Petitioner: BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD
Respondent: PETER COLMAN
Judges: STUART M. LERNER
Agency: County School Boards
Locations: Lauderdale Lakes, Florida
Filed: Feb. 09, 2010
Status: Closed
Settled and/or Dismissed prior to entry of RO/FO on Thursday, October 21, 2010.
Latest Update: Dec. 25, 2024
Feb 9 2010 12:19
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THE SCHOOL BOARD OF BROWARD COUNTY, FLORIDA
JAMES F. NOTTER,
Superintendent of Schools,
Petitioner, PETITION FOR FORMAL PROCEEDINGS
Vv
PETER COLMAN,
Respondent.
ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLAINT
Petitioner, James F. Notter, Superintendent of Schools of Broward County, Florida,
through his undersigned counsel, Law Offices of Carmen Rodriguez, P.A., files this
Administrative Complaint, pursuant to Chapters 120, 1001, and 1012 of the Florida Statutes, as
well as Chapters 6B-1 and 6B-4 of the Florida Administrative Code, and states the following:
1. Jurisdictional Basis
a. The agency is the School Board of Broward County, Florida, located at
600 Southeast Third Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Broward County, Florida 33301.
b. The Petitioner is James F. Notter, who is the Superintendent of Schools of
Broward County, Florida,
c. The Petitioner is statutorily obligated to recommend the placement of school
personnel and to require compliance and observance with all laws, rules, and regulations. Any
violation thereof shall be reported with the appropriate disciplinary action against any school
personnel failing to comply therewith, inclusive of the Respondent, Peter Colman (hereinafter
“Colman”).
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d. Respondent Colman is an employee of the Broward County School Board and is
currently employed as a teacher at Pines Middle School.
e. The last known address of the Respondent, Peter Colman, is 10180 W. Bay
Harbor Drive, Miami, Florida 33154,
2. Specific Charges
The Petitioner James F. Notter, alleges as follows:
a. Respondent Colman, a middle school teacher, failed to disclose information on his
application regarding ongoing investigations into his conduct while at another school that had
implications involving his teaching certificate.
b. Specifically, Colman falsely answered questions on the Security Check form he
filled out in conjunction with his application for employment on July 23, 2005. The Security
Check form he filled out asked the following:
i. Have you ever had sanctions placed on your teaching certificate for any
reason?
it. Is disciplinary action currently pending anywhere against your teaching
certificate?
Colman responded “no” to both of these questions.
c. The Florida Department of Education sent a letter to Colman dated February 19,
2002 advising him that a complaint had been made against him alleging inappropriate conduct
with students. The letter further informs Colman that if the allegations are founded, they “could
lead to disciplinary action taken against your Florida Educator’s Certificate.”
d, Three (3) additional letters were sent from the Florida Department of Education to
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Colman dated August 18, 2003, September 18, 2003, and July 26, 2004 again advising Colman
of the complaint filed against him and further informing him that if the allegations are founded
disciplinary action by the Education Practices Commission could result pursuant to Florida
Statutes §1012.796. Additionally each of the letters notified Colman of a date that was set for
an informal conference with the consultant assigned to his case.
e. A memorandum to Colman from Paul J. Greenfield, District Director, dated
March 29, 2005 summarized a conference for the record that was held with Colman regarding the
allegations against him for the Miami-Dade County Public Schools. In this memo, Colman is
further informed that all of the information will be sent to the Professional Practices Services of
the Florida Department of Education, “for review and possible licensure action by the Education
Practices Commission.”
f Colman had sufficient knowledge to know that there were pending actions against
him that had implications on his license by the Florida Department of Education as there were
numerous letters informing him that investigations were pending prior to his filling out the
application and security check form for employment with the Broward County School Board.
3. Just Cause
Just cause exists for the requested relief pursuant to § 1012.33 Fla. Stat, the
Respondent’s employment contract, School Board rules and regulations, the Code of Ethics of
the Education Profession, and the Employee Disciplinary Guidelines promulgated by the School
Board, including but not limited to the following:
1, Failure to Disclose: The Respondent through his above described conduct,
violated School Board Rule 6Gx12-4A-21. The Respondents above described conduct further
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violates multiple provisions of the Code of Ethics of the Education Profession, Rule 6B-1.001,
6B-1.006, Florida Administrative Code,
WHEREFORE, based upon the foregoing, the Petitioner, James F. Notter,
Superintendent of Schools, recommends that the Schoo! Board, subsequent to providing requisite
notice, dismiss the Respondent, Peter Colman, from his employment as an employee based upon
the foregoing facts and legal authority.
Dated: January 4 12010
—4__ 7
f
ames F. Notter,
Superintendent of Schools
Respectfully submitted:
Carmen Rodriguez, Esquire
Cadre Attorney
Docket for Case No: 10-000630TTS
Issue Date |
Proceedings |
Oct. 21, 2010 |
Order Closing File. CASE CLOSED.
|
Oct. 19, 2010 |
Petitioner's Motion to Close File filed.
|
Aug. 20, 2010 |
Order Granting Continuance and Re-scheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for October 26, 2010; 8:30 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Aug. 19, 2010 |
CASE STATUS: Motion Hearing Held. |
Aug. 18, 2010 |
Joint Status Report filed.
|
Jul. 06, 2010 |
Order Moving Start of Hearing to August 30, 2010.
|
Jul. 01, 2010 |
Joint Status Report filed.
|
Jun. 10, 2010 |
Second Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for July 12 and August 30, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to Dates of Hearing ).
|
Jun. 10, 2010 |
CASE STATUS: Pre-Hearing Conference Held. |
May 24, 2010 |
Status Update on Supplemental Investigation and Disciplinary Procedures filed.
|
Apr. 20, 2010 |
Amended Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for July 12, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL; amended as to Date of Hearing ).
|
Apr. 20, 2010 |
Order Placing Case in Abeyance (parties to advise status by May 24, 2010).
|
Apr. 20, 2010 |
Joint Motion to Abate Proceeding filed.
|
Apr. 14, 2010 |
CASE STATUS: Motion Hearing Held. |
Apr. 06, 2010 |
Respondent's Objection to Petitioner's Motion to file Amended Admininistrative Complaint or Alternatively Respondent's Motion for a Continuance filed.
|
Apr. 05, 2010 |
Motion to File Amended Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Apr. 01, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Response to Petitioner's Request for Production filed.
|
Apr. 01, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Response to Petitioner's First set of Interrogatories filed.
|
Mar. 30, 2010 |
Petitioner's Notice of Service of Discovery Responses filed.
|
Feb. 26, 2010 |
Petitioner's Notice of Service of Interrogatories and Request for Production to Respondent filed.
|
Feb. 23, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's Request for Production filed.
|
Feb. 23, 2010 |
Notice of Service of Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
|
Feb. 16, 2010 |
Order Directing Filing of Exhibits
|
Feb. 16, 2010 |
Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
|
Feb. 16, 2010 |
Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 10, 2010; 9:00 a.m.; Lauderdale Lakes and Tallahassee, FL).
|
Feb. 15, 2010 |
Joint Response to Initial Order filed.
|
Feb. 12, 2010 |
Notice to Court of Dual Assignment filed.
|
Feb. 09, 2010 |
Initial Order.
|
Feb. 09, 2010 |
Administrative Complaint filed.
|
Feb. 09, 2010 |
Agency action letter filed.
|
Feb. 09, 2010 |
Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
|
Feb. 09, 2010 |
Agency referral filed.
|
|
CASE STATUS: Motion Hearing Held. |