In response to Shirley’s “Letter to the Editor,” published January 28, 2020, not “surprised.” I have known her many years. Just another unethical, if not illegal “land deal,” executed, with continued disparity, allegedly by her and other elected school board members. Like the Duracell Bunny, this board keeps going…and going…and going, with or without a school.
Two weeks prior to her letter, interestingly to an editor of a newspaper she has proclaimed she does not read, Shirley and I discussed this issue after I returned her telephone call January 15, 2020, 10:07 a.m., as recorded.
During this call, I informed Shirley I had no reason to contact the property appraiser’s office nor question information contained on their website, as she asserts. I also informed Shirley the retention of official records (e.g. land sales), is the responsibility of “Jefferson County Clerk’s Office,” not the property appraiser’s office.
I did however inform Shirley the property appraiser’s office listed “Jefferson County School Board,” as the legal owner, in an email, regarding the one acre lot: Property ID 6758, 26-1N-4E-0000-0470-0000; the land conveyed to her and two others February 8, 2010 (more than nine years prior), by the board she is compensated to serve. Shirley replied, “No,” when asked if she would like me to forward her the November 21, 2019 email.
Subsequent to conveying the land (2010), it was conveyed again in 2018. From Shirley and two others, back to Shirley, the same two individuals and one additional individual as trustees of the “Boland Community Center.” The land is currently owned by the “Boland Community Center (Shirley’s home address),” and four trustees, one being Shirley.
As I recorded, Shirley stated, “I asked the school board for the land because it had been donated,” by a family member. And, “no school for colored children was ever built.” As relayed to Shirley, no information reviewed indicated the land was “donated,” in 1938, but rather “sold” to and purchased by the “The Board of Instruction for Jefferson County, State of Florida.” Shirley offered no response.
As stated to Shirley, and as she is aware, Florida statutes and Florida’s SREF Manual outlines “disposal of real property,” owned by county school boards. In this case, conveying back to an heir(s), is not an option. The executed transaction in 2010, was contrary to the “Instrument dated and signed by each party in 1938.” Therefore, making it contrary to Florida’s law and Florida’s SREF Manual. Stay tuned: “Watching the Finances,” Part 2, February 7, 2020.
Yes - the forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties, nineties and years beyond came and went. No person - in this seventy plus year history ever requested this land be conveyed back. Not until 2010. Why? Because it would have been unethical, if not illegal, and it still is. Shirley had one comment, “They (school board) did it and no money was exchanged.” Interestingly, Shirley could not recall the reason(s) she waited until “2010,” to request this land be conveyed.
In contrast, the heirs relating to Howard Academy were denied by the same board members? You and I being charged $2,000.00 per month, $270,000.00 to date, by this no-school board for a building you and I have owned since 1832. And, Shirley’s closing statement to me? “You can fill the school board building (voters and taxpayers),” and “our answer will remain NO,” relating to conveying “A-Building,” to the BOCC on behalf of our citizens. Yet, Shirley receives public owned land free of charge? As a trustee or otherwise? More disparity examples to come. “Watching the Finances!”
Clayton Tolbert