Florida Keys News
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Audit reveals school district bond default
BY TERRY SCHMIDA Citizen Staff
tschmida@keysnews.com

The School District was in technical default of its $36 million construction bond for 267 days last year, according to the preliminary audit of fiscal year 2012, released Wednesday by the Florida Auditor General.

The finding was among 13 made by the AG in its annual audit, to which Superintendent of Schools Mark Porter must respond within 30 day of publication. An additional...

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Can't wait until the next fund balance audit.

Submitted on Wed, 02/27/2013 - 3:35pm
The School Board has cut it so close that there's no way they can maintain the minimum required 3% for the entire fiscal year. The State needs to step in and take over all of our education systems in Monroe County from Kindergarten to College. It's a fiscal mess!

100% Correct: Board Is Now To Blame!

Submitted on Wed, 02/27/2013 - 3:32pm
Since they hire and fire the Super, compliance and competence is something that they can demand. BTW, the state auditor does nothing and enforces nothing. Remember when the FKCC Audit had stated that the FTE was inflated a few years ago? Did they ever repay the money? Not. So audits are just little P.R. reprimands wrapped in a 30-day window to "write" (not actually "do") anything about the problem. The Florida State Auditor General doesn't have the power to hold anyone responsible for violations, they only report it.

With all the high priced talent in this administration....

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 7:11pm by gkv
How could this happen? Maybe they need more administrators? NOT.

CONvinced

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 7:10pm by Exasperated
I am very CONvinced the state should come in and take over. I just listened to a school board member, with a hat on in a public building, talk for over 15 minutes about nothing. Take the damn hat off and go to a school and see the children. Damn, it ain't hard. Clowns, all of you.

School Editorial / Robin Smith-Martin

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 3:57pm by just ask me
I read the article penned by Robin Smith-Martin. I saw his lips move but I heard Sloan and Larry Murrays voice. Sounds like he is on his own little Island, I'm right, the other board members, Supt and the Admin staff are all wrong. It should be interesting small talk at the meeting tonight.

Schools

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 2:47pm by just ask me
It is now time for Porter to make his bones, cut Kinneer and Gentile from the herd before he gets caught in the stampede.

State Audit

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 2:45pm by just ask me
Time for Kinneer and Gentile to say, Good Night Gracie

AND AXFORD

Submitted on Thu, 02/28/2013 - 8:24pm by Sam Clemens
The Ax needs to get the Ax too. She is on her 5th failed six-figure job in two years (1. KWHS Principal, 2, Chief Operations Officer, 3. Executive Director of Operations, 4. Chief Academic Officer, 5.Director of Teaching and Learning)... How many title changes does it take to realize you can't do the job?

Selective responsibility

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 11:59am by kwkids
Insane. But, what do we expect. It is great to fly around with your super hero cape and look back at all the mistakes of the past...however, all these mistakes are being made on your watch Mr. Dick. I know, I know, you are only one man. It is easy to drop the hammer on your teachers and blame the Union because you approved a budget you couldn't honor. And with less, these teachers are still achieving more for our students. I am just violently ill over this boards long winded, off the point naratives about issues that really don't matter, while they are totally ignorant of the being in violation on a $36 million bond for 9 months. I think Porter is one of the best things to happen to this district in quite a while, but look out brother, the board needs another person to blame and that laser sight is pointing to you right now...Can't be the board's fault. Can't even be the last Superintendent who was so well supported by Mr. Dick. Must be you, or Randy, or Monique...or the tooth fairy.

How are you going to deflect the blame

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 2:58pm by Get Real
to Mr. Dick? The blame belongs in financial department and administrators.

That is the whole point of having an appointed superintendent.

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 7:40pm by .
The School Board is now directly responsible for all the actions of the administration. Prior to this, that responsibility was split with the Board and the elected superintendent. Ultimately the School Board (including Mr. Dick) is held responsible.

RU kidding me?

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 4:03pm by kwkids
Riddle me this...You are a board member who frequently waves the banner of fiscal responsibility. You have access to a hired super, who you advocated for..finally, someone who you get to be the boss of. You have access to every budget figure and continual update to the status of everything. Because, this is the way you wanted it. And a $36 million mistake slides by your for 9 months and it is someone else fault? Don't believe the spin. Nothing has ever been this boards responsibility. No one ever asks a question like..how come our budget numbers are suddenly looking so much better? I don't have to make any effort at all to deflect blame to Mr. Dick. I am sorry, it just is what it is.

Did bond default occur when reserves suddenly improved in June??

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 7:14am by Matt Gardi
Was this bond default occurring while Gentile was telling the board that the reserve balance was suddenly all rosy? This is from June 14, 2012. http://keysnews.com/node/40462 "Monroe County School Board members this week heard some good financial predictions for a change -- that the district's reserve fund will remain high enough to ward off state intervention. When the 2012 fiscal year ends June 30, the reserve will likely amount to 4 percent of the year's revenues, or about $3.2 million, Chief of Staff Ken Gentile told the board Tuesday." I suppose heads will roll again....not.

Triumvirate of Evil

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 7:14am by Sam Clemens
As long as Axford, Kineer & Gentile - all Jara's goons - are in charge of the district, it will continue to be corrupt and it will continue to get poor audits. Axford was promoted after leading KWHS to a one out of four dropout rate. Kineer continues to collect his yearly bonus despite budgeting disasters, and Gentile continues his fraud. These three collect a half million a year in salary and benedits from the taxpayers. Disgusting

CPA?

Submitted on Tue, 02/26/2013 - 3:57am by got beer?
Let's pray we get a real CPA next time.
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