Forty Applicants but "Roy" hires "Local Gal"

George Wallace created the Alabama Junior College system so close where you can still essentially throw a rock anywhere in Alabama and hit a JuCo. Great political network all across the state that could be rolled into action rather easily. And who knows politics better than Roy Johnson and Susan Whaley Salatto.

Brett Pritchard of The Randolph Leader reports "Salatto named president of Southern Union". The report includes,

Susan Salatto has been named president of Southern Union State Community College.

The Alabama Board of Education unanimously approved Salatto as president of SUSCC in a meeting on Thursday, April 27, after an intensive search process that drew 40 applicants from across the country. Roy Johnson, chancellor of Alabama's two-year college system, recommended Salatto for the position."

Susan Salatto has the experience, she has the skills and she has the vision to grow Southern Union," Johnson said. He said Central Alabama Community College had prospered under Salatto's leadership and he expected the same at Southern Union.

"Susan has had a long history with the two-year college system," said Rep. Betty Carol Graham, D-Alexander City, vice-president for CACC. "She's been in the college system for 30 years and has worked in every area. It's been a natural progression to the presidency for her."

Chancellor Johnson has been in the news recently with two of his children being given rather sweet jobs with the State Fire College. Another B'ham News report by Brett Blackledge indicates,

"Langston gave Johnson's two adult children jobs at the fire college. He hired Johnson's daughter on a $21,424-a-year contract to work from her Opelika home, more than 175 miles from the Tuscaloosa campus. The job, which she still holds, also provides her benefits from the teachers retirement system and the state's health insurance program, records show."

Plus Johnson had a close friend given a consulting contract to boot. Interesting "mistake" with that $300,000.00 made by Johnson's "staff". Roy Johnson certainly knows Alabama politics with his rapid rise to the top of the two year food chain.

That Mr. Johnson, holding I think a Master's Degree, selects Ms. Salatto, likewise papered, over forty candidates with likely much higher levels of education might be a question I'd like answered. That Dr. Joanne Jordan will hold another position seems likewise interesting. While I know degrees don't always indicate capacity and leadership I do think they are highly relevant and would require substantial reasons before being dismissed as indicative of potential performance.

I've spent time around both Mr. Johnson and Ms. Salatto so I am hardly thrilled with either being in such high leadership positions. I imagine the pay 'aint bad and the benefits will be even better. George would be proud that his political machine lives on yet I'm more interested in our two year colleges being education machines. Peace ... or War!

Chancellor Roy Johnson and "Family Values"

I've previously posted on Roy Johnson hiring Susan Salatto as the new President of Southern Union as perhaps showing his political nature rather than a desire to have the best person in place. I wonder if this most recent reporting indicates Mr. Johnson's desire to have "his kind of people" in place in these JuCos? Brett Blackledge of The B'ham News has been a bulldog on this issue with today's reporting indicating " In-law of official paid by 3 colleges". The article is very damning I think yet I'll just give you portions.

Three of the state's community colleges each gave $2,000-a-month contracts to the son-in-law of system Chancellor Roy Johnson, state records show.

Gregory Morgan, an Opelika lawyer married to Johnson's daughter, received a total of $6,000 a month under contracts for legal services with the colleges - Snead State Community College in Boaz, Central Alabama Community College in Alexander City and Southern Union Community College in Opelika, system finance records show.

State records show Morgan has received more than $144,000 from the colleges since 2003. Most of those fees were not reported by system officials when a 2005 report was produced showing legal fees paid by the state's community colleges, records show. ...

Morgan is married to Johnson's daughter, Malinda, who works in Morgan's Opelika law office. A woman who answered the phone at the law office Tuesday said Malinda Morgan was working but she was not able to come to the phone.

Malinda Morgan is paid more than $21,000 a year as a curriculum specialist by the Alabama Fire College in Tuscaloosa under a contract that also provides her state health insurance and retirement benefits. ...

Central Alabama Community College listed Morgan's Opelika law practice, Morgan Associates, as one of its contract lawyers in fiscal 2004 and 2005. The college reported paying Morgan $24,000 from October 2003 to September 2004 and another $24,000 from October 2004 to September 2005.

Central Alabama reported the payments in a systemwide survey of legal fees produced last year by the postsecondary department. But Snead State did not report its payments to Morgan in the survey that was submitted to State Board of Education members.

Southern Union reported paying Morgan only $87.94 in the systemwide survey. Finance records show the college, which Johnson led as president before becoming chancellor in 2002, began paying Morgan $2,000 a month in January 2004 and continued until at least September.

Efforts failed Tuesday to reach Southern Union officials.

Johnson said Tuesday he does not require his college presidents to report their legal contracts to him. He said he also doesn't discuss his son-in-law's law practice with him.

"And I do not arrange contracts for him, if that's what you're asking," Johnson said. "The fact that he's related to me shouldn't prevent him from earning a living."

"Earning a living" indeed! "Where's there's smoke there's fire." is often true and this one is boiling smoke. While I know playing lawyer is hardly all profit this arrangement hardly seems like much more than a way to feather the nest. With benefits and the like this couple has made way more than the average teacher has made in the same period. Peace ... or War!

Roy Johnson Tribe Books Half Million per Year!

Brett J. Blackledge of The Birmingham News continues his fine reporting on Alabama community college system Chancellor Roy Johnson with today's "College chief's family makes $560,000 in 2-year system". Where's there's smoke there's fire? At a minimum this reeks of the appearance of impropriety. Peace ... or War!

Bama JuCo's Roy Johnson getting lots of press!

The Birmingham New gives us "A good year for the Johnsons : Records show the wife of Alabama Postsecondary Chancellor Roy Johnsons received a 22 percent pay raise last year, part of it approved by Johnson's office." The Montgomery Advertiser serves up "State's colleges lack oversight" Yesterday's Birmingham News opines on how the State school board lives in "Glass Houses". I've already told locals my thoughts on Southern Union's new leader. Peace ... or War!