By Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer
Friday, December 17, 2010
TAMPA — Two Hillsborough County Head Start supervisors are facing possible termination after being accused of purchasing books written by one of their spouses.
Hillsborough officials say Michael Jimenez approved spending $9,000 in federal grant money to buy his wife's book promoting healthy practices to pre-kindergartners.
And they say purchase of the book was initiated by Marie Mason — who along with Jimenez is a deputy director of the agency — even though she knew of the marital relationship.
Hillsborough County officials announced Friday that they have placed the employees, both deputies directors of the agency, on immediate unpaid leave and will seek to fire them during a preliminary hearing Dec. 30.
"Head Start is an important service," said Dave Rogoff, the county's director of family and aging services. "We really need to be sure it's being done right ...