Trustees initially voted 5-7 against a motion to fire Mangum “with cause.” A second motion to terminate the president failed on a 6-6 tie vote.
In the “with cause” motion, student body President Tonnette Graham and trustees Torey Alston, Kimberly Moore, Belinda Reed Shannon, Cleve Warren, Nicole Washington and Karl White voted “no.” Board Vice Chairman Kelvin Lawson, who spearhead the termination effort, voted “yes” with Board Chairman Rufus Montgomery, Faculty Senate President Bettye Grable and trustees Spurgeon McWilliams and Robert Woody.
In the second motion, Alston changed his vote to “no” along with the five others, leading to a tie vote. That meant the motion failed.
Now, the board is discussing how to address financial irregularities that have come to light as a result of inquiries from state auditors.
Mangum’s tenure at FAMU began in April 2014. She has a three-year contract and is paid $425,000 a year.
Earlier in the meeting, Lawson said he was troubled by auditor reviews that unveiled improper payments for renovations to the president’s home on campus and a bonus for Provost Marcella David paid using public funds, a violation of state law. Mangum, in a letter to trustees last night, contents that the home renovations were begun before her tenure began and that the issue with the bonus has been corrected.
The meeting is being held via conference call. This article Originally appeared on Jacksonville.com
