HERNANDO – The Hernando County School Board is making headlines again, after the District School Superintendent, Dr. Lori Romano, failed to notify the public on at least three major issues, which is required by law.
The incidents were brought to light in a Wednesday edition of the Tampa Bay Times, where columnist Dan DeWitt exposed an unannounced HCSB Retreat, held at Silverthorn Country Club.
Dewitt writes “The district held the retreats at Silverthorn Country Club, which charged more than $500 for the day’s meals and meeting room rental, and paid $600 for a private consultant to deliver communications training.” Dewitt also explains “Besides Romano and board members, the retreats include the five highest-ranking district staffers, who have an average annual salary of more than $90,000. Alfonso — who received $165 per hour for Tuesday’s retreat…”
It should also be noted that Romano’s salary is approximately $145,000 with additional monetary incentives. Romano recently vied for a position with the Osceola County School Board, where she could have made between $185,000 and $225,000 per year. Romano accepted a raise in Hernando County after losing her bid for Osceola County.
But the retreat is only one of two other unannounced decisions made by Dr. Romano. DeWitt’s article also explains that Romano moved to end a contract with a private dropout prevention program, Catapult Academy, and institute a new adult high school. Both decisions were made without board approval or public discussion.
But Romano is no stranger to controversy and has a reputation for dodging questions and being less than transparent with the community and media inquiries.
We spoke to citizen advocate Danielle Underwood regarding the issue who said “There has been no transparency with the school district to the public, the whole time she has been on the board.” Underwood says “It’s a shame that when parents attend school board meetings that they have to pry information from Romano.” Underwood explains, ‘During school board meetings a parent has 3 minutes to say what they want and then shut up and sit down – the board never answers questions or follows up with concerns.”
I asked underwood what she thinks should happen to Romano - she replied “The board should analyze the decisions and wrong doings that she has committed and decide what they need to do. If she has breached her contract then she should be removed.” But Underwood believes Romano should face criminal charges due to violating the State’s Sunshine Laws. “I personally think it should be brought to the state attorney’s office because their attorney has already admitted that she has violated the law.” In DeWitt’s article, School Board Attorney Dennis Alfonso said “…the failure to run a legal advertisement notifying the public of the gathering was an oversight caused partly by its timing, shortly after the week of spring break.” Underwood says “That’s like me saying to a deputy if I get pulled over for DUI that I got into a fight with my husband and that I should be excused.”
RNRF asked Romano and board members for comment but we have not received a reply. Underwood says during a conversation with board member Beth Narverude, she was told that Romano could not be voted out of her position unless she breached her contract. Underwood believes that if a vote were held today, board members Beth Narverude, Linda Prescott, and Susan Duval would all vote to have her removed.
Over the last three years RNRF‘s requests for interviews with Romano have all been denied. In most cases we never even receive direct quotes from Romano unless it is regarding something positive with the district. The District’s Public Information Officer, Karen Jordan is the only point of contact with the district and only provides basic public information upon request. Conversely, The Board of County Commissioners has always been transparent with RNRF, even in the face of controversy.
Pam Everett, another outspoken citizen advocate, put together a petition that calls for the removal of Superintendent Dr. Romano (Follow this link). Everett says “As Hernando County taxpayers we feel she has failed her community in the leadership of Superintendent” and has asked for her immediate removal.
The First Amendment Foundation in Tallahassee is aware of the potential violations but it is not known what action, if any, will be taken against Dr. Romano.
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Hernando county once again feels certain factions are ABOVE THE LAW!!!! Most expensive band fees, but she gets $145,000.00 plus monetary incentives. Buses infested with cockroaches, she gets $145,000.00. Is your child REALLY GETTING THE EDUCATION YOU ARE PAYING TAXES FOR???? I’M SURE YOU CAN COME UP WITH MORE EXAMPLES.
Let me add to this she gets this salary as Gus says she is the lowest paid superintendent Look at what the other counties are making., yes Hernando District is not in the top salary., but her compensations are well above the others. Now pay close attention to the number of students, schools and staff these other districts have. She has 23000 students and 1600 staff. This is nothing in comparison to the other districts. So per number she oversees, this would make her one of the highest paid superintendents in the state.
I agree with you 100 percent! Our tax dollars at work half cent sales tax!
Many schools also do not have enough text books for the amount of children enrolled in the curriculum and some don’t even have more than a class set.
And after she is thrown out she needs to take her pet Gus out of town with her.
Wake up board of commissioners and get rid of this chick. Hernando County is the most corrupt county in the state of Florida and this is a shining example of that comment.
I harbor neither like nor dislike for Dr Romano. I’ve had no contact with her…but, if an overly-paid ‘leader’ lacks skill and doesn’t fit in…those around them will eventually set them up for a fall. And this is what I suspect is going on here. Someone surely dropped the ball and didn’t do their job in terms of calling publishers to announce the meeting in time, but I sincerely doubt Romano was the one responsible for doing such a menial task.Then there is the question…did Romano KNOW it was an illegal meeting? If so, then she was in the wrong for allowing it to happen.So…let me guess…someone in the goober network wants her job? It’s the way things work here. Watch and learn,folks.
What amazes me it is either time constraining, short notice, contract are coming up fast, there is always a reason for her to make the call without consult of the Board. If we don’t need them then let us stop paying 38000 + benefits 5xs. I say let the people vote their superintendent in.
The two “parent advocates ” you have interviewed have personal vendettas against Dr Romano. They attend every school board meeting and insult the superintendent ever chance they can get. They are loud, crude, and only look for negative things to say. One of them has been banned from her child’s school. They get up and talk, just to talk. Most of the time it is to spew their poison!
I’m pretty sure they lurk in the wings just to see if Dr Romano crosses her Ts and dots her I s. They try to shove their petition down everyone’s throats. I’m personally sick of them. They need to spend more time helping this district instead of pulling it apart.
Where were these two “advocates” when Alexander was the Super? Seems they have a personal agenda, and don’t care about our district.
Next time you see them, ask them where their kids go to school, and why.
Dr Romano is all about the kids, and it shows! I’m also sure it wasn’t her plan, or idea to meet in a gated community. Give her the credit she deserves.
This comment is exactly what the majority of the people in this county think!!!!!
Amen!!
Hi Gus!
And another thing…if the Silverthorn retreat was unannounced…WHO ratted her out and called the press? What…is the press PSYCHIC?! Wake up, people!
Why is it so hard for Hernando county to find a responsible , reputable,person to run our schools ,it seems like everyone we’ve had is shady and the board should know they are elected ,they can be replaced too. Step up and teach our children quit acting like children
It is time for the superintendent and her overpaid and under utilized high paid mouthpiece Ms.Jordan to say happy trails to Hernando County. I cannot recall anything positive occurring in the school district under Romanos leadership or lack thereof.
However, their is one common thread. Begging for more taxpayer money year after year.
Dan Dewitt , now there’s a REAL journalist!!😄