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Retired Principal Investigated

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By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 6, 2007

TAMPA - Webb Middle School Principal Carmen Aguero was under investigation for missing school money when she retired this fall, citing health reasons, according to school district records.

Carmen Aguero (2001)

Aguero, 55, retired in September, about a week after the Hillsborough County School District's office of professional standards started looking into allegations she had taken small amounts of money from the school.

No charges were filed, but the school district referred the case to the Hillsborough County State Attorney's Office and Florida Department of Education. The state attorney's office said the case was under review.

The education department said in a letter last month that it had assigned an investigator to the case. The department's Professional Practices Services bureau investigates whether certified teachers have broken the law or violated state policies, including the code of ethics.

Aguero said Monday there is no truth to the accusations.

"There's nothing to that," said Aguero, a 34-year district employee. "These allegations are false."

The school district's investigation said small amounts of money and other items had gone missing from Webb's main office during the past four years. In February, the school collected $247 in cash for the United Negro College Fund, according to the report, but district records showed only $25 in cash was donated to the fund.

The school's bookkeeper, Sara Harman, told investigators she was going to deposit the cash and write a check to Aguero to make the donation. When she took the check to Aguero, the bookkeeper said, "Aguero slammed down a pen and said that she needed cash," according to the report. Harman voided the check, tore up the deposit slip and gave Aguero the deposit bag with $247 in cash and an $18 check.

The district found records that Webb had donated $118 to the United Negro College Fund last school year - $25 in cash, the $18 check and a personal check from Aguero for $75.

Aguero referred questions to her attorney, Dominic Baccarella, who had no comment on the specifics. Baccarella said Aguero, who has insulin-dependent diabetes, was having high blood pressure and health problems and decided two years ago she was going to retire.

If people are lying about Aguero, Baccarella said he would look into a defamation lawsuit. He suggested the allegations were in response to the improvements she brought to Webb, which received an A from the state during her time as principal.

"She was asked to take care of that school because it's a low-level school, and she brought it up to an A-level school real quick," Baccarella said. "She took on a school that needed help. When you turn it around, you step on toes."

Aguero was principal at Webb for six years, and her evaluations during that time show she met or exceeded expectations in almost every subject, according to her personnel file. Reviews mentioned the Town 'N Country school needed to improve its test scores and attendance rate but praised Aguero's outreach in the community.

She was an assistant principal at Wharton, Robinson and Hillsborough high schools before coming to Webb and taught physical education prior to that.

Linda Kipley, the district's general manager for professional standards, said the district did not ask Aguero to retire and would not pursue additional action.

Reporter Courtney Cairns Pastor can be reached at (813) 865-1503 or cpastor@tampatrib.com.

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