Bradley Byrne and AEA
Glad to get this report from Helen Hammons.
Things are starting to heat up again in the dispute between the Alabama Education Association and Bradley Byrne, chancellor of the two-year college system. All this apparently ahead of the start of the legislative session where one high ranking person in the chamber told me earlier in the year to anticipate “fireworks” over the double-dipping issue.
In a front page article in the Alabama School Journal (pdf) AEA chief Paul Hubbert accused Byrne of having “hired people, moved money around, and made decisions without board knowledge or discussion.” Hubbert’s main target was the State Board of Education where he cites a report on Bishop State which says a separate board would be best to handle the two-year college system. Hubbert says “The report made clear that for years the state board did not provide adequate oversight to Johnson and the postsecondary system.” Hubbert now says he’s afraid “we are going down the same road” with Byrne. Hubbert claims he’s not sure about creating a whole new board but wants it looked into. AEA opponents say that AEA is busy trying to reconstitute the board to one more of its liking with elections coming up in 2008. They seem particularly unhappy with Stephanie Bell and Randy McKinney who are up for reelection. Ella Bell is another member up for election, but she generally is in line with AEA thinking on most issues.
The AEA has made no secret of being unhappy with the Board’s approval of the actions of Chancellor Byrne since he took over the postsecondary system.
The State Board of Education meets Thursday morning and on the agenda is consideration of a recommendation by Byrne that Susan Salatto, president of Southern Union State Community College, be “fired for cause.” Following reports last year of problems at the school, Byrne sent a team to the school to look into complaints of mismanagement. A report was issued outlining 20 areas of alleged mismanagement at the school including such things as the narrowing of admissions requirements in contrast to State Board policy, the closing or limited hours of facilities such as dining halls and libraries, the hiring of family members or failure to disclose those relationships as required - in one case the report says Salatto’s husband was directly supervised by Salatto. He has now retired, the failure to adequately conduct personnel evaluations, the lack of diversity in the administration, faculty, and staff, irregularities in payroll payments, circumvention of bid law requirements, and lack of institutional control on sick leave, just to list a few.
Salatto was allowed to respond to the report, but essentially did not dispute the findings but said many of the things were being corrected and had started before she took over the reins of the college.
Byrne told reporters previously while things such as the dining facility not being open on weekends might seem like a minor issue to some it is detrimental to students. Byrne has said repeatedly that actions by college presidents, who are supposed to exercise control over their institutions, do not have to be criminal to warrant the removal of the president. He has repeatedly advised presidents that they were expected to abide by board policies. He says the determination of criminal wrongdoing is the function of others.
One person decidedly not happy with Byrne’s actions is AEA Executive Secretary Dr. Joe Reed. Reed wrote in a recent column titled “Purging College Presidents is Calculated Misuse of Power” (pg 3 of pdf file) in the Alabama School Journal a publication of the AEA that Byrne was continuing his “calculated and systematic purging of college presidents. “Presidents of two year and technical colleges are being forced to resign amid threats of having their good name and reputation ruined all for the solace of one, who himself received his position as a result of political patronage.” Reed accuses Byrne of using “bullying tactics” and says Byrne is replacing presidents “without just cause” so Byrne can replace them with people “beholden to him.”
“When fear and intimidation are not enough to get a targeted president to step aside…the chancellor will send in the “hatchet committee” of his cronies and “yes men” to do what they will call an investigation. The reality is that this hatchet committee goes to nitpick and find anything and everything that they can to discredit the president, then draft a report that puts the president in the worst light possible. After the chancellor receives this “report,” he commands the president to appear before him for a “sit down” conference. He tells the president that either he or she can resign, or the “report” will be released and the president’s reputation dragged through the mud in the media. With an anti-public education press corps at his beck and call, the chancellor can and has made life miserable for those and their families who oppose him. What is actually a personal and political termination of a college employee is spun by Byrne and his media allies into “swift, decisive action” to correct problems that they have exaggerated and/or made up. Then, if a president has the courage and moral conviction to stand up to this blackmail, the chancellor carries through with his threat to fire him or her. He did exactly that on January 10 with President Susan Salatto at Southern Union State Community College…”
“Presidents of two-year and technical colleges are being forced to resign amid threats of having their good name and reputation ruined, all for the solace of one, who himself received his position as a result of political patronage “.
“We should pay attention to the “ax grinding” committees formed by the chancellor that are sent into these institutions for the sole purpose of gathering information to ultimately discredit, humiliate, and embarrass the presidents of these institutions,” said Reed.
For his part Byrne chooses not to get into a tit-for-tat with Dr. Reed. Byrne says with all the workforce development issues in the state and the important role the two-year colleges play in meeting the demands for skilled workers he doesn’t have time for nonsensical debate. “I don’t have time to respond to the silly things Joe Reed continues to say about me. Our actions to clean up the mess in the two year college system, and our positive results, speak for themselves.”
As to the firing of presidents, Byrne says his responsibility is to those the system is supposed to be serving - the students their parents and taxpayers. He has said from the beginning that he would hold presidents accountable for not abiding by Board policies and would insist on the system being one of integrity.
On the Fisher report’s recommendation on a separate board, Byrne is on the record being in opposition to that idea. Byrne of course has an interest in the board remaining in its current arrangement as this particular board’s makeup favors his ability to push through what many see as much needed reforms to clean-up the system. Conversely if the Legislature gets involved and Byrne’s opponents are able to get a second board there is always the possibility they might get one more to their liking. Former Chancellor Thomas Corts also recommended a second board so arguments can be made both ways.
One does wonder where the tireless defender of Alabama Education was while the Junior College system became a cozy place for patronage jobs.
Howsomeever, watching how this will play out in the Legislature will be something to watch.
BTW, why do we have AIDT when we already have technical colleges?
Comment by walt moffett — January 24, 2008 @ 10:53 am
Go Byrne Go! Keep up the good work.
Comment by JJ — January 24, 2008 @ 11:05 am
I’m hearing from a source close to Johnson that he is angry that everyone rolled on him and now he is naming names. It does not stop with the legislators–the big unnamed target is Paul Hubbert.
Comment by Anonymous — January 24, 2008 @ 11:28 am
“Ella Bell is another member up for election, but she generally is in line with AEA thinking on most issues.” Liberal, Ella Bell [from Hank Sanders district] is a rubber stamp for Paul Hubbert, Joe Reed and AEA. Ella Bell has voted against every one of the reforms presented to the state school board so far.
“On the Fisher report’s recommendation on a separate board, Byrne is on the record being in opposition to that idea.” Could you imagine what a separate board appointed by a Gov. Folsom would look like? The taxpayers of Alabama will never allow the “forces of darkness” to led us back to the culture of lies, fraud, and deceit. It is time for the curtain to be pulled on Paul Hubbert, Joe Reed and their “cronies” in the Alabama legislature!
If you don’t have the money and power to buy legislators off, you have to play by the rules enacted at the behest of the people who do. That’s a lesson that social studies teachers should drill into the heads of their students. The students can decide whether, when they take over, they want to perpetuate this injustice or write ethics laws that prevent it.
Danny, you are a good man. Excellent post!
Comment by Pookie — January 24, 2008 @ 11:38 am
I keep reading strong allegations of fraud, corruption, payoffs, lies, cronyism and deceit made against Paul Hubbert, Joe Reed,AEA and Democratic Legislators but I don’t ever see any proof.
It appears as if Republicans don’t have a problem with “patronage jobs” as long as Republicans are the ones doing the patronage.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 24, 2008 @ 12:46 pm
bhamhboy, and your proof to back up that statement is? from the dem side, i think the proof is in the guilty pleas and the jail time, brotha
Comment by cooper — January 24, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
The proof is in the fact that it’s the “dem side” getting the jail time, son.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 24, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Let’s be honest (not a pun) - there has been corruption on both sides. A Governor from each party has been convicted. When there were Democratic prosecutors, it seems that at least one of Fob James’ cabient members went to jail. Similar things have happened when Republicans are the prosecutors. What we really haven’t had is a prosecutor willing to prosecute his or her own party. Since office holders from sides of the aisle seem to have fallen into the Johnson orbit, let’s see if Alice Martin will take that step, or will allow Scott Horton and others to once again acuse her of being a partisan hack.
Comment by Anonymous — January 24, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
Former Alabama two-year chancellor pleading guilty to 15 counts - Breaking News
“Former two-year college Chancellor Roy Johnson has agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in a plea agreement announced this morning. Johnson’s agreement with the government implicates unnamed Alabama legislators who received jobs in the colleges and some state school board members.”
Comment by Anonymous — January 24, 2008 @ 5:01 pm
funny bham, you really are a democrat. I agree with 8 that no party is corruption free. But in the true dem spirit, bhamhomeboy finds it easier to make generalities. push your folks for “good” ethics reform, and hopefully that wasn’t part of the covenant that never was.
Comment by cooper — January 24, 2008 @ 5:05 pm
I agree with number 8. I hope that A. Martin will vigorously prosecute every SOB involved in this scandal no matter which political party they belong to.
Comment by Nixon — January 24, 2008 @ 5:30 pm
This is a Republican made scandal and nothing more than a partisian attempt to destroy the Junior College system for political gain. The only Alabama Governor that was convicted and is serving a prison sentence is former Governor Don Siegleman, a Democrat. I say investigate the real corruption and leave the Junior College’s alone.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 24, 2008 @ 5:50 pm
bhmhomeboy is wtf off-base in saying leave juco’s alone (think “leave britney (spears) alone!”). they did get out of control - and I am a “d”.
But you shouldn’t be so quick to discount the stuff about Byrne’s cronyism. Someone ought to ask how many no-bid contracts he has doled out via the juco system. Lawyers and PR folks, for example. After someone asks how many there are and how much they are worth, someone ought to ask who they went to and whether or not the recipients of the no-bid contracts are former contributors to the guv, bradley byrne, or other repub causes (PACS), for example. Same game, different team.
Anybody remember Gov. Riley’s “if you buy it bid it” stuff…because my memory of the ‘02 campaign is that no-bid contract dollars for professional services, like lawyers and pr firms, were included in the figures the Riley camp used to skewer Siegelman.
(I doubt the B-ham News or the Press-Register will rush to illustrate contradiction)
Comment by anonymous — January 24, 2008 @ 10:35 pm
Anonymous in #13, if you believe there is skulduggery afoot under Bryne and the papers won’t cover it, you could investigate it yourself, publish the results on a blog, mail copies of your work to the papers, and other interested parties. Guido Fawkes in England was able to bring down a rising star in the Labour party there.
Comment by walt moffett — January 25, 2008 @ 8:21 am
I am so glad Bhmhomeboy has shown his true colors once again. I am almost starting to like the fool. But it is now clear nothing he says is worth a dam. Thanks for making my point bhm - I have been saying for months that you are clueless.
Comment by JT — January 25, 2008 @ 8:34 am
bhamhboy - please pick up a copy of the bham news today and with a straight face tell me that Roy Johnson’s guilty plea, based on the 2 pages of facts and crimes that are cited, is politically motivated. You have lost your mind.
Comment by cooper — January 25, 2008 @ 8:56 am
[…] According to a column written recently by the AEA’s Dr. Joe Reed (see post), Bradley Byrne, chancellor of Alabama’s two-year colleges, has let power go to his head and become an intimidator who uses “bullying tactics” to get what he wants. […]
Pingback by Light Fare and 2010 Talk at the State House Thursday » Doc’s Political Parlor — January 25, 2008 @ 9:31 am
I saw where Roy Johnson gained just more than a million dollars from his crooked dealings. The biggest double-dipper of all time, Republican Chair and State Representative Mike Hubbard, made a lot more than that with insider deals at Auburn. When are the Republican federal prosecutors going to start investigating Mike Hubbard? What Johnson did is wrong and what Mike Hubbard is doing is wrong.
Comment by John — January 25, 2008 @ 10:47 am
Hey Homey, I have asked you several times to present some sort of evidence that this is an effort to destroy the community college system. Once again you have made this charge without anything to back it up. Why don’t you show us the evidence now?
Comment by Margaret — January 25, 2008 @ 11:21 am
The proof is in the pudding Maggie.
Roy Johnson will join the other Democrats that are serving jail time.
Sorry cooper, I can’t read the Bham News with a straight face.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 25, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
Excellent points made from both sides of the aisle . . . with respect to the levels of corruption that absolute power brings to the table, I do not believe that temptation has a party bias. In any event, someone please help me remember the principals involved and the circumstances surrounding the allegations that were made regarding recruiting candidates to run for political office with the assurance that they would receive administrative duties in their local two year college . . . The reported statement was made during the 2006 state races and was made public in 2007 as I recall . . . however I need specifics . . . I am still trying to connect all the dots . . . but I’ve almost gotten this whole mess figured out.
Comment by Dr. H — January 25, 2008 @ 2:15 pm
The proof is in the pudding? You can’t be more specific than that? I guess Johnson will join the Republican Abramhoff (sp) people that are sitting in jail too. Anyway, what does Johnson’s going to jail have to do with the destruction of the community college system. It seems to me, that action will strengthen the system as it warns other people who look to rip-off the system what will happen to them.
As to Dr. H., If I remember correctly, that promise was made to a Democrat who was asked to run by the 4 Democrats in the Senate who funded smear campaigns against the fellow Democrats Holley, Pruiett, and Dial. I don’t think it was Kim Benefield, but I really don’t remember.
Comment by Margaret — January 25, 2008 @ 4:50 pm
John–Ah, I see it didn’t take Paul Hubbert long to crank out the lies about Mike Hubbard again. Or perhaps it was Joe Turnham, brother of Johnson’s fellow conspirator Tim Turnham. It doesn’t help your case by spreading lies about others.
Comment by Susan — January 25, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
Hubbard controls football tickets
The Associated Press
While state legislators receive free tickets to the Iron Bowl and some other Auburn and Alabama football
games, one lawmaker helps control distribution of more than 500 tickets to each Auburn home game.
Rep. Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, is president of Auburn’s affiliate of the sports marketing firm International Sports Properties Inc. The company receives 547 tickets for each Auburn home game, The Huntsville Times reported.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 25, 2008 @ 6:50 pm
as if auburn football tickets and who gets them is corruption, intimidation and criminal conduct. thanks bhmhomeboy - you prove just how nuts you are with each post. keep it up.
Comment by JT — January 25, 2008 @ 7:04 pm
Um, the football tickets are in the contract because they are provided to advertisers who spend tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars advertising on Auburn football games. It is not because he is a legislator and the tickets don’t go to Hubbard personally, they go to the AU/ISP network.
Homey cites a newspaper story that alledges no wrongdoing whatsoever. But we all know that Homey isn’t concerned with the truth.
Comment by Susan — January 25, 2008 @ 7:20 pm
Um Susan,
Isn’t Hubbard a State Legislator who also works for the AU/ISP network?
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 25, 2008 @ 11:05 pm
Um, Homey–yes–so what? Being a legislator and working for a private firm is not a problem. ISP does not receive any money from the state or from Auburn University so there is no “double-dipping” involved.
Comment by Susan — January 26, 2008 @ 8:22 am
there is major problems in two year collage system
Comment by d@fw47 — January 26, 2008 @ 9:28 am
Hubbard votes on Auburn’s budget. His wife is a major administrator at Auburn. His company (from which he makes major money) is reliant on Auburn for major money. The contract his company has with Auburn is far more favorable than the contract the parent company has with other universities which don’t have favorable legislators on payroll of the local ISP affiliate. And as far as football tickets, I know of situations where he has offered tickets to people who were not advertisers. Seems to me the situation is a little more complicated than Susan wants it to be. But then, Hubbard’s wife is named Susan. No, surely not?
Comment by Montgomery — January 26, 2008 @ 11:11 am
the hubbard deal has no legs (since he started the au network 8 years before being elected), but dems are grasping for every straw possible to just try and deflect a little of the bad attention away from them. it comes across as very obvious so it really doesn’t hurt the gop in the way that the incredible arrogance of the johnson deal, i say arrogance because the extent of his crimes show an insane degree of “you can’t touch me”. the funny thing is to see j turnham attack mike while his brother is guilty as hell.
Comment by cooper — January 26, 2008 @ 12:55 pm
Of course the “Hubbard deal has no legs” because there is an R (Repubican) after his name. Of course if it were reversed and there was a D (Democrat) after his name the deal would have “major legs”.
Same thing with the so called Junior College scandal, its a way to destroy Democrats, women and minorities for partisian pollitical gain.
Comment by bhmhomeboy@aol.com — January 26, 2008 @ 3:31 pm
Monty–no I’m not Dr. Hubbard, who was on the Auburn faculty long before Mike became a legislator. The AU Network was also formed long before he became a legislator. More importantly the Au Network/ISP deal is very competitive with other SEC and national schools of a similar size. Every school works out their deals a little differently in terms of things like tickets and signage, etc., but Auburn’s is very competitive and very good for Auburn.
Comment by Susan — January 26, 2008 @ 4:17 pm
Auburn is a State University and Hubbard is a State Legislator.
Comment by bhmhomeboy — January 26, 2008 @ 6:54 pm
hubbard is not an employee of auburn univ u fool.
Comment by JT — January 26, 2008 @ 7:33 pm
a way to get dems, women and other minorities? ummm - bhmhomeboy, roy johnson is a white male. get your facts str8. i guess extortion, blackmail, taking bribes, etc should be overlooked. you are a nut job.
Comment by PikeCountyguy — January 26, 2008 @ 7:36 pm