Okaloosa County School Board — Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing, February 26, 2015

Thursday, February 26, 2015 Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing School District Administration Building Fort Walton Beach, Florida 9:00 a.m. 1. Opening of Meeting Subject : 1.1 Call to Order by the Chairman Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Procedural 1. Opening of Meeting Subject : 1.2 Submission of Exhibits Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Procedural 1. Opening of Meeting Subject : 1.3 Hearing Procedures Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Procedural Public Content Jeff McInnis, Attorney to the Board, will outline the procedures of the hearing. 2. Employee Appeal of Disciplinary Action Subject : 2.1 Swearing-in of Presenters and Witnesses Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Procedural 2. Employee Appeal of Disciplinary Action Subject : 2.2 Presentation of the District's Case Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Information 2. Employee Appeal of Disciplinary Action Subject : 2.3 Presentation of the Employee's Response Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Information 2. Employee Appeal of Disciplinary Action Subject : 2.4 Board Action Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Action Motion & Voting Motion that based on the evidence presented and the testimony provided by eye witnesses that heard Mr. Anderson make disparaging remarks about the student; and the admission of Mr. Anderson that he made the disparaging remarks and apologized to the student for his behavior, the Board supports the Finding of the Confidential Investigative Summary that Mr. Anderson violated School Board Policy 9-11(B) and State Board of Education Rule 6B-1.006(3) by use of disparaging comments that publicly embarrassed a student. Motion by Dewey Destin, second by Lamar White. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Dewey Destin, Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Rodney Walker, Lamar White Motion that in review of the testimony provided by sworn witnesses and by the admission of Mr. Anderson that Mrs. Howard was in charge of the investigation of the three students, that at no time did Mrs. Howard ask for his assistance to meet with the students or their parents/ guardian; that at no time did he make an effort to inform Mrs. Howard of the second communication he had with Ms. deGraaf in the Transportation Department; that at no time did he inform the student or his guardian that he was not in charge of the investigation and that Mrs. Howard was in charge; that he conveyed to Ms. deGraaf during the second communication that the punishment had already been imposed; and that he knew of Andy Johnson’s directive to Mrs. Howard to suspend the students, the Board supports the Findings of the Confidential Investigative Summary that Mr. Anderson violated State Board of Education Rules 6B-1.001(2) & (3) and 6B-1.006(5) and School Board Policies 9-11(B) and 4-33(D) by interfering in Mrs. Howard’s investigation of the students and allowing one student to avoid punishment due to his unprofessional conduct. Motion by Melissa Thrush, second by Lamar White. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Rodney Walker, Lamar White No: Dewey Destin Motion that based on the Finding of Facts the Board upholds the Superintendent’s recommendation of two days suspension without pay of the employee and directs Mr. McInnis to prepare a draft Final Order consistent with the motions and actions taken during this hearing and the record of the proceedings. Motion by Rodney Walker, second by Dewey Destin. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Dewey Destin, Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Rodney Walker, Lamar White 3. Adjournment Subject : 3.1 Adjournment of the meeting by the Chairman Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Procedural 4. Public Notices Subject : 4.1 Public Notice Meeting : Feb 26, 2015 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Hearing Type : Information Public Content This meeting will be open to the press and the public. Any person who decides to appeal any decision made by the Okaloosa County School Board with respect to any matter considered at this meeting will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based. Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this meeting is asked to advise the School Board at least 48 hours before the meeting by contacting the Superintendent of Schools at the School District Administration Building at (850) 833-3110. File Attachments 2-26-2015 Employee Disciplinary Appeals Hearing.pdf (7 KB)