BRADENTON — Manatee County School Board chair Bob Gause called for a special meeting, this coming Tuesday, March 24, to address findings presented at Wednesday's presentation to the audit committee by the district's internal audit firm, Shinn & Co. At the meeting, school district attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum presented what appeared to be evidence of bid tampering on projects related to a 2009 bond issue.

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Gause emailed fellow board members and administrators Thursday:

To All Board Members:

I am calling a special meeting of the School Board for 5:45 PM, March 24th, Tuesday.

The agenda for the meeting will be:

1. Discuss the allegations made by the Supt. through his staff attorney.

2. Discuss conduct of both the Staff attorney and the Supt.

Obviously my colleagues and I need to have this discussion as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I am out of town this week and we also need proper notice before having a special meeting.

Thanks,

Robert C. Gause

School Board Member, District One

Superintendent Rick Mills seemed to take offense to the notion that the allegations were “made by the Superintendent through his staff attorney and qucikly issued the following response:

To All Board Members:

I am in receipt of the request for the special meeting of March 24, 2015 and find the subject matter to be absolutely without merit.

The 2009A COPS Bond was an internal audit directed by this Board. Staff Attorney Teitelbaum became involved in it solely because of the T.A.N., and the questions about pending or probable investigations. I had no involvement.

Upon his findings, he approached this board and was directed and empowered by this Board to go to law enforcement. At no point in time was I ever involved as part of that process.

Based upon an Audit update from Shinn & Company, the Board was advised that FBI would not be further investigating this matter. The Board Chair personally directed my staff attorney to release his findings to the Audit Committee. Again, I had no involvement.

At no point in time, did I ever participate, direct or control Mr. Teitelbaum’s investigation or his conclusions. I have been advised by Mr. Teitelbaum, that his opinions were solely based upon the findings of Shinn and Company and the accompanying exhibits. He will gladly track each of the factual paragraphs in relation to Shinn’s timeline.

I am concerned that the request for this special meeting could be deemed clear retaliation against the staff attorney and he has already declared his protected status as a whistle blower.

In addition, I am also concerned that this is retaliation directed at me in a matter that I had no role, responsibility or authority. The proposed agenda and course of action could be deemed as a hostile work environment.

Rick W. Mills

Superintendent of Manatee County Schools

related:

Bid Tampering Evidence Should Bring FDLE Into School District Bond Investigation