Manatee School Board Chairman Bob Gause accuses attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum of breaking law

BRADENTON -- Manatee County School Board Chairman Bob Gause accused Manatee County School District attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum of breaking the law Tuesday saying he illegally turned Gause's bank account information over to FBI officials earlier this year.

The tense discussion broke out during a meeting where school board members ultimately approved a tentative fiscal-year budget with a state-mandated maximum millage rate slightly lower than last year.

The discussion about Teitelbaum came after internal auditors and lawyers presented a final report on the investigation of improperly documented money related to a 2009 bond. Ultimately, no evidence of criminal activity was uncovered in how the money was spent.

In meetings with FBI officials over the money and potential bid rigging associated with hiring construction

companies with bond money, Teitelbaum admitted he gave out Gause's bank account information.

"It was an inadvertent disclosure," Teitelbaum said. "The material is not confidential, but was exempt, and it was remedied the very next day, sir."

Teitelbaum said he was admonished by former Superintendent Rick Mills for the incident.

At an Audit Committee meeting in March under the Whistleblower Protection Act, Teitelbaum announced he was forwarding claims of bid tampering related to an investigation of a 2009 sales tax bond to the Florida Attorney General's Office. The attorney general is not pursuing the issue, it was reported at the meeting.

When Teitelbaum gave his report in March, Gause and former Superintendent Roger Dearing were potentially implicated in wrongdoing.

"It was character assassination by innuendo," Gause said. "I'm not happy about that."

Gause repeatedly said personal attacks on district staff members need to stop.

"We can't have this stuff happen here," Gause said, adding he hopes new Superintendent Diana Greene would look into Teitelbaum's behavior more than Mills did.

Mills once stopped a meeting Gause had asked for about the issue saying it had the potential of creating "a hostile work environment" for himself and Teitelbaum.

In response to repeated questions from Gause and board member Dave Miner, an exasperated Teitelbaum said he never should have been in the position he was.

"I had a fiduciary duty," Teitelbaum said.

The conversation ended when Miner said he "had enough of" Teitelbaum. No action was taken on the issue.

In addition, the school board tentatively approved a 2015-16 budget with a slightly lower millage rate than last year. Even so, the district will bring in more taxpayer money to pay for services because of rising property values.

The board approved a millage rate of 7.267 -- down from 7.367 from last year.

"We had to decrease it slightly due to state mandate," said Don Hall, deputy superintendent of operations.

While the millage is down, that doesn't mean taxpayers won't pay more for education as rising property values may mean higher tax bills.

The board also approved a tentative 2015-16 budget of $600 million and discussed the option of adding two more board members.

The tentative budget includes an increase in general fund spending to pay for an expected increase in student enrollment and the need for more teachers and supplies. The budget does not cut existing programs or staff, and doesn't add any new programs either.

An upcoming workshop will more closely detail budget items.

The board failed to approve asking voters to expand the school board to seven members, with five elected by residents and two at-large members similar to the Manatee County Commission structure.

Karen Carpenter and Miner voted yes, but Charlie Kennedy and Gause voted no. Since the board has only four members, a split vote means the motion fails.

In other business:

The board approved a $40,000 settlement in a Roderick Frazier-related lawsuit. Manatee High school teacher Patricia Aragon filed a lawsuit against the district in May 2014 claiming she was retaliated against after she reported Frazier's inappropriate behavior toward a female student.

The board approved a $238,000 contract with Shinn & Co. to provide audit services for 2015-16.

Cynthia Saunders was promoted from executive director of secondary schools to deputy superintendent of operations, taking over a position formerly held by Greene.

John Kenney, a former Manatee County Sheriff's Office investigator, was hired as professional standards investigator replacing former employee Troy Pumphrey.

Jason Montgomery was promoted from Manatee High School athletics director to supervisor of athletics at the district level.

Regina Thomas was promoted from assistant director to director of Food and Nutrition Services, replacing Sandra Ford, who was recently promoted to chief support services officer, a new position.

Meghin Delaney, education reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7081. Follow her on Twitter @MeghinDelaney.

This story was originally published July 29, 2015 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Manatee School Board Chairman Bob Gause accuses attorney Mitchell Teitelbaum of breaking law ."