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

*

Comments

[How to oust a president we can't trust]

Faculty and staff can oust him if we really stick together. A vote of no-confidence presented by the FGO can do it.

It was interesting to watch the whole process of deflection by the SPC Powers-That-Be throughout the investigation and audit. They are very clever! You can tell they have a lot of practice.

The issue: "Was Sweet hired due to favoritism?"

The BOT morphed this into "We need to be sure our hiring practices are what they should be," guaranteeing that the focus would be on HR records, which they know they keep pristine, just in case.Then they hire an "auditor" who lists this function way at the bottom of their Web site, to be sure they picked someone mediocre who wqould not catch on to the deflection.

Well, what do you know, the content of the HR files seemed OK, the people that hired Sweet said, no, they didn't see any favoritism and they were very comfortable with the process. Everyone else who knew anything kept mum out of fear.

The result was "no wrongdoing" even though Sweet did not have any administrative experience (the requirements asked for 4 years) and no international duties in any job she ever held. WOW! These folks are GOOD!

[the king lost it long ago - if he ever had it]

Thank you, "Former" 10:48 AM. Carl's control is so pervasive, it's difficult to remain hopeful for the future of SPC. Implosion is inevitable with such a house of cards.

[Former SPC employee who escaped]

I, like many others, waited anxiously for the final report, but really, didn't we all know the outcome? The hiring of Violetta Sweet was a sham, much like any other position at SPC. Everyone knows there are no real jobs at SPC unless the "applicant" is a member of the Kuttler inner circle. Fortunately, other influential members of the business community read the blogs as well and take them seriously. Kuttler's reputation HAS been damaged; he's just too arrogant to even be aware of it!

03:03 PM - "He commented, 'They say Russian women are the most beautiful women in the world.' It was downright creepy. You'd think he'd keep these thoughts to himself, but I don't think he knows anything is wrong with him." This is a good example of his psychopathic personality. He has no remorse; he has no shame. Anyone who prefaces statements with, "you're not going to want to hear this but I'm going to say it anyway;" then cruelly insults a whole campus with no understanding of the impact has to be pathological.

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue & White:

“Working at a college without a union is like playing football without a helmet – you are going to get hurt.”

Unknown

When Kuttler was reviewing a videotape of the Russian univeristy students who were coming to SPC to perform last spring, while gazing at the 18- to 22-year-old girls dancing on the tape, he commented, "They say Russian women are the most beautiful women in the world." It was downright creepy. You'd think he'd keep these thoughts to himself, but I don't think he knows anything is wrong with him.

While all the new A&Ps are being hired, custodians and facilties staff are being asked to double-up on responsibilities. Meanwhile, Kuttler is treating the facilties men who constructed all the new, unneeded "Fortress of Solitude" walls at his District Office to lunch. How sweet.

10:09 AM. 11:38 AM. Employees have come forward in the past - it's taken to Joe Lang; Joe speaks with Carl; Carl denies; Joe believes him. The employee "protected by Federal law against retaliation" is eventually transferred numerous times, demoted, non-renewed, eliminated - you choose. The supervisor is given the choice of keeping their job to "go along," or sometimes an upgrade or secret pay raise occurs after-the-fact. The subtle instances of retaliation begin immediately; the finale may occur that month, that year, or ten years later, but it will come. There's absolutely no such thing as "protection" from Carl.

[Pinellas County Taxpayer]

To 10:09,

You are so right! If those who know something would only step up with specific details, anonymous letters would do, then maybe you may get something accomplished. But the more you keep to yourself, you only feed your own ego.

Just my 2cents.

The people who came forward with PROOF of unfair hirings didn't make a difference, did they? It was all simply fixed by HR and then glossed over with "recommendations" for future hirings from the so-called auditor. Recommendations that were immediately and arrogantly brushed off by CMK. Read the report (if you can stomach it). Bottom line is there is NO integrity to be found at SPC any more.

If you know so much more, why didn't you come forward? Aaron would have protected your identity just like the original whistleblowers' identities were protected. I am tired of all these "I know something you don't know" claims, from people who could have made a difference when the opportunity was here. There's no proof of an affair, or you know it would have been all over the paper. It's all just rumors.

[I know more]

9:41 - If you think there's NO involvment going on - you need to ask the group from AC that went on the Puerto Rico trip; ask the Russian students that went on his boat trip (seek and ye shall find)

Don't kid yourself, 9:41 PM, there's been a history of "Sweets" that Carl has pursued over the years...and they've pretty much all been blondes. Most end up on Cabinet (weekly visits, constant and mandatory communication - sweet) or are assigned a "special project" for the president, if not promoted to "special assistant to the president." Each gets monetary rewards to sweeten the deal. And, how do the young Russian women find this godfather?
1-SPC-BIG-DADY.

Sure, she's making the money, but the "price to be paid for unfair and unethical cronyism" isn't being paid by the ones who instigated it, it is being paid by someone who believed them when they told her to apply with her low credentials. Yes, she will live, but they get off scotfree.

She admired him for being successful, but that was it. He enjoyed all that admiring attention but there wasn't anything going on between them in the way you think. He avoids that kind of involvement because he knows it is the only thing that would bring him down. (He was ready to hunt to the ends of the earth to find additional witnesses to a faculty member's involvement with a student a few years ago, remember? See http://www.sptimes.com/2005/01/26/Northpinellas/SPC_says_overseas_tri.shtml)

And Kuttler is going to move on to someone else for all that attention now. I am interested to see who is the new Chief of Staff...a job in review right now, according to the job postings. Stay tuned! Anyone want to take bets the new person is blonde?

[Sweetie Pie is busted]

Did Ron Hamilton EVEN meet Sweet? Or did he just mail her written questions (probably answered by FOC attorneys). All he needed to do was talk to Sweetie Pie for 10 minutes and he would have realized why she was hired. Has anyone thought about a PI? I'm sure CMK isn't going to stop seeing Sweetie - What does his wife think - Where is Evelyn Kuttler??? Are you brain dead? Wake up lady - smell the roses.

[boo-hoo!]

I truly cry for Ms. Sweet, boo-hoo. She still makes 64k. Regardless of the circumstances, she is profiting. That's the price to be paid for unfair and unethical cronyism at its worst. Besides, Ms. Sweet's remark about persons being jealous of immigrants really does not elicit any sympathy or empathy. She will live.

Sorry, the only one Carl is sweet on is himself. He's high on his own power. This has happened too many times with too many people and in too many situations for it to be something that pedestrian.

Sweet believed him that this is how things are done in America, she applied for the job because it sounded interesting and he led her--pushed her--to believe she was qualified for it, got the job (of course) and the rest is history.

Has anyone stopped to think about how this has affected her? This is going to follow her around the rest of her career whenever any potential employer Googles her. And it is not her fault; it is Carl's. Some "favor" for a friend, to help ruin her life.

[Gettin' Busy At SPC]

I'm pretty sure that the ONLY reason Kuttler hired her is that he loves his Sweet(s) after dinner!

Perhaps a haiku, to soothe his Highness after that naughty audit:

Carl is sweet on Sweet
But not too sweet on the rules
To him we are fools

[keeping it in the family!]

Gov Crist is in the news talking about raising Florida's college tuitions. Does his sister need a raise? Or is it to cover the salary of the likes of the Violetta Sweets at SPC? Of course the hardship always gets passed on to the students!

Well actually, modern college presidents are not expected to be educators. Years and years of the public underfunding and expecting more programs has unfortunately forced schools to look for more financially savvy leaders. This does not excuse those who abuse their powers, but it is really up to the faculty to ensure a quality academic program. Time to step up faculty!

He's a sorry excuse for a president. Aren't college presidents supposed to be primarily educators? If external people knew one iota of all that he has done over the years to screw people just because he got an attitude about them...sadly, it'd make a great book. Of course, he'd claim the royalities but, there's the law against criminals receiving financial benefit from their crimes. Catch 22 for Carl, he'd have to own up to his mis-deeds in order to receive that cold hard cash that he worships so fervently...

We have heard from all the BOT members in the investigation report or the article about the investigation except, where is Evelyn Bilirakis? Does she have any input or comments?

Wait, that's right, in another article about SPC unrelated to this subject, Kuttler was talking about getting money back that the legistlature wanted to pull from SPC. Get this:

"I had people all over Tallahassee calling," he said. "The Bilirakis family went at it early this morning."

Evelyn Bilirakis, appointed by Bush to sit on SPC's board of trustees, called Bush's office herself. "We were willing to go to Tallahassee and fight for it," she said. "After I called, the governor gave a call to Carl and we didn't have to go to Tallahassee."

State Rep. Gus Bilirakis, whose family name graces the school of education, said the college's political connections had little to do with the quick turnaround.

If what is needed is a forensic audit by federal investagators from DOE, or the US Atty's office, how does that come about? Who needs to do something to get this rolling?

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue & White:

“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.“

Cesar Chavez

[dire need]

what was needed and is still needed is a forensic audit by federal investagators from DOE, or the US Atty's office. period. Hamilton was seen as inexperienced and prime for a payoff from the start. The big guns have to come after Carl Kuttler. We all knew that.Did we not? Anyone who knows CK, had to expect these results!Had to!

One thing that has disturbed me all along are the words used by those interviewed about the hiring.

For instance, Karen White said she has "no regrets," that she is "very comfortable with the hiring process at St. Pete College," and that "There wasn't anything in the way we hired Violetta that caused me discomfort."

What I don't hear her saying is that there was no influence by Kuttler in the hiring. Just because she is comfortable with how Kuttler works doesn't mean the hiring was done without his influence. I get the feeling of someone trying to skirt the issue and the real question, and yet give a "truthful" answer. Maybe what is needed is an interviewer who has an ear for this kind of thing and can press the issue until a real answer is given.

I don't know much about SPC's Foundation, but I can believe no one who gives to it thought part of their money would go toward sending Trustees and family members on pleasure trips to other countries. They probably thought their money was going toward something like, oh, I don't know, scholarships for underprivileged students or some such crazy notion.

Ken Burke might have a conscience. He suggested Kuttler stop using his credit card to book travel. Of course, Kuttler said he wouldn't (not in so many words, but that certainly what "it's commonplace" means). I kind of hope Burke speaks up as they are considering the recommendations, but why would he, when it's futile? This is really too bad. They have a chance to change some very small things that might help a little, but can't even make the effort to pretend they care. And why should they? Their methods have been validated.

What does it mean when an applicant in higher education is chosen as a finalist in a search and then "determined there was no need for relocation"? Hummm...makes me really suspicious of the legitimacy of the search.

Ok the process was deemed appropriate, but I still have to ask what makes Sweet qualified to be a director with no graduate degree, no previous administrative or leadership experience in higher ed or international studies? Hell, I speak a couple of languages. Does that make me qualified to lead a division with a budget of thousands of taxpayer dollars?

The controversy over Violetta Sweet’s unusual hiring is insignificant in the face of other situations which bear investigation:
1)The average faculty member, who works 11 months, has a Ph.D. and several years experience makes less than Sweet’s $64,000.
2)How many administrators (and also faculty who did not go through the usual hiring procedure) go to Dr. Kuttler’s church or are relatives of politicians? Coincidence?
3)When Dr. Kuttler dropped out of DROP and gave up the accumulated dollars, how much did the Board of Trustees award him as a re-sign-up bonus?
4)Why do none of the members of the Board of Trustees have any experience in higher education?
5)Why do so few ethics instructors have Master’s degrees in philosophy when faculty in other disciplines are held to very rigid academic standards, but instead are ministers and are or have been disbarred lawyers?
6)When students have diplomas or degrees from foreign schools they are required to send their transcripts to an agency which authenticates the information. It is not sufficient for a native speaker to translate the material. Why was Ms. Sweet not held to the same standard as a freshman student?
7)Who pays for the upkeep of Dr. Kuttler’s $1,000,000 boat?
8)Two Tallahassee politicians have plush offices and staff at the EPI center, yet neither keeps any office hours there. How much salary do they receive? For what?
9)Dr. Kuttler claims to be The Father of the Russian Community College System. Are there any community colleges in Russia? How many? Where?
10) How much money has SPC spent on Ecuador, China, Russia, and Guatemala? Of what benefit has that been to students at SPC? Of what benefit to Dr. Kuttler?
11)The materials budget of the library is cut, yet there’s undisclosed sums spent on foreign ties which have no benefit to students.
12)What exactly do the numerous higher administrators at EPI do for the $100,000+ salaries they receive?
13)How much of SPC’s annual budget is spent directly on students and how much on Dr. Kuttler’s special projects?

[waiting for the Chief of Staff to be named]

The King's not wasting any time; he's given Patty Jones the go-ahead to hire the finalist in each of the four A/P positions that were "In Review" during the audit. Good thing the custodians and maintenance staff are doubling-up on responsibilities so budget saved from the unfilled positions in Facilities can pay, perhaps, taxes or a couple of benefits for these positions. Carl did say, when he was forced to address that nether world "lay-off" issue, he has "asked some of the College family to share the pain."

[Step Up]

Carl's insolent responses to the auditor's suggestions show that college funds were wasted, once again. The Trustees have an opportunity to lead by example of integrity and responsibility or remain silent and continue being Carl's puppets. (It is unfortunate - but highly memorable - that no support came from the Mayor, the Governor, nor the Div of Comm Colleges.)

Everyone is missing an important aspect of this abuse of position by Kuttler.

No one, at any reputable college, could ever land an administrative position as director of international studies with only a bachelor's degree... especially one from the Semipalatinsk Technical Institute of Meat and Milk Industry in Kazakhstan. Violetta Sweet's degree is completly unrelated to her current position at SPC.

In addition, 33-year old Violetta is making $64,000 per year in salary. It takes a full time SPC faculty member (with a doctorate)over 16 years of teaching at the college, to come close to that salary.

The SPC Board of Trustees and Kuttler have proven that they have no shame.

[No more censorship]

Banned by the Blue&White:

“Although it is true that only about 20 percent of American workers are in unions, that 20 percent sets the standards across the board in salaries, benefits and working conditions. If you are making a decent salary in a non-union company, you owe that to the unions. One thing that corporations do not do is give out money out of the goodness of their hearts.”
Molly Ivins

Thank you Fred.

[fred]

It is interesting to see so many assumptions. Ron Hamilton was paid by the college. His allegiances were obvious. The State of Florida should have intervened.

A writer complained that SPC staff didn't bring specific complaints. Actually - many did, but they were dismissed because they involved other hiring situations, not this particular event.

BOT member Richard Johnston is a fervent supporter of King Kuttler for many reasons. One has to include the hiring of his wife to teach speech. Again - this was one of many hiring situations where more qualified candidates were passed over so that Carl could hand pick a new faculty member and reward a loyal friend.

There are many other abberant administrative practices at the college that defy academic standards. Despite the completely unprofessional aspects of the higher administration, the faculty does an outstanding job teaching students at SPC.

I doubt that veteran practicing attorney Syd McKenzie feels slighted in the least or has ever used the prefix 'Dr.' in his entire career as an attorney and counselor-at-law.

The use of 'Dr.' by JD's is extremely rare, even in academia, which is the only place you would see anyone using it that way.

The auditor's report unfortunately slighted Dr. Syd McKenzie by repeatedly referring to him as Mr. McKenzie. Syd earned a JD just like Dr. Kuttler and Dr. White and should be so recognized.

This audit? A load of balooney!

"A narrow scope review will yield a narrow scope report. WWJD."

Thanks for posing the best question, 1:27P.M., because it is not the question that any of the 'vindicated' administrators, the BOT, most bloggers or Mr. Hamilton have asked themselves once during this whole mess.

President Kuttler, your silence throughout was deafening but your published answers lacked any quantity of humbleness found in the faith of believers, but I am not your judge.

Pro-administration bloggers, too much is wrong at the college for your spirits to be high. Students and your colleagues are groups that need attending to and the institution as a whole needs dire positive rebuilding from its heart and soul.

Anti-administration bloggers, I suppose that this was not the appropriate opportunity for any of you to come forward with first-hand info - if you have it - because you did not believe in the anonimity of this independent auditor and may rightly fear sanctions if you come forward. I say the same thing to you that I did above, -- Students and colleagues are groups that need attending to and the institution as a whole needs some positive rebuilding from a core level.
Either figure out how to get grievances aired lawfully and forcefully, or move forward positively. Time is short for a lot of students and residents of Pinellas County thanks to economical issues.

Trustees, apparently you really do not know who works for whom in a relationship such as this. You have no control over this situation, the college as a whole, or its efforts going forward. This happened on your watch, and it remains seedy.

The college family, its students, employees, alums, potential students, and other supporters need two things:

(1) they need YOU to lead - not posture for the future

(2) they need YOU in control of this President before permanent harm comes to the college

WWJD? HE would watch over students and employees over and over and over again before posing for another poofy picture. (and HE would not ever need to take credit in public for all the 'good that he is doing!' would HE?

[Get real!]

8:53 PM - Who told you Sweetie Pie is good in her job? Have you ever heard her speak? Her English is terrible! I attended a student presentation with her and she kept referring questions to her assistant (who didn't know anything either) - get your facts straight. At least you got the last part of it right (she wouldn't have gotten the job unless she knew Kuttler).

I understand that Sweet is doing a good job in her position. No one on any of the comments or blogs has shown her falling short in any way.

I also believe she would not have made the short list for this job if she was not friends with Kuttler. So there you have it.

Wait a minute - Jones and Ladewig "prepared a manual of hiring policies and procedures for Mr. Hamilton to review" - There wasn't one already? No wonder hiring managers haven't had any training, there wasn't anything to go by until now, evidently. But then, if everyone knew what was expected of them, there didn't have to be a manual, did there? Just pass the Kuttler good judgement test. I would like to hear Kuttler's explanation of what is required for a good fit.

Kuttler says he is the one who knows the SPC culture and has good judgment as to who would fit best in the college system.

What does that say about diversity and academic freedom? If you fit the mold, you are in. If you don't, forget it. Homogeneity wins the day. Religious, compliant, awestruck and fawning? C'mon in.

Prior discussion on this issue is located on a blog at http://blogs.tampabay.com/baybuzz/2008/09/spc-board-order.html so if this comment section gets shut down, that is the place to go.

If SPC wants to avoid things like this in the future, I really think someone at SPC that he respects (if there is anyone) should sit down with him and try to explain to him how he is coming across in the report.

Even if he didn't get found guilty of anything, his words raise more concerns than would have been there if he had just responded to the questions asked of him. If he is such a high-falutin' smart lawyer, how come he doesn't recognize this?

[Come on Aaron - dig deeper]

I expect an email from Mike O'Keefee tomorrow saying "Patty Jones promoted to VP of Excellence" - CMK will probably give all of HR a "bonus" or at least reclassify their positions.

[What a Joke!]

HA, HA, HA - Hamilton must be laughting all the way to the bank to desposit our taxpayers dollars!!!!

One question that comes to mind: According to SPC, Sweet had to go through the usual hiring procedure. So when Duncan mentions to Jones in HR that he had a discussion with Kuttler about Sweet, why does Jones assume it was about the director position, and email Kuttler that she was concerned Sweet was not qualified? Why was it important to her that Kuttler be alerted in advance, if Kuttler doesn't have influence over the hire? If he doesn't, then what difference would it have made what he thought? This is just strange.