Florida Keys News
Friday, September 4, 2009
2 heads roll in school scandal
Superintendent: Resign or be fired
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

Monroe County's two top financial administrators have been asked to voluntarily leave their jobs today or be fired, Interim Superintendent Joseph Burke said Thursday.

Burke asked Finance Director Kathy Reitzel and credit card administrator Linda Walker to resign or retire, as they were partly to blame for the financial scandal, according to a School Board investigator's repo...

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Is it true that if Key West

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 8:50am
Is it true that if Key West High School doesn't make AYP next year that the entire administrative staff will be removed and a new one put in place? If this is true it needed to be done yesterday. Those people at that school are ridiculous. They don't even like each other and it shows in the way they treat most of the kids at the school. The selective enforcement of discipline is obvious. If you are a baseball player you can pretty much get away with anything. And if what the kids say is true they don't even care if the teachers are teaching.

Voice

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 12:23pm
I hope they all go. They only care about themselves, baseball players and who votes for Morgan. Self-centered agendas. They don't talk to the kids and don't have any type of relationship with them. Stop by the school and check it out. You will see them all locked in their offices with no kids around. And try to see one without an appointment and see what happens. Ask the kids and none of them know any of the administrators.

Check out the wrist slap for Mike Henriquez

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 8:29am by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
Unbelieveable! Dr. Burke is "demoting" him to Head of Curriculum. Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't Henriquez in charge of Curriculum for Math some years back? He did such a poor job they were going to remove him, but then his dear friend, Randy, got elected and Henriquez soared to the top. So sad that Dr. Burke is perpetuating the Bubba System. So it's true, he and Bookie must be tight.

Got your powpow right here

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 5:30pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
http://www.keysschools.com/schoolBoard/agenda_folders/09-10_Agenda_Folde...

S&J

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 4:41pm
Add put Steve and John the Dick brothers out until there sunshine case is done. What is good for one is good for all.

The SA hasn't even said that there is a case

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 8:45pm by *.*
More conjecture from the same people who kept on and on ad nauseum about Pribramsky's supposed fraud. Kind of predictable.

Dee Facts

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 10:22pm
Everyone do no dat Dori's brother is wheelie Bookie's son Steven. All us no dat, in dis town, an DEE N A poves it. Dori needs to fight and tell on all u all.

Wow

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 8:52am
Kind of a personal attack don't you think. What does this have to do with anything? This is the kind of garbage that should not be getting past the editor that is screening these comments.

It is not a personal attack. I'd say it's information we need to

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 5:44pm
know in order to figure who the real players are here. Thing is, if you're a political figure and if you work for the public, you're fair game. If you want privacy, go to work in the private sector. Stop whining about it. It goes with the territory.

Maybe it just exposes CLOSET NEPOTISM!

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 1:03pm by *.*
We all know it's a disease all throughout our county government, and especially in the school system.

Axford for what ???? Are you kidding?

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 5:10pm
I read the post glorifying Axford...Just for the record the public should know...

Terri Axford is a Randy groupie. She presented info on SAT scores for this county at the Sugarloaf eight grade graduation in June 2009 Implying our children had gained on the tests and were excelling. What she failed to state then she had stated at another meeting where she publicly admitted a mistake was made in checking our kids score against the 2007 national average AND because someone made this mistake when sending in the tests for grading she went on to state that the scores should have been compared to the 2002 national standard. WHAT 2002? That way the Monroe County schools can "appear" to be A school when they ARE NOT. Basically we could be best in the nation if we compared our SAT score to lets say 1980 scores? People what is more important accurate score on your kids that are current or making the school district look good while our kids education suffers?

Axford, promoted children at Sugarloaf wearing support Randy propaganda during his election run in 2008. Why would she even allow these promotions into the school? Our kids are not political billboards! Kids can't vote so this was a use of our children to get the parents votes. Just look what we ended up with...Randy and Monique.

Axford uses the smoke and mirror routine to keep parents misinformed and this attitude is prevalent through out the county with regard to administrators. Axford is no more justified in running our school system than Randy's other bubba friend Harry Russell, principal of Marathon. Bubba Harry's wife Marla Russell, is vice principal with Axford.

Does anyone out there see the big picture? Putting Axford in any capacity is like inviting Randy back for Business as usual.

Axford has even condoned the "guidance councilor position at Sugarloaf Elem being filled by an unqualified teacher ( ok, she is working on being qualified... how about I work on being a doctor while practicing surgery on your kid?)

This teacher Marilyn Douthett holds the TSA, GUIDANCE position at Sugarloaf. Douthett had retired and now is back on the public payroll "double dipping" for the bank account. Yes she collects her retirement and we pay her a big salary to fill a position she is NOT educationally qualified to fill but is working on her qualifications according to the state of Florida.

Hopeful Dr. Burke will look at this and clean house.

Wow!

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 11:43am
I can't believe how many people seem to have an axe to grind with Mike Henriquez. Look did Mike Henriquez get his position as Deputy Superintendent because he was a friend of Randy, probably. Most people that work for politicians get their jobs that way. Was he unqualified for the position? That depends on the qualifications for the position, however, Mike has been a Math teacher in this district, an assistant principal in this district, a Math curriculum specialist in the administration office under Mike Lannon, a department head in the district administration office, and then as an Executive director in the administrative office. His education background began with a B.A. from St. Leo College where he distinguished himself on the baseball field as well as the classroom. He returned to school at the University of South Florida to earn his teaching credentials, after teaching for a few years he attended Troy State University and received a Master's degree in Educational Leadership. I'm not sure of the actual requirements for his position but his credentials sure aren't made up. Did his dad have something to do with his choosing education as a career? Sure he probably did. Do I do what my father did. No, he worked a hell of alot harder than I ever want to and he died as a result of it. Teaching is an admirable career and I am sure that I could not do it I don't have the patience for spoiled kids. I do not hold it against Mike for choosing that career. I figured it out 80 percent of my guy friends either went into the family business or are doing the exact same things their fathers did. Would you hold it against Mike if his dad were an Admiral in the Navy and he joined the Navy? These attacks have become so personal, somebody called him Fat, others have called him stupid, and others have accused him of being a bully. I am not a close personal friend of Mike's but I do know him and my opinion is that yes Mike is overweight however one needs to only have a conversation with him about anything you want in order to come to the conclusion that he is not stupid. As far as being a bully I can't really attest to that except to say "I've never witnessed it".

Thanks Frannie

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 2:12pm
for the family album on Mikey. It is heart warming

Wow!

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 7:35am
I have known Mike all his life. He is a nice intelligent and caring person. He has three children. He got his education on his own. I don't think Frannie wrote his papers. I don't know, if she said she did, I would think she was joking. Someone really has a griveience against him out here on this trashy web page. He is none of the things I have read about him. Must be a really unhappy, mean person writing all these hateful comments about him.

Ask all the teachers in the system

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 1:02pm by *.*
They'll tell you what a bully and condescending a** he is. Taxpayers aren't unhappy and mean. Taxpayers are fed up with pigs feeding at the trough, who are not qualified, who steal and who are not good citizens to begin with.

You people think it's 'mean' and 'hateful' to expect our public servants to be honest, to be qualified, and to not be overpaid? You need to get a grip on reality in the REAL WORLD - and believe it or not BUbba, Key West is now real world.

Gab

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 3:54pm
Excellent Gab. Did Harry help you write this? Futhermore, I would say he was blump.

huh?

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 4:42pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
What does all of that mean?

When will this witchhunt end?

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 11:56am
1st they try to accuse Monique & Randy ( both of which are clearly innocent) and now they are picking on poor Mikey. Why does anyone think he did anything wrong? Poor Mikey, I feel so sorry for him. Does he have children? If so, then you can't have him arrested anyways because it might hurt his kids. At least that's what Vogel says, and I believe everything she says.

Acevedo is a cancer

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 12:25pm
The Acevedo administration is a cancer, and like all cancer all that it touched must go. The School District Administration needs a clear and complete housecleaning. All administrative personnel and other Acevedo loyalist must go.

Employees out of the District

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 10:41am by MBR
While we are in the midst of this extensive ivestigation perhaps we should investigate employess that choose not to live here and continue to be paid by the MCSD. While the people of the Keys have had to endure the troublesome times and tighten our belts, others have chosen to leave for greener pastures and yet are allowed to receive their lucrative MCSD salaries while they "work" from their (significantly cheaper) homes. Smarten up.....give the jobs to someone here in the trenches.

Right off the press - Bookie pulled the wool again!

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 3:50pm
Mike Henriquez, Associate Superintendent Demotion to Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability. This will be Pay Grade 141, Step 20. The new job description and pay grade will be forthcoming shortly. The effective date will be determined by the Superintendent dependent on staffing of positions.

How

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 10:38am
... is going back to being an Asst. Superintendent (which is what he was before Randy left) a demotion?

No it's really not a demotion

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 4:32pm by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
Curriculum is one of the most important departments we have. He'll probably get paid the same amount $120K. So where's the punishment for looking the other way while Monique spent our money. NONE. Oh, yes, I forgot, he is Bookie's son so he gets special treatment as always.

Interesting

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 4:26pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
So he doesn't get "demoted" to Sugarloaf? That was certainly a brief rumor. Go daddy dot com.

AMEN!

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 4:06pm by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
You can say that again.

What

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 7:13pm
So you are saying, people sit at their computer outside of Monroe County and do work for the MCSD? My next question is why where people laid off and these people kept their jobs? Someone on the board needs to take notice of this and end it quickly. Move back, retire, resign or whatever it takes!

Cape Coral

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 8:42am by MBR
Maybe the Cape Coral School District has a job?

You are referring to friends

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 3:40pm
You are referring to friends of directors who pay these so called contractors a handsome contract, instead of improving the lot of existing employees. A good manager will assure advanced training coupled with advancement in pay of her or his employee, but for fear they are discovered incompetent in there administrator job. They keep the local subordinate employee wage low, while relying on the help of their friends contractors to support them in their own job which they are not qualified for nor are they capable of competently fulfill.

Let Dr. Bruke do his job...

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 2:47pm by notMac
An honest and fair mind will evaluate the situation and make decisions in due time. Let Dr. Burke have his day in the sunshine without all the suggestions and accusations posted here. It took many years to scam the system and it will not be solved overnight. Our closet case of a Governor took his good time selecting Dr.Bruke so the skeletons of our own Key West closet will be aired soon enough.

Thieves and liars flourish in the darkness of silence

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 11:42am
You go ahead follow your own advice and burry your head in the sand and be fleeced quietly and not get publically involved. The rest of us will bring to light our experiences of reality. There are valid reasons for these accusations, or did you just get in town? a lot can righteously be done overnight while wisely building a clean future administration and board team.

From the mouth of babes

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 11:22pm
Bookie, the 7th wonder of the world, has cut his deal. Bookie's son, Bookie Jr., will make the 22 mile track to Sugarloaf as principal (Sugarloaf Middle/Elementary) very soon and with the same $120K pay. Sugarloaf is where Bookie Jr. first made an appearance in the school system. Welcome to the coconut telegraph! There are very few secrets which can be kept in this town. When will the "Michael ("Bookie") Henriquez for Superintendent" signs start popping up. Whatever it takes!

From the mouths...

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 1:49pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
It's "trek" not "track" but thanks for the info!

Bookie, Jr..Principal...

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 1:40pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
And what will the current principal be doing? Is she taking his job?

Trek

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 7:11pm
Can you say Deputy Superintendent Terri Axford three times fast? Remember board members asked her to throw her hat in the ring months ago. She is not a "Conch", she is surely not a "bubba", she has tremedous experience at all levels, she constantly produces "A" schools and most of all she is super intelligent. P.S. By the way, she should have been named Principal of Key West High School long before the mayor's wife and Randy's personal friend Christine McPherson.

Deputy Superintendent Terri Axford

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 9:43pm by 4:25am by N. Sane
Maybe the teachers had something to do with producing "A" schools...just a thought.

Go to Marathon

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 11:58am
Burke Look at Hooper, take a hard look under that rock.

Look at Booker

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 12:26pm
Take a long hard look at Sunny Booker also!

Sunny Booker

Submitted on Mon, 09/07/2009 - 4:52pm
Yes the bubbett must go

These comments need to be directed to

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 10:31am
Dr. Burke joseph.burke@keysschools.com before Tuesdays Board meeting.

Mr. Burke Please take a good look!

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 6:13pm
I think we need to clean house. Completely. Except for the board. We have a huge opportunity with all the lay-offs in the other districts. We can advertise and bring in new, qualified applicants for possible hire. Maybe they will relocate, buy a home here, bring their families/children. Wouldn't that be a great breath of freh air? New qualified non BUBBA staff working in our school district for our children. Fire all of them. Mike and Dori should go without question.The whole admistration bldg needs a big shake up. Please take some extra time,. Look at the past agendas and minutes from past board meetings and watch them. Anyone that has been following the board meetings for the past years can see what the MCSB was up against. Maybe we should sell copies to help us make back some of the money that has been stolen. The truth is all there on past board meeting tapes. Watch Mike and how he treated them when they questioned him about anything,Randy was so rude and uncooperative it was embarassing to watch. We have this opportunity to truly make some BIG changes. Do it for the children. The facts are the facts. Take a long thorough look at all of them.

Leave Dori Out Of This.

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 6:01pm
One she is a good boss and if you got to know her she is like a mother. She did no wrong. Keep her out of this crap.

Ummm. She abused her P-Card to the point it looks like

Submitted on Sat, 09/05/2009 - 9:27pm by *.*
out and out fraud. Yah...you know, Monique was like a mother too. Did you read the attorney's report???? You people think that it's ok as long as you like the culprit. WRONGO. Not on the taxpayers dime, Bubba.

Do it

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 4:20pm
Nothing is stopping you from copying all of these comments and sending Dr. Burk these and all other comments.

Thanks. Done.

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 1:16pm by *.*
He'd regret leaving Mikie in that slot, for sure. He'll be constantly working behind the scenes to undermine him and to bring the old Bubba Conch Cabal back into power.

QUESTION?

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 10:25am
How did Randy Acevedo (TOP) was found implicated and actions were taken? How did Kathy Reitzel (BELOW)was found implicated and actions are to be taken? How did Linda Walker (BELOW) was found implicated and action are to be taken? AND WHY HASN'T THE MIDDLE ONE (MIKE HENRIQUEZ)BEEN IMPLICATED AND ACTIONS ARE NOT TO BE TAKEN YET? makes no sense.

Reitzel Guilty of Official Misconduct

Submitted on Sun, 09/06/2009 - 12:34pm
Reitzel is as guilty of Official Misconduct as Dandy Randy and she needs to be convicted and jailed, end of story!

May be that the rumor is true...

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 5:01pm by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
Dr. Burke and Dr. Bookie, Sr. are good buds.

Picking Mikie's Brain Shouldn't Take Too Long

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 9:44am

Dr. Burke has to watch what Mikie tries to do and then he will have to show him the door

Bookie still has his puppet McPherson

Shouldn't Take Too Long

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 3:31pm

Now that's funny ... and too true

And let's not forget any of these people come election time

Submitted on Fri, 09/04/2009 - 1:18pm by *.*
Folks, notice all the felon's Bubba friends in the election now. Remember names from past illegal activities in the City. They keep hoping we'll forget and that can't happen!

Let's give them a big show of no-confidence and let them know it will no longer be business as usual in Key West and Monroe County.

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