Florida A&M University trustees voted to fire President Fred Gainous today in a heated meeting in Tallahassee.
The trustees voted 9-4 to fire Gainous, who has been criticized for financial and management lapses at the historically black school, effective Jan. 1. They chose the late date to allow for transition to a new administration. The meeting was filled with loud, raucous speeches and some anger between board members during a recess.
A recent state audit, which covers 2003 and parts of this year, showed various bank accounts remain unbalanced, that bills were repeatedly paid late and that checks, cars and cell phones were not properly used or documented.
FAMU spent $4.3-million more on scholarships than it budgeted and can't show where the money was taken from, the audit says. The school also spent almost $1-million more in the athletic department than it had, appearing to rely on revenue from a contract that failed to bring in expected money.
Gainous, a FAMU graduate, took over as president about two years ago.
