Complaint: Gwinnett teachers group wasted money

Allegations of financial mismanagement have been made against leaders of the Gwinnett County Association of Educators by teachers who charge that the group wasted money on a Chateau Elan trip and paid thousands of dollars to a volunteer for performing extra duties.

The teachers have asked the Georgia Association of Educators, which has about 42,000 members, and their local chapter to investigate. GCAE, which represents 1,700 members, provides a support network for educators. It pays for lobbyists to voice its views on state education issues and covers legal fees for those facing disciplinary action or termination.

Gwinnett chapter president Donna Aker denies any wrongdoing and said a grievance committee will be appointed at the group's meeting Tuesday night at Golden Corral in Duluth to look into complaints of waste. The results of a three-year financial audit, which the state group recommended, also will be shared.

“We are using our funds in the best way we can,” said Aker, co-president since 2009 who became the group's sole president in June. “We work very hard for our members.”

But some members say the organization, which raised about $117,500 in 2008, is spending so much that its financial stability is at risk. A handful of teachers came together to file a complaint in June. None of their accusations has resulted in criminal charges.

Ron Tomblin, who served as co-president with Aker and is among those complaining of waste, said dues of $41 per month taken from teachers’ paychecks are being spent on excessive dinner meetings and items not always approved by the board. While Gwinnett County teachers faced furlough days, Tomblin said, Aker and newly elected officers traveled to Chateau Elan overnight, spending $1,500 on meeting and hotel rooms. He said the retreat was not board-approved.

"They take trips that are on the membership's dime, and they like to eat at nice restaurants," Tomblin said.

Aker said the overnight retreat in June was budgeted and cheaper than last year's planning session held during a national convention in Tampa. Chateau Elan was chosen because other hotels were booked, she said. “We spent Friday night and all day Saturday planning for the upcoming year. We isolated ourselves so we could get something done."

By contrast, Cobb County Association of Educators President Connie Jackson said its planning retreat and governing board meetings are held in office space the group leases. Members bring in potluck meals. General membership meetings, which offer cookies, are held at a community center the group rents for $100.

State President Calvine Rollins refused to comment to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Aker said those making the complaints are disgruntled. Tomblin was not re-elected to office in June.

Tomblin said he just wants to be sure that money is available when teachers need it for legal fees. He said while in office, he found that the organization was spending thousands of dollars on a contract that he feared could cause the GCAE to lose its tax-exempt status. Internal Revenue Service guidelines say public charities can't financially benefit "insiders" such as officers substantially.

As GCAE treasurer, Richard Wetzel, who quit last September, had a recurring contract to perform administrative duties that paid his company between $10,000 and $15,000 annually.

"It was in the budget every fall since at least 12 years," said Susan Dietz, past president of GCAE. "We hired him to take care of duties we as co-presidents could not do because we worked full time and had meetings ... Richard did everything above board. He formed the corporation properly."

Tomblin said Wetzel wrote some checks to himself, which is a conflict of interest. “I told him his services were no longer needed."

Aker said she was concerned about the cost and the need for the services.

Mike McGonigle, GAE's legal services director, said the state group has a conflict of interest policy for its board that prohibits "personal benefit." Local branches can develop their own rules, he said.