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
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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,
]
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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.
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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
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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.
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Jan. 20, 2010 |
Response to Initial Order filed.
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Jan. 19, 2010 |
Notice of Appearance (filed by S. Rossi ).
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Agency action letter filed.
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Disciplinary Action Agreeement and General Release between the School Board of Broward County, Florida and Donna Hobbs filed.
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Petition for Formal Proceedings filed.
|
Jan. 14, 2010 |
Agency referral filed.
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Jan. 14, 2010 |
Initial Order.
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