Petitioner: BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Respondent: TORRANCE SMITH
Judges: ROBERT E. MEALE
Agency: County School Boards
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Apr. 17, 2012
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Monday, June 18, 2012.
Latest Update: Nov. 17, 2024
THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
+ ROBERT W, RUNCIZ,
Superintendent of Schools,
Petitioner, PETITION FOR FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
vs
TORRANCE SMITH,
Respondent, ,
ARMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, Robert W. Runole, Superintendent of Schools, of Broward County, Florida,
through his undersigned counsel, Law Offices of Catmen Rodtiguez, P.A., files this
Administrative Complaint, pursuant to Chapters 120, 1001, and 1012 of the Florida Statates, as
well as Chapters 68-1 and 68-4 of the Florida Administrative Code, and Schoo! Board Policles
and states the following? ,
1 Durladictional Basle
a The agency is the School Board of Broward County, Florida, looated at
600 Southonst Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida 33301.
b. ‘The Petitioner is Robert W. Runole, who ia the Superintendent of Schools of
Broward County, Blorlda, ;
6. ‘The Petitioner is statutotlly obligated to recommend the placement of school
personnel and to require compliance and observance with all awa, utes, and regulations, Any
violation thereof shall be reported with the appropiate disolplinaty aotlon against any school
peraonnel falling to comply therewith, inotusive of the Respondent, Torrance Smith.
d Tho Respondent, Torrance Smith, is an emptoysa of the Sooo! Board of Broward -
County, Hiorlda and is cutvently employed as an clementary school teacher ut Latkdalo
Blementary School, .
Mi. Sppsific Chaxgex .
‘The Petitioner, Robart W, Runole, alleges as foltows:
a, Respondent Smith, a second grade elementary school teacher, engaged in misconduct
in the office by engaging in numerous aots of battery against several of his students,
b, Speolfivally, Smith, ducag a reading lesson stuck T.D, in the arm with his open
hand on February 17, 2011. 9H, another student in 'T.D,'s olass stated that she and T.D, were
struck on the arm by Smith duilng a xeading lesson as a form of reprimand for talking. :
0, Btudenta DJ.W,, C1, and C.D, wore afl hit hard in tho chest, D.J.W. stated that it
waa hard enough to hutt, CT, was alao kloked by Sinith, C.D. states that Smith hite students
with a ruler,
d. Students LP, MRL, RW, C.D, and CT, all asserted that students aro required to
stand by thels desk with both arms raised as a form of putttehiment when they misbehave. This
oan be for as long ag tet (10) minutes. ‘Thla is known as “superman or “oupergir).”
© Student JD.C, states that does not want to go to school because of what is happening
in Smith's olass, ,
’ & Sinith admitted that ho mokes students stand with their ame raged in the alt ag a
form of puntishmentdisolpline in his olasa,
IM. Supt Cause
Just cause exists for the requested sellef pursuant to §1012.33 Fla, Stat, the Respondent's
2
employment contract, School Board rules and regulations, the Code of Ethles of the Education
Professton, and the Employee Disolplinary Guldolincs promulgated by the School Board,
inoluding but not limited to the following: ,
a. Misconduct in office: The Respondent, through his above-desorlbed conduct,
violated § 1012.33 Fla, Stat, and Rule 6B+4.009(3) of the Florida Adminietvative Code, and his
actions constitute misconduct in office, which is conduct so serlous as to impale the individual's
effectiveness in the schoot system, )
Additionally, the Respondent's above-described conduct further violates the Code of
Bthies of the Hducation Profession, Rule 6B-f.001(2) and (3), 6B-1.006(3)(a) and (@), Florida
Administrative Code, The Respondent's conduct, as retually set forth herein, is auttiotently
notorious to bilng the Respondent and/or the education profoxsion into public disgrace or
dlsrespeot and impair the Respondent's service in the community,
b, Sehool Boatd Disolptinary Guideline 4.90)(B)(0), (m), sid (R), Respondent's
conduct was severe enough under the conditions set fordh In Guideline 4.9(1N) including but not
limited to the degree of student involvement, Impact on students, repetitions of the offenses, and
tho necessary deterrent affect on this type of behavior in the future,
WHEREFORE, based upon the foregoing, tho Petittoner, Robert W. Runole,
Superintendont of Schools, recommends that the School Board, subsequesit to providing requisite
notice, suspend the Respondent, Tortenve Sralth, from his employment as an elomentary school
teachor for ton (10) days and refer him to a claysroom tnanagoment course based upon tho
forogolng faots and legal authoxity,
Dated: Maroh2?4 2012
. Respectfully submitted:
Carmen Rodiiguez, Esquire
Oudre Attomney
Robert | W. Ruttole, Supe fondant of Schools
Docket for Case No: 12-001364TTS
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Jun. 18, 2012 |
Order Closing File and Relinquishing Jurisdiction. CASE CLOSED.
|
Jun. 15, 2012 |
Notice of Voluntary Dismissal filed.
|
Jun. 06, 2012 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Response to Petitioner's First Set of Interrogatories filed.
|
Jun. 06, 2012 |
Notice of Service of Respondenr's Response to Petitioner's Request for Production filed.
|
May 17, 2012 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for August 8 and 9, 2012; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes, FL).
|
May 14, 2012 |
Petitioner's Notice of Service filed.
|
May 10, 2012 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
May 10, 2012 |
Notice of Telephonic Final Hearing (hearing set for June 11 and 12, 2012; 9:00 a.m.).
|
May 09, 2012 |
Joint Motion for Continuance of Hearing filed.
|
May 09, 2012 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Request for Production of Documents and Things filed.
|
Apr. 25, 2012 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Initial Order.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Agency action letter filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Petition for Formal Proceedings filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Agency referral filed.
|
Apr. 17, 2012 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
|