Another response to Damon's long, long, long, long letter

From Barb Garwood, Sept. 7, 2006

Subject: STRS Expenditures

Good morning Dr. Asbury, I have read your long message explaining budgeting procedures, controls, and authorizations of funds for hiring real estate investment staff and paying legal fees for STRS employees. Your message was long, detailed, informative but still a rationalization for what you, the Executive Director, decide to do.

As I indicated in a previous message to you, merely stating that the HR Dept. was disappointed in the quality of applicants for the real estate positions is not a sufficient reason to spend $315,000 on head hunters. The HR Dept could have tried a second round in the search using creative approaches.

One disappointing response does not a $315,000 contract make! Your message explained that legal fees would be authorized for staff who spend money in a case involving their work as STRS Board members were charged with ethical violations. Why did the staff members disregard the excellent staff at STRS? Why was the legal staff not available to the STRS staff members?

Even though the bill is only $1,400 for legal fees, it is inappropriate for STRS to pay any amount. This is also a dangerous precedent. No legal fees should ever be paid by STRS for staff under any circumstance.

As a reminder, I am still waiting to receive the spread sheet listing the HR employees, their titles, and their annual salaries that you promised to send to me. Thank you for your consideration of this email.

Barbara Garwood, Ph.D.