[fcb-l] Fw: IG report and DBS management

[Easy Talk]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "bsc4" <bsc4 at cfl.rr.com>
To: <jplescow at psc.state.fl.us>; <ericamccaul at netscape.net>; 
<mccaulo at comcast.net>; <easytalk at earthlink.net>
Sent: Sunday, July 01, 2012 4:00 PM
Subject: IG report and DBS management


> Hello wonderful people!
>
> I am a DBS employee and I can tell you that many, many DBS employees would 
> be extremely grateful of your efforts if they knew what you are doing.  If 
> any of you know who Chip is, please pass this along to him.  Chip hit the 
> nail right on the head.  We need to go back to having DBS staff providing 
> more services in a standardized way.  I am pretty certain that most of the 
> CRP's depend heavily on DBS funding (much more than half of their 
> budgets).  This means duplication of office space and administrative 
> costs, with less money going to direct client services.  That being said, 
> there are some excellent private facilities around the state providing top 
> notch services.  the problem is that our director is closely tied with 
> many CRP's and she is ciphering big bucks to them.  For example, CRP's are 
> paid $56 for a 15 minute phone call to a client.  Also, the customer 
> service representatives in the DBS offices often do the work to help a 
> client get a job.  If the client has been on a CRP's list, for any reason, 
> the CRP is paid $6000 for the job placement, even if they did no work.
>
> If you read through the climate survey, you will know that many DBS staff 
> have tried to speak up about the poor quality of services provided by some 
> of the CRP's.  Those who have spoken out have been either fired or moved 
> into positions having nothing to do with serving clients.  Many have been 
> threaten with termination for questioning a CRP.  Those who haven't been 
> fired are often harassed or bullied.
>
> Please note that the report from the inspector general points out that 
> there was no good reason for terminating many of the people who were let 
> go.  Also, the contract audit states that DBS is too cozy with the 
> contractors.
>
> Another thing that needs to be pointed out is that most of the CRP's 
> belong to a group called FAASB (Fl Association of Agencies Serving the 
> BLIND).  FAASB has hired a lobbiest to take care of their needs.  So, DBS 
> pays money to the CRP's who then pay a lobbiest.  They say that they use 
> other funding for the FAASB membership and lobbiest, but you decide. 
> Shouldn't this money be used to serve clients? I also think that someone 
> should investigate how stimulus funds were used.
>
> There is so much more going on, but I don't want to make this too long. 
> Many current and former DBS staff have written the commissioner of 
> Education, but perhaps he thinks that the blind community is satisfied. 
> If you are not satisfied, please let him know.  You can email the 
> commissioner at commissioner at fldoe.org
>
> If our current leadership remains, the careers of many more good people 
> will be lost and more money will go to the CRPS for less service.
>
> Again, I and my colleagues thank each and every one of you for your 
> interest.
>