FSDB: Millions of Dollars Mismanagement Allegations
What is it with Dr. Elmer Dillingham? First he flouted state laws over the last two years by permitting convicted felons, including child molesters and drug dealers, to work on the campus with vulnerable deaf kids around. He was unrepentant and the school board supported him despite the concerns of countless parents for the safety of their children attending the school.
Now there is a big scandal about millions of dollars requested but still unaccounted by FSDB. Missing money. Excessive estimates for renovations. Money asked for maintenance for the buildings going through renovations in the same period . Over 100,000 dollars for maintenance for a tiny garage. A new roof requested for a six years old small canoe storage building with a metal roof.Â
What is going down down there in Florida? Is Dillingham being unduly negligent with his fiduciary responsibilities? Or is he being unfairly targeted in a witchhunt? MZ
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MILLIONS MISMANAGED
State auditors slam Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind for unaccounted funds, sloppy accounting, failure to explain fully
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The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has mismanaged millions of dollars, much of which remains unaccounted for, according to four consecutive reports by the state Auditor General’s Office.
And that’s the “good” report.
The “real” report is worse, said an investigator at the Auditor General’s Office, who did not want his name used for fear of losing his job.
The audits from 2002 to 2006 are riddled with complaints about poor accounting procedures, mismanagement of funds, undocumented expenses as well as complaints that the school’s president, Elmer Dillingham, did not answer their questions fully.
Two recurring themes run through the auditors’ reports — their concern about the school’s management of funds and the administration’s failure to give complete answers to the auditors’ questions.
Where did $5 million go?
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$312,000 budgeted, $1,460 spent; Where’s the rest?
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$63.5 million requested; no explanation given
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Why extra maintenance costs for remodeled buildings?Â
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 To read the full article, click this: http://staugustine.com/stories/050607/news_4572485.shtml
Email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
What is it with Dr. Elmer Dillingham? First he flouted state laws over the last two years by permitting convicted felons, including child molesters and drug dealers, to work on the campus with vulnerable deaf kids around. He was unrepentant and the school board supported him despite the concerns of countless parents for the safety of their children attending the school.
Now there is a big scandal about millions of dollars requested but still unaccounted by FSDB. Missing money. Excessive estimates for renovations. Money asked for maintenance for the buildings going through renovations in the same period . Over 100,000 dollars for maintenance for a tiny garage. A new roof requested for a six years old small canoe storage building with a metal roof.Â
What is going down down there in Florida? Is Dillingham being unduly negligent with his fiduciary responsibilities? Or is he being unfairly targeted in a witchhunt? MZ
.Â
MILLIONS MISMANAGED
State auditors slam Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind for unaccounted funds, sloppy accounting, failure to explain fully
Â
The Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind has mismanaged millions of dollars, much of which remains unaccounted for, according to four consecutive reports by the state Auditor General’s Office.
And that’s the “good” report.
The “real” report is worse, said an investigator at the Auditor General’s Office, who did not want his name used for fear of losing his job.
The audits from 2002 to 2006 are riddled with complaints about poor accounting procedures, mismanagement of funds, undocumented expenses as well as complaints that the school’s president, Elmer Dillingham, did not answer their questions fully.
Two recurring themes run through the auditors’ reports — their concern about the school’s management of funds and the administration’s failure to give complete answers to the auditors’ questions.
Where did $5 million go?
Â
$312,000 budgeted, $1,460 spent; Where’s the rest?
Â
$63.5 million requested; no explanation given
Â
Why extra maintenance costs for remodeled buildings?Â
Â
 To read the full article, click this: http://staugustine.com/stories/050607/news_4572485.shtml
Email contact: mishkazena@aol.com
Copyright TMÂ MishkaZena 2007
May 7th, 2007 at 8:39 am
It was rumored that Dillingham left NCSD under a cloud of controversy…..
May 7th, 2007 at 8:46 am
Judging from the information presented, I’m not surprised (but I wish I was) that it takes $$$ for anyone to sit up and take notice. Hire child molesters and drug dealers to work around or with school children? Snooze. Missing money? HELLO! We’re awake now!
Bah.
There’s one throwaway comment in there that does interest me though: ”
AD MATCH
“Political influence was brought to bear so the (2006) report didn’t say what it needed to say,” the investigator said.”
May 7th, 2007 at 9:04 am
Judging from the information presented, I’m not surprised (but I wish I was) that it takes $$$ for anyone to sit up and take notice. Hire child molesters and drug dealers to work around or with school children? Snooze. Missing money? HELLO! We’re awake now!
Bah.
There’s one throwaway comment in the article you cited that does interest me though: “‘Political influence was brought to bear so the (2006) report didn’t say what it needed to say,’ the investigator said.”
Political influence? In Florida? Hmmm…
Once they clear up the money are they going to double check the policies and practices behind who gets hired to work there? I sure hope so.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:28 am
When gross misuse of funds happens on this scale, one starts to wonder if the real goal of the school is to line pockets of the few, and not for the benefit of the students.
How much is this hurting the students? How much is spent directly on real staff and teachers for the kids, and for supplies and materials?
Are corners being cut that might jeopardize the students, such as security, improper building materials and methods, less equipment, fewer activities and field trips? How does their budget compare with that of similar sized schools?
Questions the auditors should ask as well as finding inconsistencies in the budget.
May 7th, 2007 at 9:56 am
BEG - you echo my thoughts!
It does take the money to “wake” up…but are solutions are ever provided?
Rarely - typically people resign or fired, but situations still continue…
This is where WE come in…as eyewatchers and putting more pressure on them to take actions….NOW.
I wonder what the parents of FSDB students are doing now?
Are they still leaving their children there?
I’d imagine with them yanking their children out would prompt some serious changes to provide a safe environment for their children and they’re not going to bring them back there until AFTER they’ve implemented new changes.
Be gone, Dr. Dillingham!!
He ought to be in prison, in my opinion.
May 7th, 2007 at 2:47 pm
What disturbs me are the lack of background checks on the employees. Does the school not check, but say it does? Do they know, but ignore?
Maybe what we should do is put together a local group that does its own background check of each new employee and make the results known if they are not satisfactory.
I know, this is something the school should already be doing, and is I believe legally required to. But maybe this is necessary to force transparency and honesty from the schools.
A similar approach could be used for the monies. The items the auditors noted should all be public record: I believe that federally granted money is publicly listed, and the usage and disbursement is noted either in the income tax filed or other report by the school. A local group would immediately notice the amounts spent on a tiny garage which might pass unnoticed by the IRS audits who generally have to come out and look at the structures, if the school is flagged for an audit in the first place.
Those are some ideas I’d consider, especially if I were one of the parents. And perhaps because it involves a deaf school, it might be possible to get donations to such a watchdog group from either deaf organizations, individuals, or other organizations that want to support works of this nature. (Form the watchdog group as a nonprofit 501c3 and go from there).
May 7th, 2007 at 4:50 pm
dr elmer dillingham??
i remember the day when he could not spell “wonderful” or “application”
he must have gotten his doctorate from cracker jack box !
i dont know about prison… but definitely should be knocked off that pedestal.
May 7th, 2007 at 6:23 pm
DANG! Took Florida state t orealize there something is not right with the budget. Dr. Dillinger has been at FSDB for over 10 years, not catch it till now. Sad to say, pattern of Fl not catching strange pattern of misbudgeting. NC sure got wise fast and got rid of Dr. Dillinger fast. Or was it Dr. Dillinger left fast, before they could corner him.
May 7th, 2007 at 6:58 pm
Or did Dr. Dillingger make his doctorate from toilet paper?
I would NOT put my deaf kids with that school. I feel sorry for the students. I’m sure they are nervous.
May 7th, 2007 at 7:27 pm
This has been a shocking turn of events for my alma mater. I hope the auditors continue to press the matter and impose accountability on that school. The BoT and Superintendent there need to clean up their act ASAP and be more transparent in their dealings with their community and the State of Florida.
May 7th, 2007 at 10:34 pm
I thought just the same thing ToddE above mentioned as I am also a alumni. I hope that this will be looked into soon.
May 10th, 2007 at 9:21 am
This is not a witch hunt about the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. All allegations are based on fact and documentation. This includes the situation with hard core felons on campus as well as the audit reports. Investigations were stopped when the Dept of Education began to make inquiries about the felon situation and it looks like the same thing when it comes to the audits. If you want more info let me know. This effort is not about the school but those who run it. Please stay on top of this situation and we can make the school a better place for students and staff
May 10th, 2007 at 12:14 pm
Anyone who wants to discuss with me the issues facing FSDB, please do feel free to contact me at Mishkazena@aol.com.
BEG, this is the oddest part. People told me that whenever they visited FSDB, they were screened first. Yet, with laborers contracted by businesses to work on campus, no screening was done.
May 17th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Does anyone know for fact the reason dillingham left NC
June 5th, 2007 at 9:32 am
Background checks done on career service staff. Can’t say for administration.
Am very curious why fsdb thinks they needn’t follow state rules AND seem to get away with it.
state investigators shouldn’t stop with elmer d but check out his henchmen too
October 27th, 2007 at 12:35 pm
Would like to know more about this school from it’s alumni! I’m considering it for my child.