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BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD vs DONNA HOBBS, 10-000238TTS (2010)

Court: Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 10-000238TTS Visitors: 18
Petitioner: BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Respondent: DONNA HOBBS
Judges: JOHN G. VAN LANINGHAM
Agency: County School Boards
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Jan. 14, 2010
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Wednesday, May 5, 2010.

Latest Update: Dec. 23, 2024
Jan 14 2010 12:42 2010-01-14 12:41 >> 8509216847 =P 7/14 BEFORE THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA JAMES F. NOTTER, Superintendent, Petitioner, vas. DONNA HOBBS, Respondent. / ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT COMES NOW, the Petitioner, THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA, through its Superintendent, JAMES F. NOTTER, and files this Administrative Complaint-and states the following: I. JURISDICTIONAL BASIS 1. The Agency is The School Board of Broward County, Florida located at 600 Southeast Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida 33301. 2, Thename of the Petitioner is James F. Notter, who is the Superintendent of Schools of Broward County, Florida. His address is 600 Southeast Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida 33301. 3. The Petitioner is statutorily obligated to recommend the placement of School Board personnel, and require compliance and observance by all-personnel with all laws, ] Jan 14 2010 12:42 2010-01-14 12:41 >> 8509216847 =P 8/14 tules and regulations. See§1012.27, Fla. Stat. 4. The employee against whom termination is recommended, Respondent, Donna Hobbs, has been employed by The School Board of Broward County, Florida, since July 1, 1995 and is currently employed as.a teacher, The last known address, of the Respondent, is 4501 NW 23 Court, Lauderhill, Florida 33313. 5. The legal basis for Ms. Hobbs’ termination is misconduct in office that has been deémed so serious as to impair her effectiveness within the school system, incompetence (inefficiency) and insubordination. See §1012.33(1)(a), (4)(c), (6)(b), Fla. Stat. See aiso Fla. Admin. Code r. 6B-1.001, 6B-1.006, 6B-4.009. I. ADMINISTRATIVE CHARGES The Petitioner, James T. Notter, alleges as follows: 6. This recommendation for termination from employment is based on long- standing problems with Ms. Hobbs and her conduct in and outside of the classroom. 7. ‘In 2003, Ms. Hobbs was under investigation by the School Board’s Professional Standards & Special Investigative Unit following a self-reported incident of an assault and battery involving Ms. Hobbs grabbing a student and striking him in the face. 8. Ms. Hobbs entered into a Disciplinary. Action Agreement and General Release, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit A. Jan 14 2010 12:43 2010-01-14 12:42 >> 8509216847 =P 9/14 9. Pursuant to the terms of the Disciplinary Action Agreement, Ms. Hobbs agreed to: a. a ten (10) day suspension (from October 22 through November 4, 2003); and b. Suiccessfil completion of an anger management class through the Employee Assistance Program (EAP}. 10. ‘The Disciplinary Action Agreement was also specifically determined to be a “Last Chance” agreement, and Ms. Hobbs specifically agreed that “any further disciplinary proceedings can and will result [in] termination.” 11. In October of 2009, Ms. Hobbs engaged in the following actions: a Unprofessional conduct toward students and teachers; b. Unprofessional and inappropriate e-mail correspondence; c. Grabbing a student by the ear arid physically removing him froma seat; d. —_ Refusing to comply with requests to meet with the Math Coach; and e, Threatening another school employee. 12. Based on the foregoing, the Petitioner hereby recommends that Ms. Hobbs be terminated from her.employment with The School Board of Broward County, Florida. 13. Ms. Hobbs’ recent behavior violates the terms of the Disciplinary Action Agreement. 14. Further, Ms. Hobbs’ recent behavior warrants termination from her Jan 14 2010 12:43 2010-01-14 12:42 >> 8509216847 =P 10/14 employment with The School Board of Broward County, Florida, pursuant to the Florida Statutes and Administrative Code regulations set forth above. 15, Asstated above, the legal basis for Ms. Hobbs’ termination is misconductin office; incompetence and insubordination. 16, In accordance with Florida law and the applicable Collective ‘Bargaining Agreement, this recommendation for termination must be reviewed, and approved by The School Board of Broward County, Florida. See-§1012.33(6)(b), Fla. Stat. 17. Likewise, The School Board of Broward County, Florida has authority to siispend Ms. Hobbs with,.or without, pay. Id, 18. If the ultimate decision is adverse to her, Ms. Hobbs may challenge the decision by seeking an administrative hearing pursuant to Chapter 120 of the Florida Statutes. wo re EXECUTED this g _ day of December, 2009. {f Superintendent of Schools

Docket for Case No: 10-000238TTS
Issue Date Proceedings
May 05, 2010 Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
May 05, 2010 Joint Motion to Stay Proceedings filed.
Apr. 06, 2010 Notice of Taking Deposition of Respondent (Donna Hobbs) filed.
Feb. 19, 2010 Order Denying Motion To Dismiss.
Feb. 01, 2010 Respondent's Motion to Dismiss filed.
Feb. 01, 2010 Respondent's First set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
Feb. 01, 2010 Notice of Service of Respondent's First set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
Feb. 01, 2010 Respondent's Request for Production filed.
Feb. 01, 2010 Notice of Service of Respondent's Request for Production filed.
Feb. 01, 2010 Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 13, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
Jan. 26, 2010 Motion to Reset Final Hearing filed.
Jan. 26, 2010 Notice of Unavailability filed.
Jan. 21, 2010 Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
Jan. 21, 2010 Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 22, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
Jan. 21, 2010 Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
Jan. 20, 2010 Response to Initial Order filed.
Jan. 19, 2010 Notice of Appearance (filed by S. Rossi ).
Jan. 14, 2010 Agency action letter filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Disciplinary Action Agreeement and General Release between the School Board of Broward County, Florida and Donna Hobbs filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Administrative Complaint filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Petition for Formal Proceedings filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Agency referral filed.
Jan. 14, 2010 Initial Order.
Source:  Florida - Division of Administrative Hearings

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