Florida Keys News
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Board presses for answers
Concession stand raises questions
BY JOHN L. GUERRA Citizen Staff

Questions surrounding the construction of a $218,000 concession stand at Horace O'Bryant Middle School could lead to another investigation, a School Board member said Friday.

"I'm not going to let this get swept under the table," board member Steve Pribramsky said. "If it means getting it to the state's attorney, so be it."

The c...

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Thanks

Submitted on Thu, 03/18/2010 - 6:36am by 4:25am by N. Sane
for uncovering this 'cause I was missing scandalous school stuff with my morning java. Keep it comin'!!!

Since there is "no record"

Submitted on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 11:03pm by one time
Since there is "no record" of this facility, no permits and no inspections, is this building up to code? Does it meet the flood plane elevation requirements? Is it insured? Are the people running the concession also required to provide $2,000,000 in liability insurance?

Can we PLEASE...

Submitted on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 3:06pm by Nickname
... beg the state to come in and fire ALL school system employees in administrative positions? We could not do worse if we started from scratch and built a whole new organization. Keep most of the teachers, but get rid of ALL the administrators.

May we please see this "concession stand"?

Submitted on Wed, 03/17/2010 - 3:01pm by Nickname
Could the Citizen please publish a picture of this "concession stand" that cost taxpayers almost twice what my family's home is currently worth? It must be magnificent, perhaps even the Eighth Wonder of the World.

Say Good Bye Fred

Submitted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 6:21am by just ask me
Are you kidding me!!! Sims still has a key to the chicken coop, what is the Administration waiting on, him to retire, since he is the current highest ranking source of revenue for the Conch Party remaining at the district office, thats not going to happen. Supt Burke, time to grow a couple and at least attempt to make a decision that counts.

Wow!, A new job opportunity

Submitted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 6:01pm by one time
Wow!, A new job opportunity opening for Mikey; and he will probably get a raise!

Just business as usual!

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 10:02pm by one time
Just business as usual!

Finance say:

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:24pm by one time
Let's just call it "shrinkage" and move on!

Something like this just

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:15pm by one time
Something like this just shows the level of arrogance nd corruption within the system. No plans, no permits, no inspections, no licensed sub-contractors for electrical, plumbing and roofing. What would be considered illegal electric, water and sewer connections if any other contractor tried this. Did the city building department look the other way due to pressure from the mayor at the time? Was the mis-naming of the FKAA on school board assets really a mistake or a payoff for the (illegal??) water and sewer connections? And now that it is done, does the city reimburse the school district for maintaining the fields and use of the equipment during soccer season? Does the board get a portion of the proceeds from the concession to cover the operating expenses?

Now let's see what Mr.

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 7:05am by one time
Now let's see what Mr. Kinneer's response to this is. Finance should have a grip on the cost of material; they should be able to track expenses based on job location work orders. We will probably get another "I can't comment on that at this time." kind of response.

The concession issue was

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:17pm by one time
The concession issue was brought up almost a year ago. There has been plenty of time to "doctor the books"!

No wonder finance can't pay

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 7:00am by one time
No wonder finance can't pay their vendors on time; they're too busy trying to help cover up this mess also!

Concession Stand

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 4:56am by just ask me
The concession stand issue has a far-reaching potential into the School District; City of Key West, maybe Monroe County Government; the IRS, since people benefited and certainly didn't pay taxes. I would start with Frank Toppino since he came forth saying he was the Master Contractor, yet he farmed out the electric and plumbing. That is where the fun will start, so start digging, if I were one of the guilty parties involved, I would be scheduling a meeting with Dr. Burke to try and save my fanny. My guess would be most of the work was done by current school employees working part time for some quick, under the table, cash. Did they have the proper credentials to preform the work/ Are you starting to see the big picture?

Creative construction conjecturing...

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 10:07pm by one time
Hey, it's not a concession; we just built the kitchen for the new elementary school they want to build there! We even plan to put up tents for outdoor dining!

And as I drive by the

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 10:03pm by one time
And as I drive by the Sugarloaf School every day, I wonder exactly why they needed all of those athletic fields with the stadium lighting and score boards. Was this an agreement with the county to provide recreational facilities for the community instead of text books for the students?

Makes me wonder if any of

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:46pm by one time
Makes me wonder if any of the board members even visit the schools and take the time to really look around. After all, if someone were building a small structure in the back yard of one of your properties wouldn't you want to know all the details before someone says "Oops!"?

Are we correct in even

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:43pm by one time
Are we correct in even thinking that this "project" might not have gone out on bids?

Bids?

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 6:26pm by Cole
They don't need no stinkin' bids. It was all done in the darkness of the shadows where the dirty rats always do their deals.

Ouch!! According to a

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:19pm by one time
Ouch!! According to a previous article, the dirty rats were in the finance specialist's car! The mechanic at Duncan's can testify to that!

I believe the board was

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:41pm by one time
I believe the board was committed a years ago in an agreement with the city to paying almost $480,000 this year to start restoration of the soccer fields next to the Poiciana School. Since the concession might have been an "undocumented" agreement with the former Mayor, let's just deduct the cost of the concession from this upcoming expense. If the city still wants a concession at the new fields when they are completed, let them move the new one.

Let's face it; how could

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:27pm by one time
Let's face it; how could someone that was hardly ever there really have a clue what was going on? Maybe it's time to ask the former construction manager that retired what was going on.

About McPherson

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 6:36pm by Mac
Well, this should put an end to Morgan's run for that House seat. Hope you weren't foolish enough to contribute already.

After this revelation, he

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 5:38pm by one time
After this revelation, he will think he could run for president and win.

In the town where my parents live, you could build a mansion

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 6:24pm by *.*
for $218,000. Ya think something stinks here? You bet it does! Who's on the take? And, let's try to look at the invoices for supplies and see if they match the finished structure. Let's look at labor and see if it matches the finished structure. Let's look at the contractor (Toppino) and see how he profited. Enough of this crooked crap!!!! The people have had enough. Names like Toppino and McPherson and Acevedo are done in this town. Who else will go on the list? Sims for sure.....Anyone have anything to add?

Much of the labor was paid

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:19pm by one time
Much of the labor was paid for by the school board; several maintenance and construction workers spent months working on that little building. Labor alone from district employees would probably have been well over $200,000.00; try hiring an electrician, plumber, roofer, general contractor, mason and painters for several weeks and see what they charge. Why not have a local general contractor giver you a price for the exact same structure and see where the price falls? On another note, are any of the proceeds returned to the district as rent proceeds? Who foots the bill for the electric; after all the district does pay Keys Energy, are we paying for this with our tax dollars for schools? No plans, no permits, no inspections; how do we really know if it is up to code? So many questions, yet so little truth. After all, P-Cards do still exist at some levels, even though we have been told they were discontinued.

something smells here - right Andy?

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 11:46am
Sorry Burke ....Andy wants you to get to the bottom of this - as though his hands are clean and it is ALL your responsibility!! Do not go ahead with the 36 million dollar building project!!! Even though Fred Sims comes off as an honest person...he is obviously covering up - maybe for former employees in the building department as well as "randy"!!!!! and this is NOT the first time- remember the new roofs on schools AND staffers' houses after Wilma?????? If Fred Sims won't answer a question about who ordered the money to be spent on a concession stand...how can he be trusted on the BIG projects!!!....The city - " mcpherson" and the district " acevedo" planned on being around and in position for this one to cash in..hmmm - 36 million - just like the LOTTO!! Fred Sims would prefer not to say?????? Why is that Fred????...and.....on a heavier note...pardon the pun... I bet Mikey is waddling around showing Burke where all of the piggy banks are now! He is going to show how "impotent" and valuable he is to you Burke...get rid of him as soon as you can!!! The money you save won't just be his salary!!! He is not to be trusted Burke...watch your back and don't bend over for the soap!!

Remember he is the former

Submitted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 5:52pm by one time
Remember he is the former owner of a fishing fleet, to him, if it smells fishy it means he's making money!

Mr. Sims would prefer not to

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:52pm by Island Girl
Mr. Sims would prefer not to say? We would prefer not to employ him!

Watch out what you wish for!

Submitted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 6:00pm by one time
Watch out what you wish for! This just might be the opening for Pedro Fraga to return. That would be sort of like replacing Tweedle-Dee with Tweedle-Dum, don't you think?

FIRE SIMS

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 10:49am by nickname
Sims is a liar. Fire him now!

Not surprising that McPhat is in the middle of this too. So,

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:50am by *.*
the taxpayers are getting screwed at several levels with this scam - via city 'reimbursements' and via use of school funds that was clearly never authorized. Makes one wonder just how much has been stolen over the years!

So many questions! Exactly HOW and WHY should the city be involved in a school 'concession stand'? And where were the materials delivered? It appears there's NOTHING on the record about this.

Sim's refusal to tell who authorized this is tantamount to his taking the 5th, if you ask me. Is he afraid of the repercussions that come from McPh and Acevedo camps and those who back them? (And we know who those are. Their 'backers' are the ones who hire thrice convicted felons. Their backers are the developers who line their pockets in return for political favors and in hopes of getting their hands on tax monies for their development projects.) I mean, this is just the tip of the iceberg.

It's more like the school

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 6:54am by one time
It's more like the school board got involved in a city concession stand. If the city wanted a concession stand for the field primarily for the soccer fields, then the city should have built it.

Thanks for your diligence, John and Steve!

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 8:33am by 50 year resident of Marathon and voter
It seems as though you are the only ones who care how our monies are wasted. Sims sounds like another "snake in the grass."

Man up to your screw up.

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 4:06pm by Dawn
Man up to your screw up. Where were you and the School Board when all of this was going on? After all, Steve is an accountant and surely knows how to read books and look for areas of fiscal weakness. Steve, and these members, want to play innocent NOW? ......... NO, its not acceptable - we elected you to serve as our watchdogs - not to wear blinders. Man up to your responsibilities and just admit that you screwed up.

Sims, McPherson & Acevedos Are The Ones To Man Up

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 6:35pm by Cole
Don't belittle Steve Pimbramsky. The guy could spend a lifetime on the so called "books" of Monroe Country School Board and still not find everything the Bubbas are hiding.

You need to get it straight. The BOARD only oversees based on

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 7:21pm by *.*
the reports given to them. If the crooks in the administration choose to try to hide their activities, the Board only knows the truth when the audit report exposes it. These board members are not 'on the ground' day-to-day looking at the expenditures and it's not their job. Get it straight, Bubba. Did you even attend your civics classes?

All they have to go on is what the crooks have given them. Fire the crooks and get rid of the board members who then choose to IGNORE the audit reports, such as Walker, Griffiths and Mathewson. Pribramsky and Dick have always been there to insist that the taxpayers not be screwed. It's Acevedo and his crooked cronies who have done all they could to push their fraud and hide it. And if you are trying to get rid of the GOOD board members, then you're more of the crooks who have robbed the taxpayers from the get-go. We're sick of the crooks and your agenda to get rid of the two board members who actually have exposed the filthy thieves who have robbed children and taxpayers.

THIS TOWN STINKS!!! Enough

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 8:08am by Ed
THIS TOWN STINKS!!! Enough already! It is always the same local bubbas. Acevedo, McPhatty, Toppino. Only missing the spotswoods and swifty to have a full quorum. I hope if Toppino did this without permits, they fine the hell out of him and forbid him from bidding on future government projects (can you say out of business!!). I also think the arrogant idiot who will not comment should be suspended without pay immediately while this is investigated. What a bunch of clowns running this place!!!!!

Concession Stand

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 7:13am by just ask me
Try building a 6 X 8 metal shed in your back yard, see how far you get before the Code Guys arrive. Sims builds a $218,000 building with electric and water, and you don't need permits? I am shocked Frank Toppino would even start a project without permits, he should know better. This is going to turn into one big story before its all said and done. As they said in radio, "stay tuned", for the rest of the story.

Sewer

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 9:19pm by kwgirl
Don't forget sewer. There are bathrooms (with no ventilation) in the building.

Fred Sims

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 7:03am by just ask me
Fred Sims should be treated the same as Randy Acevedo and Kathy Reitzel, they know about fraud and mis-deeds and did nothing about them. Randy was suspended without pay, charged and convicted on 3 felonies. Kathy was ask to resign or be fired, she resigned. When Fred Sims refused to answer questions, by saying, "I would rather not tell you", he is admiting knowledge. Sims should be fired on Monday and turn over the case to the State Attorney for criminal action.

Mr. Burkw will probably say

Submitted on Tue, 03/16/2010 - 5:56pm by one time
Mr. Burkw will probably say they decided to "drastically alter his lifestyle" and reduce his salary by 3%. He will then give him a job to help with the transfer of the school to the city, requiring supplimental pay to offset the loss. Just business as usual!

Hear, Hear!

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 6:39pm by Cole
Sims should be fired without any retirement benes whatsoever. After he's fired, investigate him for corruption, fraud and theft. Whatever he is hiding and covering up needs to be known by the taxpaperys.

Burke & Board Lack Courage & Will To Change Corrupt Culture...

Submitted on Sun, 03/14/2010 - 3:54am by Kitten
It's a pity that we have been reduced as a society to handing our children over to these weak characterless individuals everyday, in the hope that one day they will rally on the side of the taxpayers and parents and advance our students academically. The Monroe County School District does not have the personel that can provide us with an answer.

By creating several layers

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 5:46pm by one time
By creating several layers of beaurocracy, Burke has successfully isolated himself from having to deal with these problems. Expect him to leave this up to his COO and CFO to deal with; he will show up to give the lip service and accept all the praise resulting from the investigation and whatever wrongdoings are uncovered. If it all goes sour, he can blame it on the various department heads for failing to follow thru. It's time to grow a pair, step up to the job and not worry about how many roaches (or rats) you step on getting things cleaned up.

You nailed it...

Submitted on Mon, 03/15/2010 - 9:25pm by nickname
I essentially told him the same thing to his face at the school board meeting in Marathon.
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