FSDB president to retire
Elmer Dillingham to step down in January
By PETER GUINTA | More by this reporter | peter.guinta@staugustinerecord.com | Posted: Thursday, August 16, 2007 ; Updated: 8:31 AM on Thursday, August 16, 2007
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Elmer Dillingham, president of Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, told the school's Board of Trustees on Wednesday that he will retire in January.
Dillingham, who turns 63 in December, still has 10 months to run on his contract.
"I want to take it easy and enjoy life," he said. "I've been doing this for 40 years, so I'll have to de-program myself."
He did not explain why he was leaving early, but did say that his birthday was "a significant time in making decisions."
He plans to play a little golf, do some reading and remain in St. Augustine.
Mary Jane Dillon, chairwoman of the trustees, said Dillingham spoke to her about his decision last week, but the other trustees would be getting letters of notification on Wednesday.
"I received the news with regret," Dillon said. "Elmer is a dedicated professional. If there was one hallmark of his administration, it was that he had a clear focus on priorities. Those priorities are simple: 'The kids come first.' He had (the board's) full endorsement on that."
The North San Marco Avenue school has grown under Dillingham's direction to 800 deaf, blind and special needs students. The school's reputation for quality is national, not just statewide, Dillon said.
Two hundred students live off-campus at home. "Many of those families picked up their lives and moved here because of the school's excellent reputation," she said.
Dillingham is admired by his administrative staff, but state auditors believe he's made missteps during his tenure.
For example, in 2001 the school paid premium prices for houses along Alfred and Genoply streets to expand the campus south into the historic Nelmar Terrace neighborhood. Some homes were moved and preserved, but most were demolished.
But only a third of the property the school bought can be used. City zoning laws classify the rest as residential housing. It has remained fenced but unusable for six years.
State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, said late Wednesday that buying those properties was a good decision, because it rid the area of the seedy Aurora Motel and a run-down carpet store. It also provided dormitory space for older students who legally could not be housed in dormitories with younger students.
"I will take on any body, any place, any time on these issues," Proctor said. "We had to go for a second (state) appropriation because any time we bought a house, the price went up on the next one. The school cannot use eminent domain."
He said if the school ever needs the unused property, it can ask the city for a zoning change.
The state Auditor General reported that 2002 to 2006 there was mismanagement of millions of dollars, poor accounting practices and undocumented expenses. The auditors said Dillingham gave them evasive answers.
His administration was also cited in 2006 for hiring a Tallahassee lobbyist for $80,000 whose work could not be documented, and it was further marred by a controversy over why the school's police force allowed convicted felons onto the campus to perform work, against state law.
Proctor said the audits and the news stories about them were "way overblown.
"There's never been accusations of fraud or misappropriation of any type in any audit," Proctor said.
Proctor, who served on FSDB's board of trustees for 18 years, 12 as chairman, called the audits inaccurate.
"Elmer has done a super job," Proctor said. "There's something about that school, in my mind, that attracts good people."
Dillingham began his career at the deaf and blind school in Morganton, N.C., working his way from teacher to superintendent. He stayed 25 years. He also worked as a teacher and coach in another deaf and blind school in western North Carolina.
In St. Augustine, he served as principal at FSDB's Department of the Deaf for three years, then was appointed president July 1, 1997.
"It's gone by fast," he said.
Dillingham wanted to stay until January because he wanted to get the new school year off to a smooth start.
"We have a lot of things going on," he said. "This will give everybody time to adjust to change."
He said St. Augustine is fortunate to have a school like FSDB in town.
"The people of St. Augustine have always been very supportive," he said.
Dillon said FSDB's staff is strong and highly dedicated.
"Their quality is beyond compare," she said. "Mr. Dillingham has been an exemplary leader."
TEXT:Elmer Dillingham, president of Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind, told the school's Board of Trustees on Wednesday that he will retire in January.
Dillingham, who turns 63 in December, still has 10 months to run on his contract.
"I want to take it easy and enjoy life," he said. "I've been doing this for 40 years, so I'll have to de-program myself."
He did not explain why he was leaving early, but did say that his birthday was "a significant time in making decisions."
He plans to play a little golf, do some reading and remain in St. Augustine.
Mary Jane Dillon, chairwoman of the trustees, said Dillingham spoke to her about his decision last week, but the other trustees would be getting letters of notification on Wednesday.
"I received the news with regret," Dillon said. "Elmer is a dedicated professional. If there was one hallmark of his administration, it was that he had a clear focus on priorities. Those priorities are simple: 'The kids come first.' He had (the board's) full endorsement on that."
The North San Marco Avenue school has grown under Dillingham's direction to 800 deaf, blind and special needs students. The school's reputation for quality is national, not just statewide, Dillon said.
Two hundred students live off-campus at home. "Many of those families picked up their lives and moved here because of the school's excellent reputation," she said.
Dillingham is admired by his administrative staff, but state auditors believe he's made missteps during his tenure.
For example, in 2001 the school paid premium prices for houses along Alfred and Genoply streets to expand the campus south into the historic Nelmar Terrace neighborhood. Some homes were moved and preserved, but most were demolished.
But only a third of the property the school bought can be used. City zoning laws classify the rest as residential housing. It has remained fenced but unusable for six years.
State Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine, said late Wednesday that buying those properties was a good decision, because it rid the area of the seedy Aurora Motel and a run-down carpet store. It also provided dormitory space for older students who legally could not be housed in dormitories with younger students.
"I will take on any body, any place, any time on these issues," Proctor said. "We had to go for a second (state) appropriation because any time we bought a house, the price went up on the next one. The school cannot use eminent domain."
He said if the school ever needs the unused property, it can ask the city for a zoning change.
The state Auditor General reported that 2002 to 2006 there was mismanagement of millions of dollars, poor accounting practices and undocumented expenses. The auditors said Dillingham gave them evasive answers.
His administration was also cited in 2006 for hiring a Tallahassee lobbyist for $80,000 whose work could not be documented, and it was further marred by a controversy over why the school's police force allowed convicted felons onto the campus to perform work, against state law.
Proctor said the audits and the news stories about them were "way overblown.
"There's never been accusations of fraud or misappropriation of any type in any audit," Proctor said.
Proctor, who served on FSDB's board of trustees for 18 years, 12 as chairman, called the audits inaccurate.
"Elmer has done a super job," Proctor said. "There's something about that school, in my mind, that attracts good people."
Dillingham began his career at the deaf and blind school in Morganton, N.C., working his way from teacher to superintendent. He stayed 25 years. He also worked as a teacher and coach in another deaf and blind school in western North Carolina.
In St. Augustine, he served as principal at FSDB's Department of the Deaf for three years, then was appointed president July 1, 1997.
"It's gone by fast," he said.
Dillingham wanted to stay until January because he wanted to get the new school year off to a smooth start.
"We have a lot of things going on," he said. "This will give everybody time to adjust to change."
He said St. Augustine is fortunate to have a school like FSDB in town.
"The people of St. Augustine have always been very supportive," he said.
Dillon said FSDB's staff is strong and highly dedicated.
"Their quality is beyond compare," she said. "Mr. Dillingham has been an exemplary leader."
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