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Mayor's e-mail use raises questions

The Safety Harbor mayor, who is a middle school teacher, said using her school e-mail accounts for city work doesn't technically violate any school policy.

By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published August 4, 2005

SAFETY HARBOR - Mayor Pam Corbino, a longtime Pinellas classroom teacher, acknowledged Tuesday she often has used her school e-mail accounts to conduct city business, a practice that may conflict with school district policy.

E-mails obtained by the Times show Corbino used her school computer to write and send e-mails to county officials. On occasion, she e-mailed her City Commission colleagues.

Corbino, who teaches computer applications at Safety Harbor Middle School, said she has written e-mails at all hours during the school day.

"Everybody checks their e-mails six or seven times a day," she said. "It's the technology age."

She also indicated she squeezed in e-mails during classes. "I'm not a lecture teacher," she said. "I talk to the kids for six or seven minutes, then give them an assignment and then ..." She brushed her hand in the air.

School district policies state it's not acceptable for school system employees to use school computer systems to send e-mails to outside parties without the permission of the school principal or district administrator.

"To be conducting a large amount of business not related to the school has the potential to be a violation of board policy," said Jim Lott, administrator of the district's Office of Professional Standards.

He would not say whether an investigation is under way, but School Board Chairwoman Nancy Bostock said, "Our district is going to look into it."

Alison Kennedy, principal of Safety Harbor Middle, declined to comment Wednesday.

Corbino said she was aware of the district's policy, but added, "Teachers don't talk about the policy."

The three-term mayor defended doing city business while at school, saying it benefits the overall community.

"I see my job as mayor as partnering with schools," she said. "I think I do a great job as a teacher. "This is my 14th year at the school. I do so much for the school. I got a new (running) track for them. I've been working on that since 1994."

Corbino said she doesn't think city work technically qualifies as outside business and thus does not violate school policy.

"I don't consider it that I'm conducting business," Corbino said. "I'm not doing this for the money." As mayor, she is paid $500 a month.

Corbino said she mentioned the e-mails to school superintendent Clayton Wilcox on Tuesday and that Wilcox did not seem concerned at the time.

On Wednesday, Wilcox said he is not the e-mail police, and he knows employees use the system for personal use from time to time.

"I'm not troubled about that," he said. "No one has come to me and said this woman is neglecting her classes."

He did say he would meet with his team to see if a problem exists. School policy permits incidental personal use of computers by employees, such as "for occasional personal communications in the same manner as an employee might reasonably use the district's telephone."

Judy Ambler, supervisor of instructional technology for Pinellas County Schools, said incidental use means "once in a while."

"It doesn't sound appropriate to me," Ambler said. "We're here to do our jobs."

Discipline could range from a written warning to dismissal. Lott said he knows of no Pinellas teachers disciplined for excessive e-mailing.

Corbino blamed what she called her longstanding political opponents, specifically former City Commissioner Neil Brickfield, for trying to make an issue of her use of school computer systems.

"It's a vindictiveness of four or five people who are out to get the girls," Corbino said, indicating that fellow Commissioner Nadine Nickeson, one of three women on the five-member City Commission, also has been a target. "That's just what they do."

Brickfield declined to comment Wednesday.

Nickeson said she supported Corbino.

"I know she's a strict disciplinarian in her class," she said. "And a quick e-mail to catch up is okay as long as she's not violating any (defined) policies."

In 2002, Corbino stirred debate when she used a city computer to tout a business she was starting when responding to a resident who had written to ask about volunteer opportunities. State law prohibits public officials from using information not available to the general public for personal gain.

Eileen Schulte can be reached at 727 445-4153 or schulte@sptimes.com

[Last modified August 4, 2005, 01:05:20]