But two-year system officials still need to get to the bottom of the Best Grill debacle. Dr. Kennedy, who retired Tuesday but maintains an office at Bishop State and the title of president emeritus, should be able to shed some light on the problems in the culinary arts program. She didn't run the program, but she was in charge of the college while the Best Grill was amassing hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual losses.
Kennedy has said a $94,000 legislative grant she directed to the Bishop State foundation went to the Best Grill.
Mobile County District Attorney John Tyson Jr. said in June he's investigating how the money was used.
The prosecutor hasn't presented any evidence that a crime was committed by Kennedy or anyone connected to the Best Grill. But the taxpayers need to know specifically what happened to the grant money and to the $1.7 million the restaurant lost during its relatively brief existence.
State officials examined the Best Grill's money-losing operations and concluded that it was "inconceivable that the cost of food items in a restaurant would be more than its sales revenue." Someone needs to explain why the "inconceivable" happened at Bishop State.
- Associated Press
© Copyright 2005 by DiverseEducation.com
