ve fp Fi Or RE 4 i i: gan VE SCHOOL BOARD OF ORANGE COUNTY, FLORIDA, BY AND THROUGH ITS SUPERINTENDENT, RONALD BLOCKER, Petitioner Vs. Asley Stennett Respondent Ob -| YOY ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT RONALD BLOCKER, as Superintendent of Schools, for and on behalf of the School Board of Orange County, Florida, (hereinafter referred to as “Petitioner’), files this Administrative Complaint against Asley Stennett (hereinafter referred to as “Respondent”). Petitioner seeks the severance of Respondent's annual contract with Petitioner pursuant to Section 1012.33, Florida Statutes. The Petitioner alleges: 1. That the respondent, at all times material to this Complaint, was employed as a teacher by the Petitioner, the School Board of Orange County, Florida. 2. The respondent holds an annual contract of employment with the School Board of Orange County, Florida. 3. That on March 1, 2006, the parents of a female seventh (7") grade student at Howard Middle School reported to the principal that the Respondent had developed an inappropriate relationship with their daughter. They alleged the following: a. The Respondent transported their daughter to and from school after they moved out of the area zoned for Howard Middle School into the area zoned for Liberty Middle School (For a period of time from approximately October 2005 through February 2006. The administration at Howard was not aware of this arrangement). b. The Respondent sometimes brought their daughter home between 7:30 p.m. and 9:00 p.m. c. The Respondent bought clothes and a computer for their daughter. d. The Respondent gave their daughter a cell phone. e. The Respondent emailed their daughter through instant messages and talked to her late at night on the telephone. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment “A” are the parents’ statements). On March 1, 2006, the student was interviewed by the School Resource Officer (SRO) with the Assistant Principal present and she confirmed what the parents reported. She also Stated that the Respondent had tried to kiss her and touched her inappropriately inside her pants. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment "B” is the Assistant Principal's statement regarding the interview). On March 2, 2006, the student was interviewed by Employee Relations with the Assistant Principal present. She again stated that the Respondent had transported her to and from school in his personal vehicle after her family moved out of Howard’s zoned area, he provided her with a cell phone and a computer and he tried to kiss her and touched her inside her pants. Note: After speaking with the SRO and the Assistant Principal on March 1, 2006, the student later tried to recant parts of her statement. She was questioned on March 2, 2006 about why she had done so. She stated that she had talked to the Respondent on the telephone about what she said to the police and he told her to “go back and tell them [you] lied.” (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment "C" is the statement of the teacher who allowed the student to use the telephone). *6. On March 7, 2006, Respondent attended a predetermination meeting accompanied by an attorney. After hearing the allegations, he advised that he would respond in writing. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment "D" is the notification of the predetermination meeting). 7. On March 9, 2006, Respondent submitted a written statement through the attorney's office denying the allegations in general and requesting additional time to make specific responses to each allegation. The additional time was granted. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment “E" is the Respondent's first written statement). 8. On March 21, 2006, the Respondent submitted another written statement through his attorney's office again denying the allegations of inappropriate behavior and calling the allegations fabricated. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment “F” is the Respondent's second written statement). 9. During the course of the investigation, it was also determined that the Respondent had been arrested in November 2003 for domestic battery. According to the police report the Respondent beat his nephew, who was fifteen (15) at the time, with a belt, a shoe and his closed fist. Though he was aware of the requirement to report, the Respondent failed to report the arrest in accordance with Management Directive A-10. (Attached hereto and incorporated herein as attachment “G" is a copy of the Respondent's arrest report and a copy of the signed Management Directive). ; 10.Such action by the Respondent is in violation of School Board Policies and constitutes misconduct in office, willful neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming a public employee, and a breach of Respondent's employment agreement with the School Board. 11. Said violations are sufficient grounds to sever the annual contract status of Respondent, Asley Stennett, and to terminate his employment with the School Board of Orange County, Florida. THEREFORE, the Superintendent of Schools for the School Board of Orange County, Florida, recommends that the Board sever its annual contract relationship with the Respondent and terminate immediately the employment of Respondent, Asley Stennett and authorize the General Counsel to assign counsel in this matter. Dated this LE Ae 2006. Frank Kruppenbacher, Esq Florida Bar No. 238597 Attorney for Ronald Blocker, Superintendent, The School Board of Orange County, Florida 445 W. Amelia Street Orlando, Florida 32801 (407) 317-3411

Docket for Case No: 06-001806