Miami Herald/Feb. 15, 2007
With the death last year of former
Monroe County Mayor John L.
"Jack" London, the federal public
corruption trial of a former county
attorney primarily hinges on the
believability of a political
consultant nicknamed "the Prince
of Darkness." For the past three
days, the political consultant,
Miami Beach-based Randall
Hilliard, has testified under
immunity against defendant
James Hendrick, his former good
friend. After the prosecution
began by establishing that its key
witness was not a devil
worshiper, Hilliard testified that
Hendrick was a major player in a
1996 bribery scheme involving a
stalled Marathon hotel
development.
With the death last year of former
Monroe County Mayor John L.
"Jack" London, the federal public
corruption trial of a former county
attorney primarily hinges on the
believability of a political
consultant nicknamed "the Prince
of Darkness." For the past three
days, the political consultant,
Miami Beach-based Randall
Hilliard, has testified under
immunity against defendant
James Hendrick, his former good
friend. After the prosecution
began by establishing that its key
witness was not a devil
worshiper, Hilliard testified that
Hendrick was a major player in a
1996 bribery scheme involving a
stalled Marathon hotel
development.
Randy Acevedo's
'Basic Info'
(Facebook)
Country:United States
Currently Running For Office:
Superintendent of Monroe
County Schools
State:Florida
District:Monroe County
Party:DemocratCurrent Office
Office:Superintendent of
Monroe County Schools
State:FloridaDistrict:Monroe
County
Party:Democrat
Detailed Info Website:http://www.
randyacevedo.com/
Gender: Male
Relationship Status: Married to
Monique Acevedo
Birthday: August 16, 1966
Hometown: Key West
Religious Views: Episcopalian
Activities: Professional
Memberships:
Past President, Florida Total
Educational Resource
Management System
Past President, Florida Support
Administrator’s Association
Vice President, Terms Users
Group
Vice President, Florida Support
Administrator’s Association
Past Secretary, Florida School
District Council of
Comprehensive Management
Information Services
Past Secretary and Board
Member of Florida Association
of Educational Data Systems
Active Member of the National
Affiliate Program, National
School Boards Association
Member, Statewide DOE
Database Steering Committee
Member, Florida Independent
Benefits Council (IBC) Health
Plan Committee
Member, Florida Educational
Negotiator (FEN)
Member, Florida Association of
District School Superintendents
Leadership Development
Advisory Committee
Community Activities:
Member, St. Paul’s Church
Vestry Member St. Paul’s Church
Military Affairs Committee for
Key West Chamber
Member, Grand Lodge of Free &
Accepted Masons
Member, Key West Rotary Club
Board Member Education
Foundation
Board Member United Way
Board Member for Monroe
County Boys and Girls Club
Board Member of Pigeon Key
Foundation
Director, Acevedo School
Endowment Funds, Inc
Offensive Line Coach of Semi
Pro Key West Wrecker, 1994
Offensive Line Coach for Key
West High School, 1994-1995
Head Coach of Key West Junior
Football League Team, 1996 -
2005
Sponsor, Key West Starz
Sponsor, Muscular Dystrophy
Association
Sponsor and Member, Relay for
Life
Member of Mahi Shrine and
Key West Shriners
Presentations,
Speeches:
Tech-Savvy Superintendent of
the Year, presented by editors of
eSchool News, 2008
Superintendents Award for
Volunteer/Community
Involvement, presented by
Florida Association of District
School Superintendents and
Florida Department of
Education, 2006, 2007
Challenge Day Leader Award,
Hero-of-the-Month by Challenge
Day Founders Rich & Yvonne
St. John-Dutra 2007
Who’s Who of Prevention
Leaders in Florida, by Florida
Prevention Partnership Officials,
2006
Outstanding Communicator
Award by National School
Public Relations Association,
2006
Certificate of Competition,
FADSS Educator’s Leadership
Development Program, Center
for Creative Leadership, 2005
Certificate of Achievement, The
Superintendents Leadership
Role in Improving Student
Achievement by FADSS 2005
Certificate of Achievement,
Economic Forces Impacting
Education by FADSS 2005
Certificate of Achievement,
Legal Aspects of Leading a
Florida School District by
FADSS, 2005
Presenter on discussion panel
for Leadership Monroe Program
Graduation Keynote Speaker at
Poinciana Elementary School
2003, 2004, 2005
Successfully Completed the
District-Level Leaders Executive
Development Program, 2005
Attended Windows XP
Conference, including
presentations by Microsoft
Chairman Bill Gates, in Seattle
– 2001
About Me:
Randy Acevedo graduated from
Key West High School in 1984
and earned a BS Degree in
Management Information
Systems from Gardner-Webb
University, Boiling Springs,
North Carolina. He also
graduated from the Advanced
Systems Engineer Development
Program at Electronic Data
Systems and then supervised the
production of financial software
and worked with finance,
payroll, purchasing, banking
and budgeting for Electronic
Data Systems in Charlotte, NC
and Plano, TX. He returned to
Key West in 1993 and has
worked with Monroe County
School District since then as
programmer analyst, Director of
Information Services, Executive
Director of Support Services,
Executive Director for Business
and Fiscal Services and is
currently serving his fourth year
as Superintendent.
Randy married his college
sweetheart, Monique, and they
have three children - Wade, a
student at Florida Keys
Community College; Cole, an
11th grader and Miranda, a 9th
grader at Key West High School
Work Info
Employer:Electronic Data
SystemsPosition:Systems
EngineerTime Period:1989 -
1993Location:Plano, TX
Employer:Monroe County
School DistrictPosition:Director
of Information ServicesTime
Period:1993 - 2001Location:
Key West, FL Employer:Monroe
County School DistrictPosition:
Executive Director, Business
and Fiscal ServicesTime Period:
2001 - 2004Location:Key West,
FL Employer:Monroe County
School DistrictPosition:
SuperintendentTime Period:
2004 - PresentLocation:Key
West, FLEducation Info
College:Gardner-Webb '88
BS Degree Management
Information Systems
High School:Key West High
School
'Basic Info'
(Facebook)
Country:United States
Currently Running For Office:
Superintendent of Monroe
County Schools
State:Florida
District:Monroe County
Party:DemocratCurrent Office
Office:Superintendent of
Monroe County Schools
State:FloridaDistrict:Monroe
County
Party:Democrat
Detailed Info Website:http://www.
randyacevedo.com/
Gender: Male
Relationship Status: Married to
Monique Acevedo
Birthday: August 16, 1966
Hometown: Key West
Religious Views: Episcopalian
Activities: Professional
Memberships:
Past President, Florida Total
Educational Resource
Management System
Past President, Florida Support
Administrator’s Association
Vice President, Terms Users
Group
Vice President, Florida Support
Administrator’s Association
Past Secretary, Florida School
District Council of
Comprehensive Management
Information Services
Past Secretary and Board
Member of Florida Association
of Educational Data Systems
Active Member of the National
Affiliate Program, National
School Boards Association
Member, Statewide DOE
Database Steering Committee
Member, Florida Independent
Benefits Council (IBC) Health
Plan Committee
Member, Florida Educational
Negotiator (FEN)
Member, Florida Association of
District School Superintendents
Leadership Development
Advisory Committee
Community Activities:
Member, St. Paul’s Church
Vestry Member St. Paul’s Church
Military Affairs Committee for
Key West Chamber
Member, Grand Lodge of Free &
Accepted Masons
Member, Key West Rotary Club
Board Member Education
Foundation
Board Member United Way
Board Member for Monroe
County Boys and Girls Club
Board Member of Pigeon Key
Foundation
Director, Acevedo School
Endowment Funds, Inc
Offensive Line Coach of Semi
Pro Key West Wrecker, 1994
Offensive Line Coach for Key
West High School, 1994-1995
Head Coach of Key West Junior
Football League Team, 1996 -
2005
Sponsor, Key West Starz
Sponsor, Muscular Dystrophy
Association
Sponsor and Member, Relay for
Life
Member of Mahi Shrine and
Key West Shriners
Presentations,
Speeches:
Tech-Savvy Superintendent of
the Year, presented by editors of
eSchool News, 2008
Superintendents Award for
Volunteer/Community
Involvement, presented by
Florida Association of District
School Superintendents and
Florida Department of
Education, 2006, 2007
Challenge Day Leader Award,
Hero-of-the-Month by Challenge
Day Founders Rich & Yvonne
St. John-Dutra 2007
Who’s Who of Prevention
Leaders in Florida, by Florida
Prevention Partnership Officials,
2006
Outstanding Communicator
Award by National School
Public Relations Association,
2006
Certificate of Competition,
FADSS Educator’s Leadership
Development Program, Center
for Creative Leadership, 2005
Certificate of Achievement, The
Superintendents Leadership
Role in Improving Student
Achievement by FADSS 2005
Certificate of Achievement,
Economic Forces Impacting
Education by FADSS 2005
Certificate of Achievement,
Legal Aspects of Leading a
Florida School District by
FADSS, 2005
Presenter on discussion panel
for Leadership Monroe Program
Graduation Keynote Speaker at
Poinciana Elementary School
2003, 2004, 2005
Successfully Completed the
District-Level Leaders Executive
Development Program, 2005
Attended Windows XP
Conference, including
presentations by Microsoft
Chairman Bill Gates, in Seattle
– 2001
About Me:
Randy Acevedo graduated from
Key West High School in 1984
and earned a BS Degree in
Management Information
Systems from Gardner-Webb
University, Boiling Springs,
North Carolina. He also
graduated from the Advanced
Systems Engineer Development
Program at Electronic Data
Systems and then supervised the
production of financial software
and worked with finance,
payroll, purchasing, banking
and budgeting for Electronic
Data Systems in Charlotte, NC
and Plano, TX. He returned to
Key West in 1993 and has
worked with Monroe County
School District since then as
programmer analyst, Director of
Information Services, Executive
Director of Support Services,
Executive Director for Business
and Fiscal Services and is
currently serving his fourth year
as Superintendent.
Randy married his college
sweetheart, Monique, and they
have three children - Wade, a
student at Florida Keys
Community College; Cole, an
11th grader and Miranda, a 9th
grader at Key West High School
Work Info
Employer:Electronic Data
SystemsPosition:Systems
EngineerTime Period:1989 -
1993Location:Plano, TX
Employer:Monroe County
School DistrictPosition:Director
of Information ServicesTime
Period:1993 - 2001Location:
Key West, FL Employer:Monroe
County School DistrictPosition:
Executive Director, Business
and Fiscal ServicesTime Period:
2001 - 2004Location:Key West,
FL Employer:Monroe County
School DistrictPosition:
SuperintendentTime Period:
2004 - PresentLocation:Key
West, FLEducation Info
College:Gardner-Webb '88
BS Degree Management
Information Systems
High School:Key West High
School
o Monique Acevedo - Randy's wife and
employee (director of adult education at MCPS
despite no apparent training, education or
experience for the job), Monique was arrested
April 30, 2009 on charges of abuse of her district
credit card; tab thus far: $280,000. She has
asked for and been appointed a public defender,
citing her lack of funds to pay a private attorney.
o Five elected MCPS trustees who
by their lack of meaningful oversight allowed this
situation to occur.
o MCPS employees who looked the other
way, went along to keep jobs. High school
principal John Welsh for example didn't say
anything until he was fired in favor of the supe's
friend's wife (see chart above right), and the
district's business manager kept quiet until she
was asked to sign off on irregularities which could
have potentially cost her her CPA license.
employee (director of adult education at MCPS
despite no apparent training, education or
experience for the job), Monique was arrested
April 30, 2009 on charges of abuse of her district
credit card; tab thus far: $280,000. She has
asked for and been appointed a public defender,
citing her lack of funds to pay a private attorney.
o Five elected MCPS trustees who
by their lack of meaningful oversight allowed this
situation to occur.
o MCPS employees who looked the other
way, went along to keep jobs. High school
principal John Welsh for example didn't say
anything until he was fired in favor of the supe's
friend's wife (see chart above right), and the
district's business manager kept quiet until she
was asked to sign off on irregularities which could
have potentially cost her her CPA license.
What's encouraging are the steps
towards increased transparency and
accountable governance taken by
district leadership, steps every one of
America's 15,000 school districts can
take:
o The board hired a forensic auditor who
has already presented his findings.
o The district got rid of its procurement
cards when the scandal broke.
o The district posted its credit card
receipts online (here).
o The district has posted employee
reimbursements online (here).
o The district has posted its check
register online (here).
o Veteran MCPS board chair Andy
Griffiths has been commendably
proactive with the community as regards
sharing breaking news as it occurs.
o The MCPS website has also been
forthcoming, posting pertinent
information where possible.
Here's the background:
towards increased transparency and
accountable governance taken by
district leadership, steps every one of
America's 15,000 school districts can
take:
o The board hired a forensic auditor who
has already presented his findings.
o The district got rid of its procurement
cards when the scandal broke.
o The district posted its credit card
receipts online (here).
o The district has posted employee
reimbursements online (here).
o The district has posted its check
register online (here).
o Veteran MCPS board chair Andy
Griffiths has been commendably
proactive with the community as regards
sharing breaking news as it occurs.
o The MCPS website has also been
forthcoming, posting pertinent
information where possible.
Here's the background:
| Saving Paradise Public Schools A $750,000 'culture of corruption and permissiveness' made possible by a board afraid of micromanaging |
| MCPS ANNOUNCEMENT School Board Announces Acting Superintendent Monroe County School Board Chairperson Andy Griffiths has sent a message to District Personnel stating that in Randy Acevedo's absence, after being suspended as Superintendent, Associate Superintendent Mike Henriquez is now Acting Superintendent, until such time as Governor Crist makes an interim appointment. The process could be complete within a few days, but it could take longer. No action is likely over the weekend. "While this is a difficult situation for all involved, I have confidence that Governor Crist will take prudent and decisive action. We will be posting more information as it becomes available, " stated Mr. Griffiths. |
| Ward wouldn't elaborate on the charge, which is officially listed as obstruction of justice in Acevedo's booking information on the Sheriff's Office Web site. Acevedo, 42, was released on his own recognizance. He could not be reached for comment. Crist's office said the governor is working with the district on appointing an interim superintendent. "We are looking at options available to us in terms of appointing an interim Superintendent and have been assured there are mechanisms in place to allow the school district to operate until an announcement is made," Crist spokesman Sterling Ivey said in an e-mail. Some on the school board made clear Thursday that no current member of the administration should be considered for the interim post. The charge against Acevedo is connected to the alleged theft by his 41-year-old wife, Monique, of hundreds of thousands of dollars in School District money. She worked in the district's Adult Education Department, the last two years as department head, when the alleged theft took place. She resigned March 3 and was arrested April 30. Prosecutors say Monique Acevedo stole more than $180,000 from tuition and other accounts for adult education programs she oversaw since 2005. Charges are also likely coming in connection with around $118,000 in allegedly fraudulent purchases she made with her school credit card and purchase orders. Monique Acevedo faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted on the felony grand theft and fraud charges. Randy Acevedo has maintained he had no knowledge of his wife's alleged theft since accusations were made public in early March. The scandal broke when Finance Director Kathy Reitzel informed state auditors and board members about the possible theft, after she wouldn't sign a state auditing document attesting that the district's financial records contained no evidence of fruad. However, recorded interviews with Reitzel and other officials released by prosecutors last week suggest the superintendent knew about fraudulent spending by his wife. Randy Acevedo's indictment lists the alleged incident of official misconduct occurring on or about Feb. 11, 2009. According to investigators, Reitzel met with Acevedo on Feb. 12 to discuss questionable purchases on his wife's district credit card, including airline tickets in her parents' names, an XM satellite radio subscription, Oakley sunglasses, men's shoes and purchases at grocery stores during the Christmas holidays. Purchase orders reviewed by Reitzel also showed reimbursements for a $1,699 bed delivered to the Acevedo's Key West home, among other questionable purchases. Investigators said Reitzel gave documentation of the purchases to Randy Acevedo. On Feb. 17, Monique Acevedo gave a written response to the issues raised by Reitzel and handed over three checks to reimburse the district for five airline tickets. A report released Tuesday by a forensic investigator hired by the school board says that Randy Acevedo and other administrators ignored oversight policies and created a "permissive culture" that allowed the theft to occur. The report states that Randy Acevedo's discovery of his wife's purchases, and his subsequent inaction, dissuaded other employees from following policies themselves. The State Attorney's lead investigator on the case, Mark Wilson, said Randy Acevedo "did something to obstruct, delay, or prevent the communication of information relating to the commission of a felony that directly involved or affected the Monroe County School District.” Wilson was reading from the indictment. Wilson said other arrests could follow, but his office is not at that point in the investigation yet. “We’re still looking into allegations against the superintendent’s wife, but who knows what we’ll find as we move forward,” Wilson said. Randy Acevedo’s arraignment will likely be in two to three weeks, Ward and Wilson said. Randy Acevedo will not appear in graduation ceremonies at Marathon High School tonight and Key West High School tomorrow night. Principals at those schools said Deputy Superintendent Mike Henriquez will be there to hand out diplomas, which normally would done by Acevedo. Acevedo did distribute diplomas at Coral Shores High School graduation Wednesday night, about three hours after the grand jury delivered the indictment. School board members are now looking to who will fill in as interim superintendent. Board member John Dick, a frequent critic of Acevedo’s administration said one thing is certain — no one from the current administration should be a candidate. In fact, Dick and other board members say this case demonstrates a need to purge the schools’ administrative staff and start fresh. “We need to clean house. If we miss this opportunity, it’s not going to happen again,” Dick said. |
| AUGUST 15, 2009 UPDATE: Last month Deloitte executive David Williams estimated that "swindlers, con men, and thieves" could make off with as much as 10% ($50 billion) of Mr. Obama's stimulus package, a figure cited also by VP Joe Biden. U.S. public education likely has the same percentage of waste. The key to solving our national crisis may be as close as Key West, Florida -- and our nation's other 15,000 local public schools districts; clean up situations such as this one with Key West supe Randy Acevedo (by now, charged with three felony counts) and his wife Monique Acevedo (four charges), and everything else will follow. |
Be sure to read KeysNews'
colorful reader comments
here -- hoo-boy, do these
folks have opinions. As you
read them, it's good to
remember it's the citizens'
kids, schools, and tax dollars.
colorful reader comments
here -- hoo-boy, do these
folks have opinions. As you
read them, it's good to
remember it's the citizens'
kids, schools, and tax dollars.
| THE PLAYERS o Randy Acevedo - One of 43 Florida elected school superintendents, Key West (Monroe County Public Schools) school superintendent Randy Acevedo was indicted and arrested, and suspended by Gov. Charlie Crist* (June 11, 2009). Randy is represented by a private attorney and is currently working as a subcontractor for a district vendor. |
| Monique's $280,000 Monroe County's schools superintendent and several top administrators could face civil lawsuits, criminal charges and loss of their jobs for allowing an employee to allegedly steal hundreds of thousands of dollars and other employees to simply ignore the rules. On Tuesday, School District forensic investigator Richard Fechter presented to the School Board a draft report he produced that he said shows a "permissive culture of repeated violations of policies and procedures." The board agreed to spend $130,000 -- added to a previous $66,000 -- to finish the report and quantify exactly what former Adult Education Coordinator Monique Acevedo might have stolen from the School District. The State Attorney's Office is prosecuting Acevedo, wife of Superintendent Randy Acevedo, for allegedly stealing $180,000 in district cash; the charges are grand theft and fraud. Additional charges for apparently misappro- priating nearly $100,000 more through her district credit card and store purchase orders are likely coming. Fechter said his report would be used by the State Attorney's Office to determine restitution or other penalties they hope to collect if Acevedo is convicted. |
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| Copyright 1999-2009 Peyton Wolcott |
"Walk softly and carry a big stick." -- Teddy Roosevelt "Trust but verify." -- Ronald Reagan |
| Just because you can doesn't mean you should. |
| H o w w e t a k e b a c k o u r c h i l d r e n ' s e d u c a t i o n: o n e p e r s o n , o n e q u e s t i o n , o n e s c h o o l a t a t i m e. |
| Supe Randy Acevedo (R) and his wife & former employee Monique |
| Background |
Despite her lack of training,
education and experience,
elected Monroe county schools
superintendent Randy Acevedo
promoted his wife Monique
Acevedo to the position of adult
education coordinator where
she controlled $250,000 in
Even Start grant funds in
addition district-issued credit
card and adult ed fees paid in
cash plus a 9th grade activity
fund. As allegations began
arising in March about
Monique's purchases,
estimated to be as to a high as
$180,000 including $300 for a
pair of sunglasses; Monroe
education and experience,
elected Monroe county schools
superintendent Randy Acevedo
promoted his wife Monique
Acevedo to the position of adult
education coordinator where
she controlled $250,000 in
Even Start grant funds in
addition district-issued credit
card and adult ed fees paid in
cash plus a 9th grade activity
fund. As allegations began
arising in March about
Monique's purchases,
estimated to be as to a high as
$180,000 including $300 for a
pair of sunglasses; Monroe
County Schools board member
John Dick announced that the
high school "sent an e-mail to
all the teachers that they're on
their last box of staples for the
year."
John Dick announced that the
high school "sent an e-mail to
all the teachers that they're on
their last box of staples for the
year."
Time to call Mr. Ramsey, Key
West. Snip, snip.
Time to put an end to the
"Bubba line of credit."
West. Snip, snip.
Time to put an end to the
"Bubba line of credit."
MONROE COUNTY PS (FL)
$280,000 = Monique
Acevedo's tab so far on the
taxpayer-funded credit card her
husband Randy-the-supe was
supposed to supervise
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., June 10, 2009 / 12:24 am
$280,000 = Monique
Acevedo's tab so far on the
taxpayer-funded credit card her
husband Randy-the-supe was
supposed to supervise
By Peyton Wolcott
Thu., June 10, 2009 / 12:24 am
Remember Monique & Randy
Acevedo, the fun couple of Key
West public education?
Forensic auditor Richard Fechter
has come calling to the district and
this past Tuesday night he
presented his findings to the
school board; among other things
Fechter characterizes Key West
schools as having a "permissive
culture of repeated violations of
policies and procedures."
Acevedo, the fun couple of Key
West public education?
Forensic auditor Richard Fechter
has come calling to the district and
this past Tuesday night he
presented his findings to the
school board; among other things
Fechter characterizes Key West
schools as having a "permissive
culture of repeated violations of
policies and procedures."
| The report showed actual fraud was isolated to Monique Acevedo based on a sampling of more than 500 district credit card transac- tions, purchase orders and travel expenses. However, finance staff and supervisors rarely followed policy to check what employees were purchasing and obtaining required documents -- which Fechter attributed to a culture enforced by Randy Acevedo and other administrators. For one administrator, Career Education Coordinator Mark Hooper, three expense reports were sampled and all three were returned an average of 300 days late. Ten percent of all monthly expense reports sampled were not properly reviewed by the employee's supervisor. Fechter even said that when he asked a finance staffer, whose job is to review credit card purchases, what she was actually reviewing them for, she replied, "I don't know." (Ibid.) |
More here from David Ball at
KeysNet:
KeysNet:
| Above Monroe County's elected public school superintendent Randy Acevedo was arrested June 11, 2009(KeysNet); just over a month ago he watched wife Monique's arrest. (PHOTOS--Sean Kinney/KeysNet) |
More about the arrests:
| Monroe County School District superintendent Randy Acevedo was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of official misconduct and suspended indefinitely without pay by Gov. Charlie Crist later in the day. He could serve 5 years in prison if convicted. State Attorney Dennis Ward said the decision to arrest Acevedo was based on testimony given to a grand jury, which indicted Acevedo Wed. night. (More from KeysNet here.) |
By Peyton Wolcott - Sunday, June 14, 2009 / 1:45 a.m. - Updated Sunrday, October 18, 2009 / 7:03 p.m.
Randy Acevedo's
arrest:
arrest:
Monique Acevedo's
arrest:
arrest:
| Beach (L) in Key West, Florida; (R) Monique and Randy Acevedo. |
THE SITUATION
Randy promoted his wife Monique to head
the Monroe County Public Schools adult
education department; fees were paid in
cash, and Monique was given an
apparently unsupervised district credit card.
Both have been charged and arrested and
have left the district.
Randy promoted his wife Monique to head
the Monroe County Public Schools adult
education department; fees were paid in
cash, and Monique was given an
apparently unsupervised district credit card.
Both have been charged and arrested and
have left the district.
| ARE THESE QUESTIONS BEING ASKED IN KEY WEST Did Randy really not know what his wife and employee was up to? Or was he too busy "in the community" (photos below from his FaceBook "In the Community" page) to supervise Monique's cash handling practices and her use of a district credit card? Why did employees and the school board look the other way? |
| Above, Randy Acevedo's "In the Community" photos he has posted on the Internet. |
The Faces of Randy
HERE'S ANOTHER
QUESTION: If Randy hadn't
been so busy participating in
student stunts like this one
below, might he have had
more time to supervise
taxpayer dollars entrusted to
him?
QUESTION: If Randy hadn't
been so busy participating in
student stunts like this one
below, might he have had
more time to supervise
taxpayer dollars entrusted to
him?
ONE MORE QUESTION:
Should public school
superintendents be allowed
to hire their spouses?
Should public school
superintendents be allowed
to hire their spouses?
SO MUCH FOR UNSIGNED
CAMPAIGN PROMISES:
According to this photograph,
the first plank in Randy's
2008 "ABC" reelection
campaign was
"Accountability." The second
was "Balance."
CAMPAIGN PROMISES:
According to this photograph,
the first plank in Randy's
2008 "ABC" reelection
campaign was
"Accountability." The second
was "Balance."
Key West, Florida has all the right, most desirable ingredients for success in their school system,
Monroe County Public Schools: an elected superintendent and five elected trustees, all six accountable
to voters, plus one of the most beautiful locales in America. It also boasts a stable local economy and a
manageable size, 8,000 students.
Monroe County Public Schools: an elected superintendent and five elected trustees, all six accountable
to voters, plus one of the most beautiful locales in America. It also boasts a stable local economy and a
manageable size, 8,000 students.
Key West has also been home to a divisive recent scandal, one involving its supe's
wife's alleged $750,000 fiduciary abuse ($95,000 on her district credit card,
wife's alleged $750,000 fiduciary abuse ($95,000 on her district credit card,
* While it's troubling that an elected
state governor can suspend a locally
elected public official such as a
Florida county school superintendent,
there is a statutory basis.
state governor can suspend a locally
elected public official such as a
Florida county school superintendent,
there is a statutory basis.
In one recent event, the night before
the school board's June 30 meeting a
trustee's car was vandalized; Manuel
Acevedo, Randy's father, told the
board, "Get Randy, get Randy....that's
all you've been saying, and now you
want to get everyone else. We should
keep Randy and everyone else and get
rid of the two dicks on the board."
Steve Pribramsky, the trustee whose
car was vandalized, said the actions of
Acevedo's supporters, and the board's
inaction in sanctioning employees who
were said to be part of a 'culture of
permissiveness,' shows the district
likely won't see that culture change any
time soon. "The intimidation is present,
and you saw that. It's undeniable."
(SOURCE--David Ball/KeysNet)
How did this happen?
There's the usual tangle of money and
power and politics and relationships
(see chart above right and "Larger
Issues" to the immediate right) which
can occur in towns large and small both.
Key West's mayor for example is the
arrested supe's lifelong friend and their
wives are also good friends.
the school board's June 30 meeting a
trustee's car was vandalized; Manuel
Acevedo, Randy's father, told the
board, "Get Randy, get Randy....that's
all you've been saying, and now you
want to get everyone else. We should
keep Randy and everyone else and get
rid of the two dicks on the board."
Steve Pribramsky, the trustee whose
car was vandalized, said the actions of
Acevedo's supporters, and the board's
inaction in sanctioning employees who
were said to be part of a 'culture of
permissiveness,' shows the district
likely won't see that culture change any
time soon. "The intimidation is present,
and you saw that. It's undeniable."
(SOURCE--David Ball/KeysNet)
How did this happen?
There's the usual tangle of money and
power and politics and relationships
(see chart above right and "Larger
Issues" to the immediate right) which
can occur in towns large and small both.
Key West's mayor for example is the
arrested supe's lifelong friend and their
wives are also good friends.
| Friends, if you can follow this, hats off; you're doing better than the Key West (Monroe County PS) school board did. And they were there, knew the players. (IMAGE--Peyton Wolcott) |
| Monique Acevedo (above) in court; Randy Acevedo is at left. (PHOTO--Sean Kinney/KeysNet) |
| Crist suspends schools chief without pay after arrest By DAVID GOODHUE and DAVID BALL Posted - Thursday, June 11, 2009 KeysNet.com Monroe County School District Superintendent Randy Acevedo was arrested Thursday morning on a charge of official misconduct and suspended indefinitely without pay by Gov. Charlie Crist later in the day. He could serve five years in prison if convicted. State Attorney Dennis Ward said the decision to arrest Acevedo was based on testimony given to a grand jury, which indicted Acevedo Wednesday night. (continued below photos) |
| PHOTOS OF RANDY ACEVEDO WITH KEY WEST COMMUNITY LEADERS |
LARGER ISSUES IN
& ABOUT KEY WEST
(1) Corruption among
other elected officials
(2) Were school execs
Incompetent & inefficient
or was it misconduct?
& ABOUT KEY WEST
(1) Corruption among
other elected officials
(2) Were school execs
Incompetent & inefficient
or was it misconduct?
Misconduct is defined as
mismanagement of
responsibilities. Reprimands are
then issued if the behavior does
not reflect compliance, followed
by consequences.
As The Weekly Newspapers learned
from Tuesday night’s Monroe County
School Board meeting, so far there
hasn’t been any evidence of
misconduct, or in this case theft in the
Monique and Randy Acevedo
investigation, just alleged
incompetence and inefficiency.
“Either they didn’t know they existed, or
they were not enforced. What you had
is widespread ignorance of the policies
and procedures,” Latour “LT” Lafferty,
an attorney with Fowler White Boggs
out of Tampa addressed the board.
Lafferty is a legal expert in White
Collar Crime and a Corporate
Compliance and Ethics Leader. “We
do feel that is a violation of
procedures.”
“But not theft?” Board Chairman Andy
Griffiths asked for specific clarification.
Lafferty explained there are not any
findings signaling employees were
stealing from the school district.
Tuesday’s meeting is another chapter
in the scandal involving Monique
Acevedo, the wife of suspended
Monroe County Superintendent Randy
Acevedo, and former adult education
coordinator for the schools. Allegedly,
she misused her p-card, or school
issued credit card, to purchase
personal items worth $180,000 dollars
over the course of several years.
Included are silk ties, sunglasses, DVD
box sets, bar stools, spear gun
accessories, Red Bull energy drinks,
the assorted list goes on.
Acevedo has been arrested and so has
her husband for possibly covering up
her possible actions. Randy Acevedo
cannot be fired since he is an elected
official, but Governor Charlie Crist has
suspended him without pay.
“Based on the investigation, it’s readily
apparent,” Lafferty told board
members, “there’s been some gross
oversights in the finance department
and a failure to enforce the p-card
policies already in place. There’s a
requirement supervisors approve the p-
card transactions.”
Monique Acevedo never submitted
back-up documentation.
When the crisis originated in 2009 the
district’s credit card administrator Linda
Walker brought the questionable
purchases to the attention of the
Finance Director Kathy Reitzel. They
were the two who brought the spending
to the attention of the school board.
But, here’s the catch. Lafferty does not
think they have whistle-blower
protection because in order to qualify,
there needs to be a paper trail. There
isn’t any record Reitzel ever wrote
anything down and a verbal disclosure
does not qualify.
“Here’s the dilemma as I see it,”
Chairman Griffths weighed in. “There
are a lot of technical problems as to
what denies a whistle blower. If you
were to take action, then you are really
sending the message future whistle
blowing is discouraged.”
Punishing Reitzel, according to
Lafferty, sends a message and would
create a chilling effect.
Dr. Duncan Mathewson said it is
possible to take both routes.
“We could recognize the failure for
oversight, that person would get a
reprimand, but the board can still
accept a recommendation to renew
the contracts.
Board member John Dick said a
reprimand is not action he can accept
when the card was being circumvented
by the Director of Transportation as
well as the Director of Maintenance.
“I look at this. We laid off 27 teachers,
other people are going to be told they
don’t have a job. They didn’t do any of
this stuff. What you’re telling me is we
issue a reprimand, but we’re going to
tell other people they’re laid off?”
Lafferty responded by advising the
board to pursue a better course of
action because there is a significant
difference between fraud and
misconduct versus dereliction of duty.
The Acevedos are gone, Monique – for
sure Board Member Steve Pribramsky
pointed out.
“Randy was the one violating our
policies and we formally reprimanded
them,” Pribramsky said. “I understand
there needs to be consequences, but I
don’t think that’s fair.”
Dr. Debra Walker reinforced the need
to a build a paper trail.
“I think training, signing a form saying
you understand it, then we have a
paper trail. I would like to see the
paper trail thickened so we can
document people are following
procedure,” Dr. Walker offered.
Looking at the salaries, one of Walker’s
colleagues pointed out, they are highly
paid employees and should be
expected to perform their jobs.
Dick said, “With the salaries we’re
paying them, shouldn’t they be able to
understand?”
The incident was the perfect storm
Pribramsky pointed out.
“I agree with Mr. Lafferty. We need to
start changing the culture. Hindsight is
20/20.”
Those changes start with staff training,
setting new procedures, requiring
certification and ethics training, and
developing a list of expectations for
the auditor to change the fiscal culture.
11 Candidates have submitted their
request to be the interim
superintendent. The monumental task
in front of the board will be to set an
agenda and lead by example. Some
believe this begins with implementing
an appointed superintendent versus an
elected one, changing the dynamics
of district leadership.
mismanagement of
responsibilities. Reprimands are
then issued if the behavior does
not reflect compliance, followed
by consequences.
As The Weekly Newspapers learned
from Tuesday night’s Monroe County
School Board meeting, so far there
hasn’t been any evidence of
misconduct, or in this case theft in the
Monique and Randy Acevedo
investigation, just alleged
incompetence and inefficiency.
“Either they didn’t know they existed, or
they were not enforced. What you had
is widespread ignorance of the policies
and procedures,” Latour “LT” Lafferty,
an attorney with Fowler White Boggs
out of Tampa addressed the board.
Lafferty is a legal expert in White
Collar Crime and a Corporate
Compliance and Ethics Leader. “We
do feel that is a violation of
procedures.”
“But not theft?” Board Chairman Andy
Griffiths asked for specific clarification.
Lafferty explained there are not any
findings signaling employees were
stealing from the school district.
Tuesday’s meeting is another chapter
in the scandal involving Monique
Acevedo, the wife of suspended
Monroe County Superintendent Randy
Acevedo, and former adult education
coordinator for the schools. Allegedly,
she misused her p-card, or school
issued credit card, to purchase
personal items worth $180,000 dollars
over the course of several years.
Included are silk ties, sunglasses, DVD
box sets, bar stools, spear gun
accessories, Red Bull energy drinks,
the assorted list goes on.
Acevedo has been arrested and so has
her husband for possibly covering up
her possible actions. Randy Acevedo
cannot be fired since he is an elected
official, but Governor Charlie Crist has
suspended him without pay.
“Based on the investigation, it’s readily
apparent,” Lafferty told board
members, “there’s been some gross
oversights in the finance department
and a failure to enforce the p-card
policies already in place. There’s a
requirement supervisors approve the p-
card transactions.”
Monique Acevedo never submitted
back-up documentation.
When the crisis originated in 2009 the
district’s credit card administrator Linda
Walker brought the questionable
purchases to the attention of the
Finance Director Kathy Reitzel. They
were the two who brought the spending
to the attention of the school board.
But, here’s the catch. Lafferty does not
think they have whistle-blower
protection because in order to qualify,
there needs to be a paper trail. There
isn’t any record Reitzel ever wrote
anything down and a verbal disclosure
does not qualify.
“Here’s the dilemma as I see it,”
Chairman Griffths weighed in. “There
are a lot of technical problems as to
what denies a whistle blower. If you
were to take action, then you are really
sending the message future whistle
blowing is discouraged.”
Punishing Reitzel, according to
Lafferty, sends a message and would
create a chilling effect.
Dr. Duncan Mathewson said it is
possible to take both routes.
“We could recognize the failure for
oversight, that person would get a
reprimand, but the board can still
accept a recommendation to renew
the contracts.
Board member John Dick said a
reprimand is not action he can accept
when the card was being circumvented
by the Director of Transportation as
well as the Director of Maintenance.
“I look at this. We laid off 27 teachers,
other people are going to be told they
don’t have a job. They didn’t do any of
this stuff. What you’re telling me is we
issue a reprimand, but we’re going to
tell other people they’re laid off?”
Lafferty responded by advising the
board to pursue a better course of
action because there is a significant
difference between fraud and
misconduct versus dereliction of duty.
The Acevedos are gone, Monique – for
sure Board Member Steve Pribramsky
pointed out.
“Randy was the one violating our
policies and we formally reprimanded
them,” Pribramsky said. “I understand
there needs to be consequences, but I
don’t think that’s fair.”
Dr. Debra Walker reinforced the need
to a build a paper trail.
“I think training, signing a form saying
you understand it, then we have a
paper trail. I would like to see the
paper trail thickened so we can
document people are following
procedure,” Dr. Walker offered.
Looking at the salaries, one of Walker’s
colleagues pointed out, they are highly
paid employees and should be
expected to perform their jobs.
Dick said, “With the salaries we’re
paying them, shouldn’t they be able to
understand?”
The incident was the perfect storm
Pribramsky pointed out.
“I agree with Mr. Lafferty. We need to
start changing the culture. Hindsight is
20/20.”
Those changes start with staff training,
setting new procedures, requiring
certification and ethics training, and
developing a list of expectations for
the auditor to change the fiscal culture.
11 Candidates have submitted their
request to be the interim
superintendent. The monumental task
in front of the board will be to set an
agenda and lead by example. Some
believe this begins with implementing
an appointed superintendent versus an
elected one, changing the dynamics
of district leadership.
| MCPS board members listen to attorney Latour “LT” Lafferty at June school board meeting. (L to R) Duncan Mathewson, Chair Andy Griffiths, Debra Walker, John Dick. (PHOTO--Keys Weekly) |
Incompetence and
Inefficiency v. Misconduct
By Josie Koler
Keys Weekly
June 26, 2009
Inefficiency v. Misconduct
By Josie Koler
Keys Weekly
June 26, 2009
Bribery schemes? FBI
prosecution of tax perjury
involving both the county mayor
and county attorney? A political
consultant named "The Prince of
Darkness"? Large-scale long-
standing corruption seldom
occurs as isolated incidents in
communities. Both Key West
and Monroe County had their fair
share of corruption long before
any school officials were arrested:
prosecution of tax perjury
involving both the county mayor
and county attorney? A political
consultant named "The Prince of
Darkness"? Large-scale long-
standing corruption seldom
occurs as isolated incidents in
communities. Both Key West
and Monroe County had their fair
share of corruption long before
any school officials were arrested:
July 13, 2005/Dep't of Justice
Former Monroe County Mayor
Jack London pleads guilty to tax
perjury
John L. “Jack” London, 67, of Key
West, Florida, pleaded guilty to
one count of tax perjury. London
....was first indicted in May 2004
on charges of tax fraud and
making false statements to the
FBI. On May 19, 2005, London’s
indictment was superseded to
add as a defendant Monroe
County Attorney James T.
Hendrick, 57, of Key West,
Florida, on charges of conspiring
to obstruct and tamper with
witnesses involved in the grand
jury investigation of London.
oooooLondon’s plea involved the
following facts: That in 1997
London received $29,000, while
serving as a Monroe County
Commissioner, from a
consultant who had been hired
by a real estate developer to
assist with obtaining building
permits from the Monroe Board
of County Commissioners; and
that London used the money to
satisfy an outstanding lien
against a residential property he
owned in Cork, Ireland. In 2002
and 2003, when confronted by
agents with the FBI about his
receipt of the $29,000, London
misled the investigators
regarding the origin of the funds.
Beginning in July 2003, and
continuing into March 2004,
Hendrick allegedly acted as a
conduit between London and
another individual to concoct a
false story as to the true nature of
the $29,000 payment to London.
Hendrick allegedly did so
knowing that the false
information would be conveyed to
a federal grand jury investigating
the matter. Although Hendrick
was the Monroe County Attorney
at the time, he now serves as the
Attorney for Growth Management
in Monroe County.
Former Monroe County Mayor
Jack London pleads guilty to tax
perjury
John L. “Jack” London, 67, of Key
West, Florida, pleaded guilty to
one count of tax perjury. London
....was first indicted in May 2004
on charges of tax fraud and
making false statements to the
FBI. On May 19, 2005, London’s
indictment was superseded to
add as a defendant Monroe
County Attorney James T.
Hendrick, 57, of Key West,
Florida, on charges of conspiring
to obstruct and tamper with
witnesses involved in the grand
jury investigation of London.
oooooLondon’s plea involved the
following facts: That in 1997
London received $29,000, while
serving as a Monroe County
Commissioner, from a
consultant who had been hired
by a real estate developer to
assist with obtaining building
permits from the Monroe Board
of County Commissioners; and
that London used the money to
satisfy an outstanding lien
against a residential property he
owned in Cork, Ireland. In 2002
and 2003, when confronted by
agents with the FBI about his
receipt of the $29,000, London
misled the investigators
regarding the origin of the funds.
Beginning in July 2003, and
continuing into March 2004,
Hendrick allegedly acted as a
conduit between London and
another individual to concoct a
false story as to the true nature of
the $29,000 payment to London.
Hendrick allegedly did so
knowing that the false
information would be conveyed to
a federal grand jury investigating
the matter. Although Hendrick
was the Monroe County Attorney
at the time, he now serves as the
Attorney for Growth Management
in Monroe County.
o Former Monroe County Mayor
John L. 'Jack' London died...
before he could be sentenced in
a plea deal on charges of tax
evasion.
o Former County Attorney
James Hendrick was found
guilty in February 2007 of
witness tampering, conspiracy,
and obstructing a federal grand
jury.
o Key West Commissioner
Emery Major pleaded guilty in
1995 to bribery and extortion
charges for attempting to get city
contracts for a water bike and
taxi company.
o Then-Mayor Dennis Wardlow
(who famously spearheaded the
city's secession from the United
States to become the Conch
Republic) was also charged in
the scheme but later acquitted.
o Key West's fire chief, Joseph
"Bum" Farto, was convicted on
drug trafficking charges — but
disappeared before his
sentencing.
o Then-Key West City Attorney
Manny James was arrested in
the same dragnet that took down
Farto, but the charges were
eventually dropped — although
James was arrested a few years
later and convicted of conspiracy.
o The mid-Eighties were a boon
for indictments and scandal. In
1980, the Miami Herald revealed
that then-State Attorney Jeff
Gauthier used drugs, so Gov.
Bob Graham removed him from
office.
o Key West Police Chief
Raymond Casamayor was
convicted of protecting drug
dealers — which eventually
resulted in the entire city being
declared a criminal enterprise
under the federal RICO, or
racketeering, statute. (SOURCE--
Tamara Lush/Miami New Times)
John L. 'Jack' London died...
before he could be sentenced in
a plea deal on charges of tax
evasion.
o Former County Attorney
James Hendrick was found
guilty in February 2007 of
witness tampering, conspiracy,
and obstructing a federal grand
jury.
o Key West Commissioner
Emery Major pleaded guilty in
1995 to bribery and extortion
charges for attempting to get city
contracts for a water bike and
taxi company.
o Then-Mayor Dennis Wardlow
(who famously spearheaded the
city's secession from the United
States to become the Conch
Republic) was also charged in
the scheme but later acquitted.
o Key West's fire chief, Joseph
"Bum" Farto, was convicted on
drug trafficking charges — but
disappeared before his
sentencing.
o Then-Key West City Attorney
Manny James was arrested in
the same dragnet that took down
Farto, but the charges were
eventually dropped — although
James was arrested a few years
later and convicted of conspiracy.
o The mid-Eighties were a boon
for indictments and scandal. In
1980, the Miami Herald revealed
that then-State Attorney Jeff
Gauthier used drugs, so Gov.
Bob Graham removed him from
office.
o Key West Police Chief
Raymond Casamayor was
convicted of protecting drug
dealers — which eventually
resulted in the entire city being
declared a criminal enterprise
under the federal RICO, or
racketeering, statute. (SOURCE--
Tamara Lush/Miami New Times)
a $250K federal grant, $200K in cash
fees she collected for the adult education
department she supervised, 9th grade
fund raising and petty cash, more) -- and
the supe's apparent non-investigation of
any of this, described as their "Bubba
line of credit." (See below left.)
Predictably, the community has split
along lines of the Acevedo's friends,
family and beneficiaries on one side --
and school board members and citizens
seeking controls and accountability.
fees she collected for the adult education
department she supervised, 9th grade
fund raising and petty cash, more) -- and
the supe's apparent non-investigation of
any of this, described as their "Bubba
line of credit." (See below left.)
Predictably, the community has split
along lines of the Acevedo's friends,
family and beneficiaries on one side --
and school board members and citizens
seeking controls and accountability.
| According to this photograph from the 2008-09 school year, MCPS supe Randy Acevedo (center rear, blue shirt) had at least some interaction with folks & programs in his adult education department. |
| Florida Keys Hemingway contest winners (Flickr) |
| Randy Acevedo (2nd to left) and Morgan McPherson (2nd from right) at award ceremony |
| AUGUST 23, 2009 UPDATE: Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Joseph P. Burke (Springfield, Mass. 2001-2008) as interim supe -- with the Monroe County Public Schools board's blessing -- while elected supe Randy Acevedo's trial proceeds; it starts tomorrow. |
| Wondering what suspended Monroe County Public Schools superintendent Randy Acevedo's defense strategy might be at his August 24, 2009 trial in Key West given that the employee whose alleged $180K district credit card spending (air travel, sunglasses, more) is in question -- the employee he hired for a position for which she appears to lack professional education, background, training or experience -- is also his wife. |
Data shows a huge gap in
FCAT, ACT scores
Board member: 'Some-
thing's not right here'
By DAVID BALL dball@keysreporter.com
Posted - Saturday, October 10, 2009
Keys high school students
are performing well on a state
achievement test in certain
subjects but poorly on national
tests in those same subjects,
according to data compiled by Monroe
County School Board member John Dick.
Dick said his research, based on statistics taken
from the Florida Department of Education Web
site, shows the School District has focused too
much on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test, or FCAT, and not enough on preparing
students for the SAT and ACT college entrance
exams.
"Something's not right here, and it looks like our
students have paid the price," Dick said. "When
students don't score well on these tests, it limits
what colleges they can go to and what
scholarships they can get. These are the tests
that matter."
Dick is scheduled to present his findings at
Tuesday's School Board meeting, which begins at
10 a.m. at Coral Shores High School.
The data shows that in 2007, Keys 10th-graders
scored in the top 15 among Florida's 67 school
districts in FCAT reading, math and science tests.
The FCAT is used by the state to measure
student progress and determine some funding for
districts.
However, those same students as 12th-graders
in 2009 scored near the bottom of the state in the
ACT test -- 46th in reading, 38th in math and 47th
in science.
Similarly low scores were noted in the SAT math
and reading exams. However, Dick's report
focused on the ACT, which he said more high
school students take as opposed to the SAT. The
SAT doesn't have a science portion.
Dick also notes in his report that Okaloosa County
is the top scorer in all three subjects of the FCAT
and the ACT. Hamilton County ranks last in
science for both tests, and Gadsden County is
last in the FCAT for math and reading and is next
to last in those subjects for the ACT.
"Not only is it reasonable to expect that a district,
which is a top scorer in FCAT tests of math,
reading and science, would also be a top scorer
in the ACT tests of the same subjects, accepting
that outcome is fundamental in order to recognize
the validity of each respective test," Dick states in
his report. "For each test to be valid, it must
produce, more or less, the same result."
Most board members had not read his report by
press time Friday, but all expressed concerns
over the emphasis the state places on the FCAT
over other testing methods. In fact, many people
contend that teachers -- not only in the Keys but
statewide -- "teach to the test" rather than in a
more broad way.
Board member Steve Pribramsky said that in light
of the district's recent finance scandal, he wants
the district to ensure the FCAT tests were
properly administered and the scores aren't
artificially inflated.
Interim Superintendent Joseph Burke said it would
be nearly impossible for anyone in the Keys to
affect the test results, since the tests are scored
and tabulated by the state.
"A year ago, I would've thought it would be
impossible to rip us off for $750,000," responded
Pribramsky, referring to the possible amount of
taxpayer money allegedly stolen by former
administrator Monique Acevedo.
"But I'm still disappointed that these results have
been hidden from us for so long," Pribramsky
added. "I'm disappointed it wasn't [district Chief
Academic Officer] Mike Henriquez that brought
this forward; it was John Dick."
FCAT, ACT scores
Board member: 'Some-
thing's not right here'
By DAVID BALL dball@keysreporter.com
Posted - Saturday, October 10, 2009
Keys high school students
are performing well on a state
achievement test in certain
subjects but poorly on national
tests in those same subjects,
according to data compiled by Monroe
County School Board member John Dick.
Dick said his research, based on statistics taken
from the Florida Department of Education Web
site, shows the School District has focused too
much on the Florida Comprehensive Assessment
Test, or FCAT, and not enough on preparing
students for the SAT and ACT college entrance
exams.
"Something's not right here, and it looks like our
students have paid the price," Dick said. "When
students don't score well on these tests, it limits
what colleges they can go to and what
scholarships they can get. These are the tests
that matter."
Dick is scheduled to present his findings at
Tuesday's School Board meeting, which begins at
10 a.m. at Coral Shores High School.
The data shows that in 2007, Keys 10th-graders
scored in the top 15 among Florida's 67 school
districts in FCAT reading, math and science tests.
The FCAT is used by the state to measure
student progress and determine some funding for
districts.
However, those same students as 12th-graders
in 2009 scored near the bottom of the state in the
ACT test -- 46th in reading, 38th in math and 47th
in science.
Similarly low scores were noted in the SAT math
and reading exams. However, Dick's report
focused on the ACT, which he said more high
school students take as opposed to the SAT. The
SAT doesn't have a science portion.
Dick also notes in his report that Okaloosa County
is the top scorer in all three subjects of the FCAT
and the ACT. Hamilton County ranks last in
science for both tests, and Gadsden County is
last in the FCAT for math and reading and is next
to last in those subjects for the ACT.
"Not only is it reasonable to expect that a district,
which is a top scorer in FCAT tests of math,
reading and science, would also be a top scorer
in the ACT tests of the same subjects, accepting
that outcome is fundamental in order to recognize
the validity of each respective test," Dick states in
his report. "For each test to be valid, it must
produce, more or less, the same result."
Most board members had not read his report by
press time Friday, but all expressed concerns
over the emphasis the state places on the FCAT
over other testing methods. In fact, many people
contend that teachers -- not only in the Keys but
statewide -- "teach to the test" rather than in a
more broad way.
Board member Steve Pribramsky said that in light
of the district's recent finance scandal, he wants
the district to ensure the FCAT tests were
properly administered and the scores aren't
artificially inflated.
Interim Superintendent Joseph Burke said it would
be nearly impossible for anyone in the Keys to
affect the test results, since the tests are scored
and tabulated by the state.
"A year ago, I would've thought it would be
impossible to rip us off for $750,000," responded
Pribramsky, referring to the possible amount of
taxpayer money allegedly stolen by former
administrator Monique Acevedo.
"But I'm still disappointed that these results have
been hidden from us for so long," Pribramsky
added. "I'm disappointed it wasn't [district Chief
Academic Officer] Mike Henriquez that brought
this forward; it was John Dick."
| Annual look-alike contest |
| The Hemingway/Key West connection |
| Life Magazine cover (left); Hemingway's house in Key West, now a museum. |
