Florida Keys News - Key West Citizen
Thursday, August 20, 2009
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Former deputy superintendent not a target
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

An investigator's final report on the school district's financial scandal said a former deputy superintendent shares the blame, but some School Board members said they will not act on that information nor seek her cooperation.

Frankie St. James was "responsible for signing the payment request forms and for the supervisory review and approval of the purchase card charges of the former Adult Education district coordinator," the report says, referring to Monique Acevedo. The School Board has little recourse against St. James, as she retired in 2008.

St. James has refused to answer questions from Richard Fechter, who the School Board hired to investigate Acevedo's alleged theft of school funds.

"She's dug in her heels," School Board member Steve Pribramsky said. "She's not talking to [Fechter] though we've requested a couple times that she speak to Fechter."

In an Aug. 7 letter to the board, St. James' attorney said he would not let her answer questions unless the board waived its immunity, which would allow her to file a lawsuit against it should members make defamatory statements about her.

They did that once before, attorney Russell Yagel contended.

"They suggested in one meeting that a charge to her P-card for an administrative retreat was inappropriate because district funds had been used to pay for the retreat," Yagel said Wednesday. P-card is short for purchase card. "Truth was, however, the retreat was paid for by a corporate sponsor that did business with the district, and this fact was easily ascertainable by the board."

The board should not treat St. James as if she were guilty of something, because she's not, Yagel said. Yet Pribramsky and John Dick still maintain it was inappropriate for her to charge the dinner on her district credit card.

"After we demonstrated the P-card transaction was perfectly legitimate, and even though they had two attorneys in the room protecting their interests, several board members suggested that by having an attorney appear for her during a board meeting that she must be doing something wrong," he said. "This was offensive and at odds with a basic principle of fairness and justice in this country: If the government accuses you of something, it carries the heavy burden of proving it."

jguerra@keysnews.com

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To borrow a phrase...

Submitted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 10:22pm
To borrow a phrase... Stealing from the Monroe County School District; so easy a caveman could do it!

A simple question,please?

Submitted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 12:54pm
Just how famous is she that she would (apparently) be the only one whose lawyer demanded the board waive it's immunity to being sued? If this is not legal intimidation, what on earth is? Why doesn't everyone being deposed ask for same? Certainly there are far more famous people being defamed in this nightmare than her.(Just to save you a few keystrokes, whether it's "legal" defamation, or not, Randy's and Monique's fame is now certainly going to differ from before all this. Right?) This is what is known in the business as pitbull lawyering.She really got her one, didn't she? You have to wonder why. Don't you?..As brilliant as they think they are, they almost never realize how repulsive this looks to the general public. Just plain old bad Public Relations.Perhaps the 8th deadly sin?

Uh,huh, it's called

Submitted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:22am
"retiring your way out of prosecution".With an awesome pension and benefits, as well as,at least temporarily, another $60,000 a year in "consulting".As another "entity", of course.This is a very smart lady. She knew nearly everything. She had to, in her position,signing off the purchases. Especially just when to run.It is astonishing that her lawyer managed to keep her from going under oath.Good lawyer. She's won hugely, at this point. These things have a way of catching up with you, later, though. Just watch.

guilty

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:37am
I am in agreement if she won't talk and has hired an attorney.... she has something to hide and is guilty.

Does Frankie still have

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:16am
a consulting contract with the district? If yes and it is believed that she was culpable even if the district doesn't want to pursue her on these charges, at the very least any professional relationship/employment she has with the district should be severed.

She's still taking and taking - hasn't she taken enough?

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:02pm by *.*
Fire her. If she's sued for her part in the theft, could her retirement be taken?

She's as dirty as they come and should be held financially

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 9:18am by *.*
accountable. They think that to retire gets them out of trouble? How many others have done that? What scum.

At Blame the Bubba's

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:26am
In the paper yesterday it was brought up that Mark Hooper is a target and demoted to teacher until the new super can fire him. In fact he is now working as a Advisor for which he is not qualified, promoted by the Principal Acevado Bubba. Come on School Board members get rid of this waste of our tax money and part company. Do not forget he got his wife a plush job she was not qualified for at Adult Ed. It is time we rid the school system of these wasters and gave the excess funds to the hard working teachers.

Guilty for NOT doing the right thing

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:22am
If she has nothing to hide, she should have no problem speaking to her former employer. The Board was NOT wrong in questioning the charge to her credit card especially since the charges had alcohol on it which is against school board policy. And, if it was not such a big deal, and the company did legitimately pay for it, she should not have a problem saying so in person. Face it Frankie, when you hire an Attorney to go to a meeting to speak on your behalf to answer a few questions when you have nothing to hide - the perception is that you have something to hide. That's just the way it is. If you want to clear your name and reputation - show up and speak for yourself and put this all behind you.

Don't let the smoke obscure the fire

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:06am
Since when is it appropriate for a government employee to accept free meals and attendance at a retreat from a vendor. This is clearly a conflict of interest. Was the value over $25.00? If it was she was supposed to declare the value. Sounds like Frankie made her own bed now it is time to lie in it. One last thing, elected officials are immune from statements they make when conducting official business. Yagel and his education must be a product of the district. Don't you love it when the person in the wrong makes unreasonable demands on the convoluted basis of it being their right? MCSB GET A BACKBONE AND FIRE THEM ALL! or your political career is over.

You've hit upon the real problem!

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:52pm
The real problem stems from two words contained in your post...political career. Elective office was never intended to be a career choice, it's intended to be a public service.

FSJ

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 4:03pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
It seems to me that Mrs. Saint James knew the excrement would make contact with the rotating device at some point and she was wise enough to get while the getting was good. Hugs!

Frankie St. James

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 7:34am
If Ms. St. James does not want to cooperate with the investigation, then she should no longer be an employee of the Monroe County Schools. Why have these supposed "leaders and innovative educators" lost their focus? Is it the perks they give themselves with taxpayer's funds? It is not about them, it is about the kids having an education system where they are given all the tools to learn, be successful and proud of their education. Ms. St. James has now become another distraction that the District and the kids do not need... Can her today!!!!!!!!!!!

Doesn't work for the MCSB

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 10:54am
How can you "can" someone who no longer works for you. She no longer works for the MCSB. She is retired.

Terminate her 'consulting' contract and those of her

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:04pm by *.*
relatives. Also, get rid of her husband.

Get rid of her daughter who

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 10:59pm
Get rid of her daughter who teaches at CSHS too.

no longer be an employee???

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 9:29am
She's retired. Can't you read?

Not true

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 5:58pm
she was hired as a consultant for this school year, consulting what, I don't know, I doubt she is needed, just feeding at the usual trough, and IS currently being paid for it by us taxpayers, I'd rather give my money to the homeless than these pathetic thieves that hide from their responsibilities and wrong doings, just sickening. Our children don't have a chance when we continue to let these thugs run our schools.

last info on St. James that

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 12:56pm
last info on St. James that she was one of Randy's consultants to the tune of how much of our tax dollars....I think it was about $60,000...how about you pay her consulting fees personally and leave my tax dollars out of her compensation for NOTHING

So if it was so easy

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 6:50am
then why did the superintendent keep submitting the wrong checks to the board? Since when did it become okay to purchase alcohol on a school district P-card? Is it legal and/or ethical to negotiate sponsoring a retirement dinner with a company that this district has spent hundreds of thousands with? What other kickbacks did she receive? If this company was so willing to make this contribution, why didn't Ms. St. James use the contribution to purchase more technology and/or other things that teachers need? If Frankie St. James is looking to place blame on those for tarnishing her reputation, she should look no further than her own nose. Put your big girl panties on and accept responsibility for YOUR decisions.

dont know what you're talking about

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 9:15am
if you don't know what you're talking about then you shouldn't defame her either. no alcohol was purchased on that p-card ,, number 2 there was NO kickback -- corporations sponsor events for the schools all the time.. maybe you should get a job and learn a little about team building and such.

No alcohol was purchased...

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:42pm
No alcohol was purchased... technically. If you remember, tickets were purchased and then passed out to those in attendance. These tickets were to be redeemed at the bar for a "drink". And if it were a vendor sponsored event, where was the vendor, why did the vendor not arrange to pay for it directly? The way it was handled was more like one of those "Ooops, we got caught, let's throw the vendor a bone in return for helping us cover our butts" schemes.

Yes, alcohol was purchased!

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 7:55pm
You are the one who doesn't know what you are talking about. Frankie charged the dinner and drinks on the P-card and then a few weeks later the company sent a check. This was a company that sold technology and guess who would be the one to make the decision on whether or not to award the company a huge contract with taxpayer dollars... you got it Ms. Frankie St. James and her IT husband Ken St. James. This company could have just as easily given the school district a credit to purchase additional technology or a reduction on the bill but you see that would have saved money and Frankie is too busy taking care of number 1.

"corporations sponsor events

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:48am
"corporations sponsor events for the schools all the time" ? What? Since when do corporations give money to school districts so the administration can throw a party amongst themselves?

Lets just overlook

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:06pm
the obvious conflict of interest. You people are something.

She is a coward and would

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:31pm by Old School
She is a coward and would never take responsibility for her actions, nor would any of the rest of them. They have no integrity. They don't understand what doing the right thing is or the word sacrafice. Perhaps they should have joined the military and learned some of these values.

So easy

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:23am
And bcause the wrong checks were given is who's fault? No doubt you know nothing about business, I contribute all the time to things I and my business beleave in. It is called good faith and a tax break at the end of the year. But because of John and Steve you can see not many are giving to MCSD now. Thanks to them NO ONE in there right mind would do it now. And if my name were to come up from the witch hunt brothers I would Sue the pants off them and the board for not controling them. And could we get the money back for the waist they have caused? If someone in my company pulled the stuff they have I would have fired them long ago. Grow up and do the job you were elected for. Work together and get things done.

Nice spelling! You appear

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:51am
Nice spelling! You appear to be very educated.

you seem to be a product of the MCSD

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:45am
Let's begin with "bcause" = because, and the poor grammar in the remainder of your sentence. The next sentence is "you know nothing" actually means you know something (double negative = poor grammar again). Then you go on to say you contribute to things you "beleave" in... LOL! The rest of your diatribe is more of the same but I would be remiss if I did not point out that "waist" is the part of the anotomy between one's chest and the part that you want to "sue the pant off" of. Thanks for a very entertaining post. Now work on your education.

Double Negative? Nope.

Submitted on Sat, 08/22/2009 - 3:42pm
"you know nothing" is not a double negative. You know your spelling, but you do not know double negatives.

Product

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 2:25pm
I am a product of the Monore County School Board and your mom taught me everything I know.

I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance

Submitted on Sun, 08/23/2009 - 5:06am
"I know nothing except the fact of my ignorance". Socrates as quoted in Lives of Eminent Philosophers compiled by Diogenes Laertius, circa 3rd century. I teach for MCSB. Your Mom would have to be the one to ensure that you value your education. I can only take it from there. Instead, you Mom badger me to give you an A for your C level course work.

Ouch....

Submitted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 7:02am
I think this statement says it all, "I am a product of the Monore County School Board." In a nutshell, money has been used and abused for personal gain of the administrative folks, top to bottom, when it should have been used to make better 'products'.

Minor Correction

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 2:04pm
Actually, "you know nothing" is not a double negative. Know does not equal no and, even if it did, there would still be no double negative. You know nothing does, in fact, mean you know nothing.

So Easy / Subterfuge

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:25am
The reason no one is giving $$$ to the MCSD is NOT because of John & Steve it's because of the alledged theivery by Acevedo and company. This is a perfect example of shoot the messenger. Total BS, but a nice try at deflecting the real cause of the problems I thank God for John & Steve otherwise the looting would still be going on today!!! They are grown up and they're doing a wonderful job.

This malfeasance was brought

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 4:53pm
This malfeasance was brought to light due to the belated reporting of Kathy Reitzel. (I may have mispelled her name.) John Dick and Steve Pribramsky did NOTHING to stop this problem and their attempts to wrongly implicate other people without cause has actually hindered getting to the real source of the problems.

So who was wrongly implicated?

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 8:00pm
Mark Hooper, Mike Henriquez, Dori Collins, Randy Acevedo, Chuck Freeman? Who are you referring to? It looks to me like all of the people they have sought information from have been named as culpable in the final report. It looks to me like they were right on this whole time and I say to those who insisted that no wrong doing was taking place- you now look like a bunch of fools.

I won't donate to that filthy RICO enterprise called MCSD

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 1:07pm by *.*
I don't give to the beggars at the doorway to the grocery stores. I don't donate ANYTHING. Why? Because it's a criminal enterprise and until the criminals are ALL fired and held accountable, and investigated by the FBI, I won't have anything to do with it. Besides, kids need to learn to EARN money, not beg for it. Wash a car, bake a cake - something other than the pathetic begging at Publix.

" I don't give to beggars"

Submitted on Fri, 08/21/2009 - 11:57am by Kiki
I give to the Salvation Army- I BUY girlscout cookies- I do not just hand out money I have earned to perfectly healthy school children. When I was growing up we washed cars- mowed lawns- sold candy- had bake sales and spaghetti dinners. We EARNED our necessary funds. Sadly had the (now) sophmore class put in all that effort, time and energy- Monique would have stolen it all anyway. Just a note- I have always found it in very poor taste that children were allowed to "pan handle" money- make it stop.

John and Steve huh?

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 9:59am
People not donating to the schools has nothing to do with John and Steve (except maybe for you and other non-thinking persons like yourself). People not giving to the schools has to do with the fact that hundreds of thousands of dollars was stolen and misappropriated with no checks and balances, and a whole lotta people looking the other way...Once the house is cleaned (hopefully) people will realize that it's "ok" to give to kids again. Without having to worry about it getting stolen...Thank the bubba clans for that! Not John and Steve!

accept responsibility???

Submitted on Thu, 08/20/2009 - 7:17am
That would be in an ideal world. Personal responsibility does not exist much anymore. Can't wait to see Randy and Mo throw eachother under the bus to save themselves. It is always someonelses fault... someone made them do it...
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