on the culinary teacher at marathon high school, who was trying to get a grant to expAnd his program. Hooper was running around school telling everyone it was his show and that he was getting a multi million dollar grant. To this day I have still have not seen one cent. Later it was revealed that hooper jumped on board and did little to get the grant. The guy is scairy!

Govenor Crist, have you deserted us?

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:28pm
You've got to know Acevedo is guilty now. WHY are you waiting? Appoint Kathleen Guvenmont. She has the credentials, knows where the skeletons are buried because she used to work at the district and left. She has been working in Admin Ed. for the state of PA the past few years. She'll bring lots of experience and common sense.

Guys. Go Check Out ...

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 5:41pm
Go check out Grimm's Grill on Flagler. On any given day you might spot our dear suspended supe and company from the MCSD. You know the ones still making decisions about your children's education. It's the new Bada-BING.

What many of you folks just don't get,

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 11:32am
being perplexed at how someone could party publicly around this,is that they are not going to give up.This is quite like pirates did it,booze flowing, until they were killed. They must keep planning. They have no choice. They must retake MCSD. It is the ONLY place on earth that there is enough money to be pillaged to maintain them in the lifestyles to which they have become very accustomed.Outside of this "organization" some would be abject failures.Many would receive far less compensation for thier skills.(The really capable ones would do fine anywhere,we can only pray we hold on to most of them through this nightmare.) This will end up being a knifefight, as predicted earlier. Everyone is laying low, and being quiet(hello,Ms. St. James?) only because they are confident they still have it in the bag. Does anyone really think they don't joke about the mother of all parties when things get back to business as usual? Would anyone care to name the guests of honor at that one? Party on...Courage in a bottle...

Grimm's Grill new Bada-Bing?

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 7:30am
Does the idiot who wrote the blog know what he is talking about? No ! Like all the mf bubba haters he doesn't. Did you consider the fact that one of the owners of Grimm's Grill is/was a coach at KWHS and maybe is one of the few places MCSD employees feel comfortable? There is not a boogyman around every corner, can't say that about you carpetbaggers.

this place is owned by non-conchs

Submitted on Sun, 08/16/2009 - 7:58am
the owners are recent transplants to kw who are using the conch name and image to make a buck. do your research. it's not the new conch bada bing. it's just another restaurant in kw no longer owned by conchs, with a marketing twist, trying to make money. it's kinda like the key west part of the park at sea world orlando. you outsiders posting comments here are funny. you have no clue what you are talking about.

Nothing to see here...

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 3:19pm
They are running scared.... All over Baghdad.. http://www2.keysso.net/ArrestReports/ArrestLog1.htm

Baghdad BoB "Nothing to see here"

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:10pm
Maybe it was his twin brother I saw there with Henriquez then... yeah that's the ticket.

cant a man eat?

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 5:57pm
Lets be hypocrotical people! When someone goes to a restaurant who works at the school board we have to find fault in that too. Many of the staff at these establishments are our children. MCSB members you have our permission to eat and or drink anywhere you darn well please. Just tip our college bound children well!

Friendship may run deep, and

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 9:40am
Friendship may run deep, and it apparently does at the school board administrative level. The only thing that concerns me, and the members should really be careful, would be the next round of possible charges like witness tampering. You can be sure they are not sitting around asking each other "How's yo mama doin'?".

Bottle Cap Too

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 10:18pm
During the weekdays, around 5:30 or 6:00 the Bottle Cap is another place to find McPherson, Acevedo and their followers having a few drinks and some hushed conversations...........

Teacher Contracts

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 2:57pm
Why is it that the school board is so concerned about re-newing admin contracts for 3 days, 7days 30 days etc.. but we can not even get our teachers settled. This union guy they have is even more concerned about admin jobs.

Jobs

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 7:51pm
The teachers should get together and figure out how to get rid of Leon Fowler and then replace him with someone that truly represents them. It is that simple!

The highest rate of pay.

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 1:12pm
Of course, get rid of him. The teachers here only have the highest rate of pay in the state as a result of the union contract. Sure, get rid of him. LOL

Oh Please

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 6:34pm
This county is funded almost 60% more than most of the Florida counties and while yes we may have the "highest salaries" they are not in line with the high level of funding we receive. Put it this way Leon just makes sure the salaries are a little bit higher than everywhere else and the bubbas can have the rest. It's a win/win for Leon and the bubbas and lose/lose for the teachers and the taxpayers. I am not laughing!

This is so bad!

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:57am
This is so bad. I can't believe how bad this is. Things are now exactly three times as bad as they were two days ago. Who said they could triple the badness around here?

Can't provide for his children?

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 10:04am by Linda
Let him struggle like millions accross this country who have lost jobs. Sad thing is most others lost them due to no fault of their own but to failing economy. RA lost his due to greed and stupidity. Also, what about teachers/school personnel who lost jobs due to RA&MA's (alledged) theft of school revenues? I hope RA&MA's next job is making my next auto license plate.

No new furniture every

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 2:46pm
No new furniture every month, no new clothes every week, no eating out 7 days a week, no airline tickets to visit relatives during the holidays, no sushi for lunch, no audio or video equipment for district funded jobs, no XM radio subscriptions... what IS a family to do when the taxpayers stop footing the bill, especially with only a measily $100,000.00 job for income? I wish some bubba would give me that kind of job, my kids would be some of the happiest in the Keys!

He was making $140K

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 12:21pm
That's 40% more than you said. Sorry, but I had to make that correction. Plus free insurance which equates to $9K for a family of 5.

Can't provide for his children?

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 12:29pm
I can't either now that I lost my job as a teacher. Only the bubbas and other cronies still have their jobs. The "highly qualified", those with degrees and have passed certification tests for the State of Florida are screwed. If you are in (a bubba) with the principals or someone in Admin. you still have a job. If not, well your sucking hind tit. Thanks Key West for making life so much better for those that try to make it better for your kids. Ignorance is abundant in KW.

Here we go with the Bubba B.S. again !

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 9:17am
R.A.& M.A.are Key Wester's but it was other Bubba's that got them busted . If you dislike Key West people so much that you gotta crack shots about the so called Bubba System every chance you get , GO BACK TO WHERE YOU CAME FROM ! I happen to be one of the few remaining Conch's still liveing down here and I get seriously offended every time I hear an outsider talk about the"Bubba's". You make it sound like all conch's are nothing but a bunch of crooks . Lay off or go back to where ever it is you came from . Also , if you think ignorance is so abundant in Key West , read what you just wrote !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I totally agree, but this is

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 2:39pm
I totally agree, but this is not the only district doing this. Many districts have let teachers go with years of experience and more certifications and achievements than the administrators have. They then turn around and hire new teachers with little to no experience and start them at the bottom of the pay scale. This may save them $6,000.00 or more per teacher, but at the true expense of the students and their education. I feel for those that have also been "squeezed out" by the higher-ups in the system, by those that are too greedy to make any sacrifices at the administrative level themselves. How can they sit there so smugly and demand what they do of their employees? Monroe County School Board, educating the future sheep of the community!

lost job

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 12:25pm
Way too many of us have lost our job teaching and can't seem to find work at all. The one's who are well qualified don't get the jobs, only the bubbas because they know the principals and other cronies.

How about Mark Hooper

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 3:40pm
How about Mark Hooper getting the at-risk girls counselor job at MHS...a perfect fit huh?!?!?!

The pieces are falling into place

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 10:09pm
Now we know why long time guidance counselor Jerry Dykhuisen was let go. His job was offered to the woman who was the PACE counselor last year even before school ended. With her moving over, it opened the position for good old boy Mark Hooper (whose only certification, incidentally, is in Marketing Grades 6-12).

Here is an idea, if these

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 9:49pm
Here is an idea, if these girls are such high risk, refer them to a mental care provider. After all, what is he going to do, take them tool shopping at Sears?

That's not the point...

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 9:55am
His specific job now is Keys Center counselor, which is for at-risk girls. HE is the supposed mental care provider supplied by the school. Nice choice Russell. Apparently bubba-land stretches up and through Marathon!

Wise up!

Submitted on Sat, 08/15/2009 - 12:35pm
Harry Russell didn't make this decision. He's incapable of wiping his own nose without direction from Key West. This was a decision from the district office.

What a joke!

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 9:03pm
WOW! These girls really need help! They get Mark Hooper to help them out! I heard this also and nearly cried. I really feel sorry for the girls. I wonder if he will get to keep his oceanfront office on the third floor of Marathon High School. What a joke!

He can put them to work with

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 6:30pm
He can put them to work with all of those extra tools that are just laying around!

I hear that.

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 1:36pm
I hear that.

Too bad!

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:51am
They should have thought about that while they [allegedly] were stealing from the children in the MCSD. That includes their own.

MISDEMEANORS?

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 9:54am by nickname
Are these charges not felonies?

early trial

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 12:34pm
How is it that Randy gets to go to trial before Monique when his charges are built on the premise of hers. She has to be found guilty before anything can stick to him. Why would the judge grant him a trial before Monique? I am not a lawyer, but that just sounds stupid. And for the trial by jury to be done here in KW by all of his bubba friends. Wow, the system really knows what it is doing down here.

Charges are felonies

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:19am by Keys Editor
The story has been corrected to reflect the fact that the charges are felonies, as previously reported. We're sorry for the error.
Tom Tuell, editor

I thought

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 9:46am
Randy's first charge was a felony, but the Citizen is reporting that he has been charged with 3 misdemeanors, this is false, unless, unknown to the public, his first charge was downgraded, which is bs and bubbaism is alive and well. We all know that he will just get a slap on the wrist and his job back immediately following. The whole system is corrupt and I don't think there is any way to stop it, there are too many involved. Very sad for our future generations, as this will be the norm for them as adults.

Charges are felonies

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:14am by Keys Editor
The story has been corrected to reflect the fact that the charges are felonies, as previously reported. We're sorry for the error.
Tom Tuell, editor

Ward Better Have More Than This When He Goes To Trial

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 8:49am

Because as it stands now, Monique will come in and say that she never told Randy that the letter was forged ... and Randy walks

Ward Better Have More Than This When He Goes to Trial

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 6:23pm
Randy Acevedo will never walk with Dennis Ward as State Attorney!

Randy Acevedo will never

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 6:04pm
Randy Acevedo will never walk with Dennis Ward as State Attorney!

Vogel- "They don't care that he can't provide for his children"

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 7:25am by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
He and Monique must be sociopaths to have not thought about this when they [allegedly] were committing and covering up these crimes.

The Prisons would be empty

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:23am
if everyone who had children had to be let go in order to "provide for his children". Vogel is grasping at straws and believes the public, and more importantly, the jury will fall for her nonsense excuses.

I thought he had a Swift job.

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 9:59am
Wasn't he hired as some kind of consultant? Isn't he being paid for that? Teachers reported today, I wonder how that's going. But I have a question for anyone who might know. Why do they need more than a week to get ready? What's going on that the teachers started today and the kids don't go back until the 23rd? Anyone? Anyone?

the 23rd?

Submitted on Fri, 08/14/2009 - 7:06am by 4:25am by N. Sane
Probably not a good idea to send kids to school on the 23rd--that's a Sunday.

Teachers

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 11:49am
Why do they need a week?? To prepare to teach your children!! There are staff meetings and training for the teachers. They definately will need to be updated as far as the state of the district and budget. They get their classrooms ready for this year. Have you ever been in a classroom to see what they do?? The teachers don't just walk out of their rooms when the year ends. They take things down and clean out. Their rooms are cleaned over the summer. They now start with a clean slate for this year for your children. Many teachers have been busy over the summer preparing to teach your children this year. Be thankful they take the time to do so!

I taught school for years

Submitted on Thu, 08/13/2009 - 1:27pm
We had two days. Meetings one day. Get ready the next. In a state where the schools are rated consistently in the top five in the country. Stop wasting time and teach!

Who is wasting time?

Submitted on Wed, 08/19/2009 - 12:29am
The state of Florida mandates that the school year, at minimum, consists of 180 days of instruction (as provided for in Section 228.041(16), F.S.). That is precisely what is met, so there is no time-wasting going on. Lest you forget, there was a time several years ago when school resumed after Labor Day, and was released well before Memorial Day (with the average school year somewhere between 150 and 161 days). Sorry, but your knee-jerk comment left you wide open for criticism.

Wasting time????

Submitted on Sun, 08/16/2009 - 12:30am
What the hell are you talking about? IF you taught, you must have taught alongside the dinosaurs. Teachers where I come from are paid a salary. That means they are paid 12 months out of the year. We go back a week or more before the students arrive in order to prepare our classrooms, grade books, lesson plans (required by law to be available at any given time for administration), become familiar with newly implemented education/lesson-related software, and give our classrooms a welcoming, secure atmosphere. We attend mandatory meetings, discuss semester goals, and review changes in the student handbooks. The list of job-related, student focused preparatory responsibilities goes on and on. When the students arrive on their first day of school, we are then ready to jump in with both feet and get down to business. There are also teachers who are updating licenses, expanding their educations, and exploring new and exciting ways to educate the students. If any one is wasting time, it is you, making such a ridiculous and ignorant statement.
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