Audit finds no wrongdoing in SPC hiring case

St. Petersburg College’s hiring of Violetta Sweet, a close friend to school president Carl Kuttler, did not violate college, state or federal hiring practices, an independent auditor told the college’s Board of Trustees this morning.

(Read the audit report HERE).

Auditor Ron Hamilton said he found no evidence Kuttler abused his power in the college’s decision to hire Sweet, a 33-year-old jewelry store employee, to lead the school’s international studies unit.

He did however suggest several changes to school policy to, he said, avoid a perception of impropriety. Among his recommendations:

• Make acting and interim jobs open to all potential candidates. Sweet was hired first as acting director without a job search.
• Lessen Kuttler’s role in the hiring process. The president currently interviews all finalists for faculty and administrative positions. He should only interview candidates for high level management positions.
• Hiring manages should attend interview training. Hamilton described interview notes as “scant.”
• Make job requirements and job descriptions less vague.

A former low-level college employee who earned $10.70 an hour, Sweet spent the past three years working at her estranged husband's jewelry store before she was hired as acting director of the school's international studies program in December 2007 at a nearly $60,000 salary.

She also was sent to Washington, D.C., as a college consultant, and paid $1,000. Kuttler booked Sweet's hotel room for the trip with his personal credit card and arranged a tour of the White House through U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young, R-Indian Shores.

Board of Trustees member Ken Burke suggested Kuttler stop using his personal credit card to book travel. Kuttler said the practice was commonplace.

Trustees, who saw the audit for the first time Monday, said they wanted to continue to review the report before making any final recommendations.

Aaron Sharockman, Times staff writer

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Comments

[OBGYN]

It's a ...!

[S. Mulvihill]

a jewelry clerk to head the international studies department?? who has been watching the family jewels at SPC??

[Former employee]

Copy of Senate Committee on Higher Education letter on SPC below:

To: Senate Committee on Higher Education

March 5, 2009

Subject: Unfair labor practices

Dear Senate Committee:

I am writing to ask you to launch an independent investigation into unfair labor practices at St. Petersburg College (SPC) for the purpose of amending the state labor laws. The investigation should include the harassment of union organizers and the firing or laying off of union organizers under false pretenses. I worked at SPC for seven years and in my opinion this investigation is needed in order to improve the labor laws in regard to union organizing in Florida.

I would also ask the committee members to visit the campuses and talk to the teachers and staff on a one on one basis about harassment of union organizers at SPC. I think you will find these unfair labor practices have been going on for a long time at the college.

I have written to the St. Petersburg College board of trustees several times and asked them to investigate unfair labor practices at the college but they have refused to investigate.

I know this type of committee request if usually done by a senator. However, in this case that is not possible because my local senator is Dennis Jones and he has taken a job as vice president at St. Petersburg College and therefore has a conflict of interest in this case.

I would also ask the committee to consider amending the state labor laws to include the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) which is now in congress. I think this would help employees to form or join unions and improve working conditions in Florida.

CC: Sen. Nelson, SPC board, St. Petersburg Times, Tampa Tribune, UFF, AFT, IWW, FEA, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

[Pinellas County Taxpayer]

x

[Former employee]

End College Bribery Wars

Community colleges in this state continue to spend a high percent of their budgets on wasteful programs that are little more than bribery schemes. Most of the schemes involve current or retired members of the state legislature that have been hired as high paid college administrators for dubious jobs.

The hiring of elected officials by college presidents is in my view is a Ponzi scheme that is costing the taxpayers tens of millions of dollars every year. The more money the colleges take in from Tallahassee the more elected officials they hire. A classic Ponzi scheme.

Most of the schemes involve hiring legislators as vice presidents of unneeded programs with names like: “international studies, governmental studies or economic development.” The only economic development these “administrators” are doing is increasing the size of their own bank accounts. And the “work” in these programs usually involves excessive and lavish junkets.

Clearly, it is time for the legislature to end these bribery wars and outlaw the practice of colleges hiring elected officials.

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue & White:

"When I rise it will be with the ranks and not from the ranks."

Eugene V. Debs

Well - if true justice occurs in heaven, Carl sure won't know about it!

Of course ethically minded people are upset with this apparent quid quo pro but with out the web of political connections beyond the State of Florida there is little to do but thank the Times for keeping the story alive. Yes, some people did (and may still) throw themselves on a sword but the net gain would not be worth the loss as this cabal seems to run VERY deep. The fear of retributions from what I have read on both blogs looks real too. True justice will have to happen from far away, maybe even heaven.

There are numerous reports and much fury about Ray Sansom funneling funds to NW FL State College prior to his being named to the vp position. Why is no one upset/concerned about the Institute of Government that is being built, with inane specificity, on the Seminole Campus for Congressman Bill Young and the person he brings, as well as the two positions that have been created for them? Equally acceptable appear to be the funds that Senator Don Sullivan channeled for the building of the EpiCenter (now dedicated to him) prior to his being hired by St. Petersburg College. Currently, we have Senator Dennis Jones as one of our vice presidents. If no students, faculty, staff, alumni, nor constituents saw no/see no ethical conflict with these arrangements, don't we need to just "be quiet" about House Speaker Sansom and Bob Richburg as everyone chooses to be about Carl?

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue & White:

"Your silence will not protect you"

Audre Lorde

Well, well, well! It looks like the Tampa Tribune's probe into the Tampa Zoo has resulted in a REAL audit of the "zookeeper" over there! We should be so lucky.

Kudos, Tampa Trib.

[Birds of a Feather, Mr Kuttler]

The following article re the recent stabbing of the American exchange student in Russia speaks of "racial intolerance." How welcoming a country is this that you are in bed with, Carl?
MOSCOW (AP) — Police say an 18-year-old African-American exchange student has been stabbed in the Russian city of Volgograd in what could be a racially motivated attack.
City police spokeswoman Svetlana Smolyaninova says Stanley Robinson of Providence, R.I., was stabbed twice in the southern Russian city on Dec. 5. The head doctor of Volgograd's Hospital No. 12, Pyotr Ivanov, described his condition Friday as grave but stable. Robinson's mother, Tina Robinson, said in a telephone interview Friday that her son has developed pneumonia.
Smolyaninova said no one has been detained in connection with the attack. One possible motive is racial intolerance, she said. At least 85 people have been killed and 368 injured in suspected hate crimes in Russia this year, rights groups say.

Waiting and praying also. Trusting that someone with strength of character will step up and reclaim the college for the students, faculty and staff - and boot the fool in charge (since we can't count on any of our Trustees or the Board Attorney having one original thought). I've always liked and had tremendous respect for Tom Furlong...remember years ago, the rumor was that he came from Tallahassee to be our next president - maybe it's time.

[Truth, Justice and the American Way]

Well I see from the current Blue and White propaganda rag that the Fall Facuty meeing in August of 2009 has been cancelled to SAVE money. Traditionally this has been a disgusting display ot telling Mr. Carl Kuttler how great a messiah he is and how fortunate we are to grovel at his feet. I doubt this move is to save money - I think Carl is starting to realize he is the most disliked person at this college and doesn"t want to take the heat. Of course at the same time a new BA degree is announced and two new positions (to save money!). FGO and BOT are in a contest to see who is most incompetent. Both win!

[do the right thing]

We are all just watching, waiting and praying that justice be done.

[della]

We are all out here--it's just that the powers that be stop this blog whenever they see fit. Believe me--there are numerous people out here.

Yes, just listening and keeping notes.

[Mr Floyd]

Hello. Is there anybody out there?

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue & White:

“What does labor want? We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful, and childhood more happy and bright.”

Samuel Gompers

[Rosebud x Rosebud = Rosebud]

December 02, 2008 at 04:45 PM

"SPC HR, care to comment? This sounds easy to document."

How ironic your query and on the mark your comment.

However, Ms. Patti Jones and the ladies in HR at this college had the tutoring of VP Doug Duncan. Mr. Duncan now sits at the right hand of President Kuttler in the Krystal Palace full of Putin memorabilia.

There will be no documenting of anything unless ordered. Remember the Hamilton report that was 'independent' from the undated executive summary, yes undated (look at the cover sheet). From paragraph 2 you can read

"Ms. Jones was designated as the point person along with Cathy Ladewig, assistant director of human resources. They prepared a manual of hiring policies and procedures for Mr. Hamilton to review. This was very helpful."

Two things stand out: HR was directed to prepare a hiring policies and procedures manual, some other blogger has pointed this out, but this supports HR only documents when it is told to document.

Second, does it strike anyone as creepy that Mr. Hamilton refers to himself as Mr. Hamilton throughout this report - as if it was written by someone else discussing his so-called investigation?

Nobody who can do anything about this cares, nobody who is doing it thinks there is anything wrong with it, nobody who has proof to the contrary has the guts to blow the whistle, and nothing is going to change. I had high hopes there for a while, but no longer.

SPC HR, care to comment? This sounds easy to document.

1:10 PM - Good one. However, Kuttler's preferred way is to create the illusion of void via position transfer, non-renewal, position elimination, etc., then secretly rewrite the remaining position descriptions in the department and increase the salaries. [Or, Carl could do what he did with the positions in his office and the board support person: rewrite/upgrade their positions this past Spring before anyone noticed.] Fill behind the person(s) transferred, non-renewed, eliminated with an OPS person until the proper amount of time has passed (i.e., that the college can't be sued) then create the same position and fill it. And, important to this illusion is to subtract at least one person in the department by listing them in the SPC contact directory under another department, this way the department appears smaller. Carl knows these things can't be done in the Sunshine - even though he regards everyone else inferior to his intellect - there is a very slim chance someone might get lucky and catch on!

[The Goose is Getting Fatter (like Caruth folks according to CK)]

Flattering or no, this pre-Christmas meeting could very well feature an early appearance by Santa bearing gifts for those who helped the auditor sail through his work.

After all, it's already been a long, long 6 months since the Board of Trustees took a look at the declining economic situation nationally and locally and then approved unanimously at least a $60,000 pay raise for President Kuttler for his multiple life insurance premiums to be paid for out of college foundation funds. You know, the funds that go to scholarships and awards for students. Maybe that is why BOT minutes don't get posted, out of sight, out of mind.

Sun shines ever so briefly here at the college and November 30, 2008 at 05:35 AM is right on the money - "rosebud" indeed!

SPC website News Articles only list the flattering ones as well; maybe all forms of in-coming communication will be filtered next...

Sorry, the SPC channel is for flattering news.

Broadcast it on the SPC channel.

[Come one, come all]

Board of Trustees meeting at the St. Petersburg Campus in the new Student Services Building (Room 202) at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday December 16th.

[Disgusted]

Sansom was cheated! He should have held off for SPC. The position created and held for Congressman Bill Young (Dean, Institute of Government) is the highest grade of the A&P Salary Schedule and will pay him $177K (that's the top of the scale, but, come on now - plus, that's just base salary; we'd have to close the door to talk about benefits...). We used to be able to see Carl's salary info in the SPC Rules & Procedures and on the Salary Schedule but you can't find anything about his financials anymore. All of our info is there on the Salary Schedule. His must be extremely confidential. Back to Bill Young: his current right-hand man, who has admitted being offered the job, would sit in the specifically-created Associate Dean, Institute of Government position, at $154K (plus...). Future double-dippers, it would behoove you to call Carl first, on his private line, of course.

"Rosebud"

This kind of thing happens everywhere, expecially between legislators and college presidents. Northwest Florida State College snagged $25.5-million because Sansom controlled the House budget & has close relationship with the college president. Last week Sansom was given a $110,000 job as a vice president at the college. What a coincidence! Favors for friends, that is all these people do.

I doubt SPC's leaders' spouses know what they're doing. When she was Special Assistant to the President, White mentioned to staff assistants that she did not talk to her husband about what went on in the office, trying to emphasize the importance of confidentiality. The implication was that no one should be talking to anyone in their family about what goes on at SPC.

By their own admission, Kuttler, White, et al. don't consider anyone who is "too qualified" for any job. Maybe this reveals some insecurity on their part. If you hire top guns, how can you remain top dog? They would know what you are and see what you're doing in a flash. Although I don't know if this is the reason she left, someone on the blogs earlier mentioned that the sharp, savvy person who preceeded Sweet left once she found out what Kuttler was like.

[patti jones /staff shoulda called]

Agreed, November 27, 2008 at 04:33 PM
HR and its leaders should be ashamed to look at each other in staff meetings and they should hope and/or pray that their friends/ parents/spouses/children/grandchildren etc. never learn what they helped do so 'legally' but immorally.

For example, Dr. Karen White was so impressed with Violetta's qualification of speaking Russian (not to mention the Meat and Milk Institute credential) that Dr. White completely passed on this candidate as lacking any, any, any possible fit:

"Rocky Tyler, an Army colonel, at least expected to hear from college recruiters. Educated first at West Point and later at Yale, Tyler spent 2008 in Iraq negotiating with Iraqis. He has international and teaching experience and speaks Mandarin Chinese and Spanish.

"I've been through things like this enough to know how the screening works. I thought I would make the first cut to get a personal interview, or at least a phone screening," Tyler said."

I guess Dr. White and President Kuttler know so much about international education that they see no future at all in having a seasoned world traveler who is fluent in the two most spoken languages on planet eart by numbers of speaking humans, Spanish and Chinese. And of course, Meat and Milk trumps West Point and Yale now doesn't it?

[Carl]

All I want for Christmas is a new Russian doll. Ease up people!

One thing that has always stuck with me was the time I overheard Kuttler congratulating a person in my department for their reclassification and then adding "That one had my fingerprints all over it" by way of taking credit for it happening. Chilling that he would be so open about his influence, isn't it?

The ones that I would hope are having trouble sleeping at night are the folks in HR and the hiring managers who approve all these favoritism hirings of Kuttler's. They know what is going on but do whatever he says without a peep. Patty Jones revealed her qualms by emailing Kuttler asking if she should send him some other candidates for the Sweet job. They explained this away by saying she misunderstood which job he was talking about, but even so, I think she knew the truth about all this. I also bet she no longer emails him! Too much paper trail will bring you down. This will happen again, but much more discreetly, now that everyone involved knows how to avoid the indicators that started this investigation.

The way Mr. K sleeps is by believing that he IS the truth. He goes by all the BOT rules, which include rules that were deliberately written to allow him to do whatever he wants. By his own admission, everyone is vetted by him because only HE knows who will fit in the SPC culture (read: will be a good FOC). Everything he does is for the good of all. No one has been able to prove that anything untoward has happened, so that must mean everything is OK the way it is, right? He welcomed the audit and is pleased by the results. Long live the king!

[let's use some logic]

There was nothing wrong with hiring procedure for Violetta Sweet…REALLY!!!
According to whom? Violetta does not qualify for the job for many reasons.

I personally know some one who applied for the some position, by the way she is Russian too, and a very good looking, but unlike Violetta she has a Master Degree that she got in the U.S. She also has a PhD degree from Russia. She has lots of experience. Guess what, no one even called her for an interview.

It just happened that I know Violetta for many years. She has a nice personality, she is not afraid to work hard. But without Kuttler her chances are close to nothing. Kuttler is her “golden ticket” The only thing I don’t understand - does she really wants to be in a position like that? Even if she does go to Russia and represents SPC, the first question people will ask: “What is your education?” –Meat and Milk industry?!? How is it related to your position? How did you get this position?

I personally don’t think she will last. Look how many people are angry by what is going on. I actually would like to know what is her work description? Do any body know what she has to do to have $65,000 salary?

[The Mole]

Merry Christmas Mr K. How do you sleep knowing the truth?

[his day will come]

Happy Thanksgiving to all who hoped that justice and truth would finally triumph at SPC.

[Postman]

10:12 AM: You are terribly wrong about the blogs. Just because you can't read them does not mean you can't have them read to you. "Hello Carl! whatsup?". Post your holiday greetings here and save the college postage on your card to the Pres.

I don't think Kuttler reads the blogs. I overheard one staff person in his office commenting that this is one good thing about his not knowing how to use a computer, that he doesn't have access to seeing what people are saying about him.

No, God doesn't have much to to with it, but if you ask them, that's where all these "blessings" come from. They do not recognize their own good ol' boy networks, one hand washing the other. They think they are blessed because God is taking care of them because of their good deeds. SPC higher-ups are always praying in public to show their religiosity, being a good example for the rest of us peons.

[watcher]

I don't think God has much to do with it.

Senator Dennis Jones works at SPC.

Evelyn Bilirakis, wife of Rep. Gus Bilirakis, is on SPC Board of Trustees.

Senator Mike Haridopolos took a $75,000/year PART-TIME lecturer job at University of Florida and previously was paid $38,000/year by another community college to write an unpublished book of questionable value.

Senator Evelyn Lynn accepted $2,300/week at FSU for a reading research project she helped create. (When it came to light, she gave up the pay.)

This is the tip of the iceberg. No one who can do anything about it cares, and no one who does it even blinks an eye, just like Kuttler. They all brazenly declare that everything is on the up-and-up.

No doubt they all thank God for their good fortune.

Bill Young did it at SPC. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/state/article481633.ece

Now new House Speaker Ray Sansom is doing it at HIS local college. http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/article911469.ece

Legislators rewarded with jobs for helping colleges; friends helping friends is how Florida works. Every time, they ALL say there's no connection. Feds, open your eyes!

Earlier posters are correct. Ken Burke is the only trustee with any credibility at this point and needs to step up and be the voice of reason. Dick Johnston can’t because he’s still playing the Sundance Kid to Kuttler’s Butch Cassidy (they’ve been partners in crime since the 70s). Evelyn Bilirakis can’t (you know why). And Devron Gibbons can’t. I don’t think anyone knows what special status landed him on the Board of Trustees (AMSCOT – “We made loansharking legal”). What’s His Name can’t, because, he’s too new and no one can remember his name. Burke keeps sending small signals that he’s not pleased with the status quo, but he knows he will have to stand alone. He’s probably weighing the consequences of a symbolic resignation. That’s probably the best he can do as the other trustees refuse to see, hear, or speak the truth. Follow your heart Mr. Burke.

Everyone is reading the blogs. Trustees read it. Local politicos and kingmakers read it. Kuttler reads it. Students are especially attentive because they thought they had an honorable president, but now openly discuss how deceived they feel and how hurt they are because of it. The first thing most SPC employees do when they get up in the morning and again right after they get home from work is to see what new tidbits of information have been written about their entreVoyeurial leader.

Many SPC employees have used things happening at the college as the topic for doctoral dissertations. Wouldn’t a study of the outcomes of this ongoing debacle be a great opportunity for an aspiring doctoral student? At least the Institutional Review Board wouldn’t have to be concerned about the dangers of doing research using human subjects because all the human subjects have already been damaged.

[grievance committe! HAH!]

I am so sorry to burst your bubble about the so called grievance committee. That little entity has all of these whistles and bells but at the end of the trail CMK has the final say so as usual. Anyway, the persons on the panel also work for the college, do you really think they will jeopardize their jobs? It's like asking the right hand to chop of the left hand--it ain't happening. So it might as well be abolished for all the good it does-absolutely none. Just where in the universe are the state, federal, and SACs people who I am more than sure are aware of these gross inequities, do they even care? CMK should be treated in the same manner as Rodriquez was treated in 2005. CMK was and still is so self righteous. Apparently he thinks the sun does not shine until he opens his eyes--sad sad sad for SPC students, faculty and staff.

[Former employee]

Where is the St. Petersburg College (SPC) grievance committee? Does anyone know?

According to the Board of Trustees' rules SPC is suppose to have a grievance committee whose members are elected by the staff. The purpose of this committee is to allow students and employees to have a place to complain about unfair conditions at the college.

I don't see any contact information listed on the SPC web site for the grievance committee members. Who is currently serving on this committee? When I worked at the college I ran for the office but was never able to find out the results of the election or if the election was ever held.

If the grievance committee was abolished, when was it done and why?