MASON CITY – Mason City School Board President Jodi Draper responded this afternoon to the bombshell state audit showing millions of taxpayer dollars meant for children’s education were mis-appropriated by administrators in the school district.
Jodi Draper
Since 2015 the Mason City School Board of Education has worked diligently to correct these issues. (Former Board President Jana Arndt, Lorri Lala, Paul Deroy, Doug Campbell, Scott Warren, Brent Seaton, and Jodi Draper) Many internal controls and policies have been put in place to help ensure these types of issues can not occur again. We currently have top administrators (Superintendent Dave Versteeg, CFO Cheri Yoder and HR Director Tom Dryzcimski) that conduct themselves with transparency, integrity, and adhere to Iowa Code. I want to thank the Board members of 2015 and our current board (Lorri Lala, Doug Campbell, Scott Warren, Alan Steckman, Brent Seaton and Jake Schweitzer) for doing their due diligence for our district and requesting the state review documents that we questioned.Respectfully Submitted
Mason City School Board President
This statement is in response to the story published earlier Friday:
OMG ! She is married, mother of six children and grandmother. Her children are all grown, with two still in college. And, she is the Chief Financial Officer for Mason City Clinic….
She is too good looking to be a grandmother. She should be a movie star.
Anonymous
5 years ago
Make them all pay it back or take it out of their check…
Anonymous
5 years ago
What is so hard about filing for reimbursement of the monies – hell the US military is going after soldiers whom were overpaid combat pay while they were back in the United States – some only in the hundreds of dollars – Don’t tell the taxpayers of Mason City it is not worth the effort – If these people want to go to court – file addition charges of FRAUD/THEFT FROM YOUR EMPLOYER – Sometimes know as EMBEZZLEMENT ! from the MC taxpayers..
Mrs. Jana Arndt was a vitial component to getting this whole investigation started. Mason City tax payers can’t thank her enough. Mrs. Arndt, I want you to know that the good people out there know the truth beyond Micich cronies writing such hog wash regarding you.
I’m told more than one school board member who went after these “alleged” thieves have been threatened with physical harm. Scary how vicious some of the fats birds at the top in MC will try to crush anyone who messes with their taxpayer-supported fiefdoms. MC needs state intervention immediately in courthouse, city hall, Federal Avenue and Penn Ave to restore integrity and lawful behavior. Put Tom Miller in charge.
I agree. A few school board members stood up to Anita (“Dr. Micich” as I was scolded once by that crooked mummy Jeffries). Tip your hats to these volunteers who took punishment to keep these “alleged” white-collar crooks sort of at bay.
Anonymous
5 years ago
The board prez is Hot.
Anonymous
5 years ago
Schoolboard members recieve no pay. It is elected position with no compensation.
Anonymous
5 years ago
I know who most of these are—who is Sue Deike and what was her job?
* I believe she’s also in charge of the school districts personnel files.
Anonymous
5 years ago
So basically, “Yeah we stole your money before, but we won’t do it again. We promise!”
LOL
Lionel Foster
5 years ago
Jodi Draper, you did it! Had it not been for your dedication to the truth, your enthusiasm and insight, this raid on the public treasury would never have come to light. First, they ignore you. Then former Superintendents Anita Micich laughed and fight against you. Now you win. I knew you could do it. Congratulations for your brilliant victory. You are a great role model. Let’s hope those ill-gotten public funds can be recovered.
Jodi is one of a very few totally honest people that I know.
Lawsteward
5 years ago
…there they go again, using those 2 phrases…”due diligence & transparency”…people in “power” use those words like “putty” and in the end all you have is another “lump” of clay!
Anonymous
5 years ago
The cost to prosecute these individuals (with no guarantee the courts will agree with the board) would probably be very expensive. If the courts didn’t agree with the board, the cost would be totally on the taxpayer.
A retainer is an estimate on how much time the attorney thinks he will spend working for a client. If the retainer is used up, then the attorney will charge for the time. If one has an attorney on retainer for $5000, and he has to go to court multiple times, the $5000 will most likely not be enough to cover all the costs. So, if the board files against all of the accused, then the amount of work needed will exceed the retainer costs.
I am familiar with retainers. And, to simply walk away the school district and tax payers are out 2.2million dollars. What number does it have to be to justify the school’s attorney to do his/her due diligence? Why are these people still employed with the school district after allegedly committing ethics violations? Why?
Henceforth, legal action to recover the money. The auditor is/has carefully worded the report as to not to draw conclusions because that is for a judge/jury to decide. Any professional would do such. But for the Mason City’s School Distriict Attorney to do nothing is ridiculous! Another thing about retainers fees is that funds unused is kept by the attorney. If he/she is refusing to do work on these cases they need to find a new one.
Fraud charges are in the paper left and right of people taking less funds in businesses and they don’t just say oh well. It could be risky. Think of the message you are sending to the good people of Mason City by doing nothing? And, with smearing Ms. Anderson’s name
because she filed a grievance seeking her to return funds while giving others a pass not to mention continue gainful employment wth the school district is a clear case of retaliation. So wrong on so many levels.
You can search for any administrators license. As individuals, you can file complaints regardless of what the Mason City Board of Education does.
Knowledge is Power.
Anonymous
5 years ago
Not one word regarding holding these individuals accountable. Repayments none noted, complaints against their licensures none, noted, legal actions none noted. Going after IPERS none noted. Everything has been fixed. I can’t help but wonder if indeed the “fix” is in.
The board turned them in… #noted. The board cant make arrests or press charges if the legal system does not state they belive there was a crime # noted. The board made sure every adminisrator who had their hand in the money is no longer working in our school. #notethat
Letting someone go by buying out their contract and giving them full retirement benefits such as Anita Micich, Hal Minear, Ramona Jeffrey is definitely NO kind of disciplinary action. LOOK at the list, wrong is wrong these people knew they got a bonus. Why are they still employed and not having to pay anything back as the Board of Education expected Ms. Jodie Anderson (Whistle Blower) to do?
Improper Salary and Benefits for Mason City Schools employees over $10,000
Field 1 Field 9
Employee Total Improper Salary and Benefits
Anita Micich 473,978.74
Thomas Jumper 150,185.41
Ramona Jeffrey 127,341.80
Randy Meyer 117,290.12
Hal Minear 116,188.92
Susan Deike 113,010.52
Jennifer Wilmarth 78,077.33
John Berg 72,218.65
Jerry Siglin 68,816.21
Thomas Novotney 62,859.49
Barbara Wells 54,866.70
Julie Bigler 50,007.40
Don Teeter 47,941.45
Richard Huff 42,038.40
Mike Penca 38,769.70
Brooke Brunsvold 33,122.85
Jeff Poppe 32,938.19
Lisa Christianson 26,880.32
Debra Wilson 24,223.94
Shelly Nelson 23,323.94
Kris Murphy 20,286.71
Kristi Penner 18,045.57
Dave Ciccetti 17,593.64
Kara Hutchison 13,101.25
Teresa Schlichting 12,355.40
Jodie Anderson 11,083.07
Doug Abbas 10,508.50
jodie anderson is no whistle blower she got over paid as an Human Resource Director and is now trying to get more money. I think this board did their job by The board does not get paid they take this job for free and work to make sure all is good this board found it was not and went to work they did what you asked and now they did not do it well enough? really? my guess is they worked to get the audit they will work to get charges just because they aren’t saying it does not mean it is not happening. Do you want one of these asshats to get a lawsuit for slander against the district and collect more money? think before you type you might not have all the answers. Until their is an agency that charges someone their is no law broken just mis use… so common sense would by any rational thought would be they are waiting for some agency to press charges so go to your elected county attorney and demand it.
Agreed in part, we do need to call on our local county attorney and the board has to watch what they disclose. However, this wasn’t the case with Ms. Anderson. The board is free to smear someone who has filed a grievance but sweep under the rug and, I might add, huge amounts of money because they are a bunch of ass kissers? I believe that is called retaliation. While I am very glad Ms. Jodi Draper is now on the board of education the actions of many of the other board members simply rubber stamping whatever Micich wanted and if Jeffrey’s said cuts need to be made, it was the gospel. All while the Mason City School Board members gave themselves pats on the backs and enjoyed the “special perks” of being board members. To the past and some of the present board members during Michich reign of power (I wonder how you guys can sleep at night and you know who you are. It’s okay to throw someone else’s children under the bus as long as your child(ren) benefited.) Meanwhile, layoffs were occurring and less fortunate Special Needs Students did without the needed supports while these jokers listed as being overpaid lined their own pockets and looked the other way. But hey let’s keep them on the payroll because they don’t rock the boat. Do you NOT get that many lives were impacted and destroyed. Some youngsters dropped out of school because of the actions of Superintendent Micich having free reign.
I have no idea if Ms, Anderson grievance has merit but it sure does look like she has a very good retaliation case.
Jodie Anderson was the Human Resource Director, who is listed in the audit as she received wages that were above what the board approved or that the board never approved. If you go back to board minutes which are published she offered her resignation, she then wanted to contract with the school as she opened her own business until they hired a new Human Resource director, then apparently her business failed and she is looking to cash in again as she is suing the district. Why? because she is greedy and the money train stopped she is looking to cash in on the taxpayer once again. I hope she is charged with a felony charge right along with Anita, Mike, Ramona and John. I have sent numerous emails to the county attorney stating I want the charges filed my tax dollars were stolen. She was to be the expert for the school, instead she helped herself to the money she knew better and was part of the whole scam or she is not qualified to be a Human Resource Director. Either way she should be charged as well.
Anonymous
5 years ago
Then make sure the money is paid bad to the taxpayers of M.C.
What is the status on this Jodi is she single is she parent of a student. Boy she is one hot milf.
OMG ! She is married, mother of six children and grandmother. Her children are all grown, with two still in college. And, she is the Chief Financial Officer for Mason City Clinic….
She is too good looking to be a grandmother. She should be a movie star.
Make them all pay it back or take it out of their check…
What is so hard about filing for reimbursement of the monies – hell the US military is going after soldiers whom were overpaid combat pay while they were back in the United States – some only in the hundreds of dollars – Don’t tell the taxpayers of Mason City it is not worth the effort – If these people want to go to court – file addition charges of FRAUD/THEFT FROM YOUR EMPLOYER – Sometimes know as EMBEZZLEMENT ! from the MC taxpayers..
Excellent point.
Mrs. Jana Arndt was a vitial component to getting this whole investigation started. Mason City tax payers can’t thank her enough. Mrs. Arndt, I want you to know that the good people out there know the truth beyond Micich cronies writing such hog wash regarding you.
I’m told more than one school board member who went after these “alleged” thieves have been threatened with physical harm. Scary how vicious some of the fats birds at the top in MC will try to crush anyone who messes with their taxpayer-supported fiefdoms. MC needs state intervention immediately in courthouse, city hall, Federal Avenue and Penn Ave to restore integrity and lawful behavior. Put Tom Miller in charge.
I agree. A few school board members stood up to Anita (“Dr. Micich” as I was scolded once by that crooked mummy Jeffries). Tip your hats to these volunteers who took punishment to keep these “alleged” white-collar crooks sort of at bay.
The board prez is Hot.
Schoolboard members recieve no pay. It is elected position with no compensation.
I know who most of these are—who is Sue Deike and what was her job?
She Deike is the Superintendent’s administrative secretary. She also takes all notes/dictation for the Mason City Board of Education.
* I believe she’s also in charge of the school districts personnel files.
So basically, “Yeah we stole your money before, but we won’t do it again. We promise!”
LOL
Jodi Draper, you did it! Had it not been for your dedication to the truth, your enthusiasm and insight, this raid on the public treasury would never have come to light. First, they ignore you. Then former Superintendents Anita Micich laughed and fight against you. Now you win. I knew you could do it. Congratulations for your brilliant victory. You are a great role model. Let’s hope those ill-gotten public funds can be recovered.
Jodi is one of a very few totally honest people that I know.
…there they go again, using those 2 phrases…”due diligence & transparency”…people in “power” use those words like “putty” and in the end all you have is another “lump” of clay!
The cost to prosecute these individuals (with no guarantee the courts will agree with the board) would probably be very expensive. If the courts didn’t agree with the board, the cost would be totally on the taxpayer.
Disagree. That state report is very telling and would be a great legal document for any judge. Mason City has an attorney already on retainer.
A retainer is an estimate on how much time the attorney thinks he will spend working for a client. If the retainer is used up, then the attorney will charge for the time. If one has an attorney on retainer for $5000, and he has to go to court multiple times, the $5000 will most likely not be enough to cover all the costs. So, if the board files against all of the accused, then the amount of work needed will exceed the retainer costs.
I am familiar with retainers. And, to simply walk away the school district and tax payers are out 2.2million dollars. What number does it have to be to justify the school’s attorney to do his/her due diligence? Why are these people still employed with the school district after allegedly committing ethics violations? Why?
Improper payments and illegal payments are two different things.
Because every accused has a right to their day in court and too answer to the charges. Being “accused” isn’t the same as “convicted”.
Henceforth, legal action to recover the money. The auditor is/has carefully worded the report as to not to draw conclusions because that is for a judge/jury to decide. Any professional would do such. But for the Mason City’s School Distriict Attorney to do nothing is ridiculous! Another thing about retainers fees is that funds unused is kept by the attorney. If he/she is refusing to do work on these cases they need to find a new one.
Fraud charges are in the paper left and right of people taking less funds in businesses and they don’t just say oh well. It could be risky. Think of the message you are sending to the good people of Mason City by doing nothing? And, with smearing Ms. Anderson’s name
because she filed a grievance seeking her to return funds while giving others a pass not to mention continue gainful employment wth the school district is a clear case of retaliation. So wrong on so many levels.
Parents of students can submit to the Iowa Board of Education an “ethic(s)” complaint(s) regarding people who converted funds for their own use.
http://www.boee.iowa.gov/complaint.html
Example: Anita Marie Micich,
Folder Number: 13722
You can search for any administrators license. As individuals, you can file complaints regardless of what the Mason City Board of Education does.
Knowledge is Power.
Not one word regarding holding these individuals accountable. Repayments none noted, complaints against their licensures none, noted, legal actions none noted. Going after IPERS none noted. Everything has been fixed. I can’t help but wonder if indeed the “fix” is in.
The board turned them in… #noted. The board cant make arrests or press charges if the legal system does not state they belive there was a crime # noted. The board made sure every adminisrator who had their hand in the money is no longer working in our school. #notethat
*Correction NOTE THIS:
Letting someone go by buying out their contract and giving them full retirement benefits such as Anita Micich, Hal Minear, Ramona Jeffrey is definitely NO kind of disciplinary action. LOOK at the list, wrong is wrong these people knew they got a bonus. Why are they still employed and not having to pay anything back as the Board of Education expected Ms. Jodie Anderson (Whistle Blower) to do?
Improper Salary and Benefits for Mason City Schools employees over $10,000
Field 1 Field 9
Employee Total Improper Salary and Benefits
Anita Micich 473,978.74
Thomas Jumper 150,185.41
Ramona Jeffrey 127,341.80
Randy Meyer 117,290.12
Hal Minear 116,188.92
Susan Deike 113,010.52
Jennifer Wilmarth 78,077.33
John Berg 72,218.65
Jerry Siglin 68,816.21
Thomas Novotney 62,859.49
Barbara Wells 54,866.70
Julie Bigler 50,007.40
Don Teeter 47,941.45
Richard Huff 42,038.40
Mike Penca 38,769.70
Brooke Brunsvold 33,122.85
Jeff Poppe 32,938.19
Lisa Christianson 26,880.32
Debra Wilson 24,223.94
Shelly Nelson 23,323.94
Kris Murphy 20,286.71
Kristi Penner 18,045.57
Dave Ciccetti 17,593.64
Kara Hutchison 13,101.25
Teresa Schlichting 12,355.40
Jodie Anderson 11,083.07
Doug Abbas 10,508.50
jodie anderson is no whistle blower she got over paid as an Human Resource Director and is now trying to get more money. I think this board did their job by The board does not get paid they take this job for free and work to make sure all is good this board found it was not and went to work they did what you asked and now they did not do it well enough? really? my guess is they worked to get the audit they will work to get charges just because they aren’t saying it does not mean it is not happening. Do you want one of these asshats to get a lawsuit for slander against the district and collect more money? think before you type you might not have all the answers. Until their is an agency that charges someone their is no law broken just mis use… so common sense would by any rational thought would be they are waiting for some agency to press charges so go to your elected county attorney and demand it.
Agreed in part, we do need to call on our local county attorney and the board has to watch what they disclose. However, this wasn’t the case with Ms. Anderson. The board is free to smear someone who has filed a grievance but sweep under the rug and, I might add, huge amounts of money because they are a bunch of ass kissers? I believe that is called retaliation. While I am very glad Ms. Jodi Draper is now on the board of education the actions of many of the other board members simply rubber stamping whatever Micich wanted and if Jeffrey’s said cuts need to be made, it was the gospel. All while the Mason City School Board members gave themselves pats on the backs and enjoyed the “special perks” of being board members. To the past and some of the present board members during Michich reign of power (I wonder how you guys can sleep at night and you know who you are. It’s okay to throw someone else’s children under the bus as long as your child(ren) benefited.) Meanwhile, layoffs were occurring and less fortunate Special Needs Students did without the needed supports while these jokers listed as being overpaid lined their own pockets and looked the other way. But hey let’s keep them on the payroll because they don’t rock the boat. Do you NOT get that many lives were impacted and destroyed. Some youngsters dropped out of school because of the actions of Superintendent Micich having free reign.
I have no idea if Ms, Anderson grievance has merit but it sure does look like she has a very good retaliation case.
Just to clarify..Ms.Jodie Anderson was not a Board Member. She worked in the Financial dept..
Jodie Anderson was the Human Resource Director, who is listed in the audit as she received wages that were above what the board approved or that the board never approved. If you go back to board minutes which are published she offered her resignation, she then wanted to contract with the school as she opened her own business until they hired a new Human Resource director, then apparently her business failed and she is looking to cash in again as she is suing the district. Why? because she is greedy and the money train stopped she is looking to cash in on the taxpayer once again. I hope she is charged with a felony charge right along with Anita, Mike, Ramona and John. I have sent numerous emails to the county attorney stating I want the charges filed my tax dollars were stolen. She was to be the expert for the school, instead she helped herself to the money she knew better and was part of the whole scam or she is not qualified to be a Human Resource Director. Either way she should be charged as well.
Then make sure the money is paid bad to the taxpayers of M.C.