Mike Fasano Calls for Removal of USF Poly Chancellor

Submitted by Anonymous on April 26, 2012 - 3:37pm

Florida Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, is calling for Marshall Goodman to be permanently removed as University of South Florida Polytechnics regional chancellor.

The call by Fasano, who has opposed the school becoming an independent state university, comes after an internal investigation found problems involving leases, purchases and financial statements at the school in Lakeland, according to the Lakeland Ledger.

Goodman, with a $262,432 a year salary, has been on paid leave from his post since December amid reports of questionable spending, including the purchase of life-sized characters from Star Wars and ET.

It is time for the University of South Florida to make a clean break from former chancellor Goodman, Sen. Fasano stated in a release.

The fact that he is lurking in the shadows, all while the Legislature and the governor have approved the creation of Florida Polytechnic, is troubling. Goodman, who is earning $200,000 while on leave, and doing nothing to earn that money, continues to be a drag on the school. Unless the Board of Governors makes a clean sweep and permanently cuts ties with this individual, the reputation of the University of South Florida will suffer, and Florida Polytechnic will forever have a pall cast over it.

The investigative report that has come back has detailed the misuse of dollars that may go beyond the university, Sen. Fasano continued. It is quite possible that law enforcement may have to become involved to further investigate the mismanagement of these public dollars. It is my concern that if he is involved with the new school in any way the trouble that befell USF Polytechnic may be replicated at the new school.

Goodman was removed in December by USF president Judy Genshaft. The two had butted heads over the campus becoming independent. Goodman favored independence.

On April 20, Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill to make the branch campus in Lakeland the states 12th university, Florida Polytechnic University, effective July 1.

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