District suspends 2 accused of theft

TAMPA -- The School Board put its new whistle-blower policy to work Tuesday by suspending two workers accused of theft by co-workers who turned them in to authorities.

The disciplinary action against grounds workers Bobby Wingate and George Pittman comes a few months after the board approved its whistle-blower policy, which encourages school employees to report allegations of activities that are unlawful, inappropriate or unethical.

Tampa police had arrested Wingate, 39, earlier this month and charged him with felony grand theft after finding $683 worth of district fencing in his driveway.

Though not arrested, Pittman, 52, an equipment operator, also is accused of using district supplies for his personal use.

"They were seen together with the materials in question," said school district spokesman Mark Hart.

Both men were suspended without pay until the district completes its investigation, which also is looking into two missing $6,000 lawn tractors.

According to the arrest report, Wingate operates a lawn business on the side.

A grounds manager and a supervisor alerted authorities after they noticed Wingate loading the fencing into his company truck even though he didn't need the materials for his job, according to the arrest report. When he returned to work 30 minutes later, the materials were gone.

Authorities found them at his home.

Superintendent Earl Lennard said he was encouraged that employees felt comfortable reporting the alleged theft.

"It's sending the message of our expectations," he said.

School Board employees can be disciplined if they know of wrongdoing and don't report it under the whistle-blower policy, which was approved last spring.

The board developed the policy after being criticized by former administrator Doug Erwin. Erwin alleged widespread waste and mismanagement in the district's maintenance and construction departments.

Later reassigned and asked to prove his allegations, Erwin left the district and argued he was forced to retire after exposing the wrongdoing, some of which has been proven.

In other business:

-- The board suspended Jefferson High School science teacher Lovie Hudson, 40, and Edison Elementary third-grade teacher Stacy C. Marshall, 34. Hudson was arrested in July and charged with driving under the influence. Marshall was arrested in August in Charlotte County and charged with drug possession and several driving offenses.

-- The board named a new school in Plant City the Simmons Career Center after the local NAACP chapter recommended the name. One of the city's all-black elementary schools was called Simmons until desegregation began in 1971.

When it opens next August, it will be one of four career centers for high school-age students in Hillsborough.

-- The board, at the behest of board member Glenn Barrington, asked Lennard to examine the practice of having PTAs pay for new school dedications. Some parents have complained about having to pay for and organize the events.

-- The board was briefed on a survey completed last spring that showed 97 percent of seniors planned to graduate by the summer. Eighty-seven percent of them said they would attend a college or university.

-- Melanie Ave can be reached at (813) 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright