Saturday, October 31, 2009

Two school administrators forced to resign for their failure to report credit card fraud and other financial irregularities submitted letters of complaint to the district Thursday, claiming they should have been protected under state whistle-blower rules.

Former Monroe County school district Finance Director Kathy Reitzel and credit card administrator Linda Walker also provided transcripts of depositions they gave to investigators looking into former Adult Education Coordinator Monique Acevedo's alleged theft of hundreds of thousands of dollars in school funds and property inappropriately charged on her district credit card, and suspended Superintendent Randy Acevedo's role in covering up that theft.

Reitzel and Walker lost their jobs after an audit cited their role in failing to provide financial oversight that could have prevented the alleged crimes.

Federal and state laws offer protection to workers who "blow the whistle" on illegal activity by supervisors or colleagues. Under specific circumstances, those laws protect the employees from harassment, demotion and firing.

Reitzel, who also testified against Randy Acevedo during his trial on felony official misconduct charges, wrote in her complaint that her "termination was improper and contrary to the whistle-blower protections in [Monroe County] School Board policies and Florida law."

Reitzel and Walker were among a half-dozen employees cited in a report by investigator Richard Fechter for failing to perform financial oversight duties. While some of those employees were demoted, Reitzel and Walker were the only two fired when interim Superintendent Joe Burke took charge of the district in late August.

Reitzel states in her complaint that her firing was "in retaliation for reporting wrongful and criminal conduct. I have been damaged financially and professionally by my improper termination."

Reitzel also outlined events she said prove she was timely in notifying Randy Acevedo of his wife's alleged fraud. In a March interview with The Citizen, she said she showed the superintendent in October 2007 doctored airline tickets and other proof his wife was intentionally making inappropriate charges to her district credit card. However, district officials have said Reitzel took no action on Monique Acevedo's alleged continuous misuse of her credit card for the next two years, though she was responsible for doing so.

Monique Acevedo is scheduled to stand trial on felony fraud and theft charges on Nov. 16.

Walker states in her complaint that she notified supervisors every time she ran across improper credit card use, missing or incomplete documentation for purchases and other shortcomings in financial reporting.

"At all times I opposed the wrongful actions which were taken by School Board employees, documented them and reported them to my supervisors," Walker wrote. "Even though I reported the wrongdoing, I was told, 'You can quit or be fired.'

"I am profoundly disappointed that after 35 years of service ... and within 10 months of my retirement, I was vilified and disparaged without any due process."

Reitzel complained that Randy Acevedo received probation and community service after being convicted of trying to obstruct the investigation into his wife's alleged crimes, while they lost their jobs.

"We have taught our children that it is acceptable to steal monies intended for their education, that if you are convicted, you will not be seriously punished, and that if you report criminal wrongdoing, you will be attacked and terminated by the very organization which should support you."

jguerra@keysnews.com