“An example of her failure to communicate with the Board is
on the renovation of the garage at the President’s House. This renovation cost
was approximately $77,000 which the President did not present to the Board
resulted in a failure to receive approval for the project,” Woody wrote in his
evaluation of the president for 2014-2015.
The employment agreement between Mangum and the BOT states that: “Dr. Mangum shall obtain prior approval from the Board (or its designee) for any capital improvements or repairs to the home or its grounds which have a project cost over $10,000.”
When Tallahassee Democrat reporter Byron Dobson interviewed
Mangum on November 2, she claimed that she “didn’t notice” Woody’s comments
about the garage.
According to the article by Dobson: “Mangum also said Monday
she didn’t know ‘any of this’ was an issue until a couple of weeks ago. But
when reminded that trustee Robert Woody had noted in his evaluation that Mangum
had not brought the construction before trustees, Mangum responded, ‘I didn’t
notice it.’”
The Office of the Florida Auditor General is now reviewing
documents about the garage project and other recent capital improvements at the
on-campus President’s House. The FAMU Division for Audit and Compliance has
told the BOT that any findings will probably be included in the upcoming state
financial audit that is expected to be released in February or March.
July 8, 2015
Robert Woody submits his individual evaluation of FAMU
President Elmira Mangum to Kimberly Moore, chair of the BOT Presidential
Evaluation Committee. It criticizes Mangum for not presenting the garage
project at the President’s House to the BOT for its approval.
August 12, 2015
Rattler Nation becomes the first news site to run a story on
the garage project. It is entitled: “Trustee says about $77,000 spent on garage
project for on-campus President's House without BOT approval.”
August 13, 2015
Rattler Nation runs a second story on the garage project. It has
the title: “‘Mangum Building’ adds to growing list of controversial home
improvements for college presidents across nation.”
September 2, 2015
Associated Press reporter Gary Fineout writes about the
garage project in a story that includes comments from FAMU
spokesman Jimmy Miller. He reports that: “Trustees have raised questions about $77,000 worth of repairs done to
the president's garage and driveway. Miller said the repairs were done without
Mangum's approval.”
October 1, 2015
The Office of the Florida Auditor General asks FAMU Vice President for Audit and Compliance Rick Givens
to look into whether two purchase orders for renovations at the President’s
House had received BOT approval. The first was issued February 13, 2014 and was
for $300,209. The second, which was for the garage project, was issued on June
19, 2014 and was for $71,529.
Givens later tells the office that he can’t find any documents
to show that the BOT approved the purchase orders. His response to the state
auditors adds that: “Also, as requested in your e-mail dated October 8, I
cannot find documentation that the Board was officially notified of the renovation
or garage construction.”
October 21, 2015
Mangum sends the BOT a memorandum that states: “I did not
have any knowledge nor did I authorize or sign off on the construction of the
garage.”
October 22, 2015
Mangum narrowly survives an attempt terminate her contract for cause
over the President’s House additions that were initiated after the start date
of her employment agreement without BOT approval. The motion fails 5-7.
At the meeting, Woody says he feels that it was Mangum’s responsibility
to know about the garage project.
“I think the president is responsible,” Woody states during the meeting. “If she
didn’t know, she should have known.”
Woody later moves to terminate Mangum's contract without cause and with no confidence. That motion fails 6-6.
Woody later moves to terminate Mangum's contract without cause and with no confidence. That motion fails 6-6.