Okaloosa County School Board — Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing, March 1, 2016

Tuesday, March 1, 2016 Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal 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 : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Procedural 1. Opening of Meeting Subject : 1.2 Hearing Procedures Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Procedural 2. Case No. 2016-01 Laura Cruse vs. The School Board of Okaloosa County Subject : 2.1 Swearing-in of Presenters and Witnesses Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Procedural 2. Case No. 2016-01 Laura Cruse vs. The School Board of Okaloosa County Subject : 2.2 Submission of Exhibits Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Information Public Content Submission of District Composite Exhibit 2. Case No. 2016-01 Laura Cruse vs. The School Board of Okaloosa County Subject : 2.3 Presentation of the Superintendent's recommendation for reassignment of position Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Information 2. Case No. 2016-01 Laura Cruse vs. The School Board of Okaloosa County Subject : 2.4 Presentation of employee's response to the recommendation Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Information 2. Case No. 2016-01 Laura Cruse vs. The School Board of Okaloosa County Subject : 2.5 Board Action Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Action Motion & Voting Motion that based on the evidence presented and the testimony provided by witnesses, the School Board determines the finding of facts to be: that the Petitioner was a school bus driver for Okaloosa County School District on September 9, 2015, and as a school bus driver she was subject to the policies of the School District, Florida law, and the Master Contract between the School Board of Okaloosa County and Okaloosa County Educational Support Professional Association; that the Petitioner did release students from her assigned school bus and left those students unsupervised at a designated bus stop; that school district property was used to drive to the employee’s personal residence and not to transport students to school; and that the Petitioner has stated that she would respond in the same manner if presented with a similar situation. Motion by Dewey Destin, second by Melissa Thrush. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Dewey Destin, Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Rodney Walker, Lamar White Motion that based upon the terms of the Master Contract between the School Board of Okaloosa County and Okaloosa County Educational Support Professional Association, School Board Policy, and Florida law, the School Board determines that the conduct of the Petitioner is inconsistent with her duties and obligations as a school bus driver. Motion by Melissa Thrush, second by Lamar White. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Dewey Destin, Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Lamar White No: Rodney Walker Motion to uphold the reassignment of the Petitioner’s duties to school bus assistant as recommended by the Superintendent. Motion by Melissa Thrush, second by Lamar White. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yes: Dewey Destin, Cathy Thigpen, Melissa Thrush, Lamar White No: Rodney Walker 3. Adjournment Subject : 3.1 Adjournment of the meeting by the Chairman Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal Hearing Type : Procedural 4. Public Notices Subject : 4.1 Public Notice Meeting : Mar 1, 2016 - Special Meeting - Employee Disciplinary Appeal 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 03-01-2016 Employee Appeals Hearing Notice.pdf (8 KB)