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AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION vs ANGEL AIDES CENTER, INC., D/B/A BOYNTON BEACH ASSISTED LIVING, 13-001258 (2013)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Apr. 11, 2013 Number: 13-001258 Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2014

Conclusions Having reviewed the Administrative Complaint, and all other matters of record, the Agency for Health Care Administration finds and concludes as follows: 1. The Agency issued the attached Administrative Complaint and Election of Rights form to the Respondent. (Ex. 1) The Election of Rights form advised of the right to an administrative hearing. The above-styled case involves a revocation of license, a fine, and a survey fee. 2. A previous case was filed against this Respondent also involving the revocation of the license: Agency for Health Care Administration v. Angel Aides Center, Inc. d/b/a Boynton Beach Assisted Living, AHCA No. 2011012687, Case No.: 12-12-246PH. 3. On April 30, 2013, the Agency entered a Final Order in the above described case [AHCA No: 2011012687, Case No.: 12-246PH] adopting the findings of facts and the conclusions of law set forth in the Recommended Order issued by the Agency’s informal hearing officer, which upheld the revocation. 4. The Respondent appealed the Final Order to the Fourth District Court of Appeal, Fourth District Court of Appeal Case No.: 4D 13-1733. 5. On or about June 24, 2013, the parties agreed to place the case in abeyance while the appeal was being reviewed by the Fourth District Court of Appeals. 6. On September 18, 2014, the Fourth District Court of Appeal affirmed the Agency’s Final Order revoking the Respondent’s license 7. On November 17, 2014, the Respondent filed a Joint Notice of Dismissing its Request for a Formal Hearing with the DOAH and the Administrative Law Judge issued an order closing the file and relinquishing jurisdiction to the Agency. (Ex. 2) Filed December 24, 2014 3:16 PM Division of Administrative Hearings Based upon the foregoing, it is ORDERED: 8. The assisted living facility license of Respondent is REVOKED. 9. The Respondent shall pay the Agency $5,500.00. If full payment has been made, the cancelled check acts as receipt of payment and no further payment is required. If full payment has not been made, payment is due within 30 days of the Final Order. Overdue amounts are subject to statutory interest and may be referred to collections. A check made payable to the “Agency for Health Care Administration” and containing the AHCA ten-digit case number should be sent to: Office of Finance and Accounting Revenue Management Unit Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, MS 14 Tallahassee, Florida 32308 ORDERED at Tallahassee, Florida, on this /7_ day of Drandre 2014. Elizabeth Du , Secretary Agency for Health Care Administration

Florida Laws (3) 408.804408.812408.814

Other Judicial Opinions A party who is adversely affected by this Final Order is entitled to judicial review, which shall be instituted by filing one copy of a notice of appeal with the Agency Clerk of AHCA, and a second copy, along with filing fee as prescribed by law, with the District Court of Appeal in the appellate district where the Agency maintains its headquarters or where a party resides. Review of proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with the Florida appellate rules. ‘The Notice of Appeal must be filed within 30 days of rendition of the order to be reviewed. CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I CERTIFY that a true and correct, of this Final er was served on-the below-named persons by the method designated on this 1? fay of et _ 2014. Richard J. Shoop, Agency Clerk Agency for Health Care Administration 2727 Mahan Drive, Bldg. #3, Mail Stop #3 Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5403 Telephone: (850) 412-3630 2 Jan Mills Facilities Intake Unit Agency for Health Care Administration (Interoffice Mail) Catherine Anne Avery, Unit Manager Assisted Living Facility Unit Agency for Health Care Administration (Electronic Mail) Finance & Accounting Revenue Management Unit Agency for Health Care Administration (Interoffice Mail) | Arlene Mayo Davis, Field Office Manager Local Field Office Agency for Health Care Administration (Electronic Mail) Katrina Derico-Harris Medicaid Accounts Receivable Agency for Health Care Administration (Interoffice Mail) Lourdes A. Naranjo, Senior Attorney Office of the General Counsel Agency for Health Care Administration (Electronic Mail Shawn McCauley Medicaid Contract Management Agency for Health Care Administration (Interoffice Mail) Louis V. Martinez, Esq. Louis V. Martinez, P.A. 2333 Brickell Avenue — Suite A-1 Miami, Florida 33129 | (U.S. Mail) John G. Van Laningham Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings (Electronic Mail) _ oe NOTICE OF FLORIDA LAW 408.804 License required; display.-- (1) It is unlawful to provide services that require licensure, or operate or maintain a provider that offers or provides services that require licensure, without first obtaining from the agency a license authorizing the provision of such services or the operation or maintenance of such provider. (2) A license must be displayed in a conspicuous place readily visible to clients who enter at the address that appears on the license and is valid only in the hands of the licensee to whom it is issued and may not be sold, assigned, or otherwise transferred, voluntarily or involuntarily. The license is valid only for the licensee, provider, and location for which the license is issued. 408.812 Unlicensed activity.-- (1) A person or entity may not offer or advertise services that require licensure as defined by this part, authorizing statutes, or applicable rules to the public without obtaining a valid license from the agency. A licenseholder may not advertise or hold out to the public that he or she holds a license for other than that for which he or she actually holds the license. (2) The operation or maintenance of an unlicensed provider or the performance of any services that require licensure without proper licensure is a violation of this part and authorizing statutes. Unlicensed activity constitutes harm that materially affects the health, safety, and welfare of clients. The agency or any state attomey may, in addition to other remedies provided in this part, bring an action for an injunction to restrain such violation, or to enjoin the future operation or maintenance of the unlicensed 4 3 provider or the performance of any services in violation of this part and authorizing statutes, until compliance with this part, authorizing statutes, and agency rules has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of the agency. (3) It is unlawful for any person or entity to own, operate, or maintain an unlicensed provider. If after receiving notification from the agency, such person or entity fails to cease operation and apply for a license under this part and authorizing statutes, the person or entity shall be subject to penalties as prescribed by authorizing statutes and applicable rules. Each day of continued operation is a separate offense. (4) Any person or entity that fails to cease operation after agency notification may be fined $1,000 for each day of noncompliance. (5) When a controlling interest or licensee has an interest in more than one provider and fails to license a provider rendering services that require licensure, the agency may revoke all licenses and impose actions under s. 408.814 and a fine of $1,000 per day, unless otherwise specified by authorizing statutes, against each licensee until such time as the appropriate license is obtained for the unlicensed operation. (6) In addition to granting injunctive relief pursuant to subsection (2), if the agency determines that a person or entity is operating or maintaining a provider without obtaining a license and determines that a condition exists that poses a threat to the health, safety, or welfare of a client of the provider, the person or entity is subject to the same actions and fines imposed against a licensee as specified in this part, authorizing statutes, and agency rules. (7) Any person aware of the operation of an unlicensed provider must report that provider to the agency.

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COMMERCIAL UNION INSURANCE COMPANY vs. DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE, 75-001168 (1975)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Number: 75-001168 Latest Update: Mar. 10, 1977

Findings Of Fact On approximately November 1, 1972, Sandestin, Inc., entered into a contract involving construction and improvement of realty known as the Sandestin Development, located on the north side of United States Highway No. 98, 8 miles east of Destin, Florida. On or about May 14, 1973, the Florida Department of Revenue advised the owners of Sandestin, Inc. that the contractor had not secured a dealer's certificate of registration, or posted bond for payment of sales and use taxes as required by Florida Statute, Section 212.14(5). Sandestin, Inc., subsequently submitted an application for certificate of registration to the Department. The registration was processed with an effective date of July 1, 1973. Sandestin, Inc., as principal, and Commercial Union Insurance Company as surety entered into a "contractor's sales or use tax bond" on June 1, 1973. This statutory bond provides that Sandestin, Inc., entered into a contract with an entity called Sandestin Project on June 1, 1973. The bond further provides that the principal applied for the bond pursuant to Florida Statutes, Section 212.14(5), and that the bond is conditioned upon the principal making all reports and remitting all sales and use taxes imposed and required by Florida Statutes, Chapter 212. There is no express provision in the bond providing that the surety would not be liable for sales and use taxes accruing prior to June 1, 1973. Sandestin, Inc., subsequently defaulted in its sales and use tax obligations. Commercial Union Insurance Company paid $15,430.06 to the Respondent, which amount represents the total sales and use tax obligations, including interest, of Sandestin, Inc. Commercial Union Insurance Company paid $2,023.75 of that amount under protest. This latter figure represents the sales bond use tax obligations, including interest, which accrued prior to June 1, 1973. Commercial Union Insurance Company has maintained this action to recover that amount.

Florida Laws (1) 212.14
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IN RE: CHARLES POLK vs *, 91-003831EC (1991)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Tallahassee, Florida Jun. 24, 1991 Number: 91-003831EC Latest Update: May 01, 1992

Findings Of Fact The Respondent. The Respondent, Charles Polk, served as the President of Daytona Beach Community College from 1974 to 1990. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Polk resigned as President of Daytona Beach Community College in 1990. Mr. Polk's Purchase of Real Estate from Anargyros N. Xepapas. In November, 1985, Mr. Polk and his wife purchased a life estate and one-half interest in a condominium unit from Anargyros N. Xepapas. Mr. Xepapas owned the other one-half interest in the condominium unit. [Stipulated Fact.] The purchase price of the life estate and one-half interest in the condominium unit was $150,000.00. [Stipulated Fact.] The weight of the evidence failed to prove that this price was not the fair market value or that the transaction was not an arms-length transaction. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Polk and his wife were required to pay $30,000.00 immediately. They subsequently executed and delivered to Mr. Xepapas a note and mortgage for the remaining $120,000.00. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Polk was a mortgagor and Mr. Xepapas was a mortgagee. Under the terms of the agreement, Mr. Polk was required to pay maintenance fees of approximately $5,000.00 per year, taxes, insurance and all other expenses of the unit, which totaled approximately $14,000.00 per year. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Xepapas agreed to maintain the payments on the first mortgage. [Stipulated Fact.] Following the closing, Mr. Polk paid Mr. Xepapas an additional $60,000.00 on the mortgage, reducing the principal balance to $60,000.00. [Stipulated Fact.] A warranty deed was provided to Mr. Polk for the purchase of the property. [Stipulated Fact.] Neither the deed nor the mortgage were recorded. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Polk and his wife used the condominium as their residence. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Xepapas action in selling the condominium to Mr. Polk and his wife was a business transaction. Mr. Xepapas. Mr. Xepapas is an architect and developer who designs, builds, and sells property in the Daytona Beach area. [Stipulated Fact.] At the time Mr. Polk purchased the one-half interest in the condominium unit from Mr. Xepapas, Mr. Xepapas was the owner of the condominium building in which the unit was located. [Stipulated Fact.] In addition to being the owner of the condominium building at issue, Mr. Xepapas was the architect, developer and contractor for the condominium and for other condominium buildings in the areas. Mr. Xepapas was trying to sell the condominium units as part of his business because of cash-flow problems. [Stipulated Fact.] The condominium sales market was "soft" and Mr. Xepapas was trying to eliminate the carrying costs for unsold units. Mr. Xepapas sold a total of four condominium units pursuant to an arrangement similar to the arrangement by which he sold the condominium unit to Mr. Polk. Mr. Xepapas had made offers to sell one-half interests in condominium units to various other persons besides Mr. Polk. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Xepapas was a sole proprietor. He entered into his relationship with Mr. Polk in his capacity as a sole proprietor. Mr. Xepapas has known Mr. Polk for ten to fifteen years and considers himself a friend of Mr. Polk. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Xepapas' Business with Daytona Beach Community College. In 1987, the Board of Trustees of the Daytona Beach Community College decided to expand the College's educational facilities by obtaining a new center in the Deltona area. [Stipulated Fact.] In September, 1987, the Board of Trustees instructed staff to develop a request for proposal for the design and construction of the facility which would be leased to the College. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Polk was involved to some extent in the decision as to whether the new center should be purchased or constructed, and whether it should be acquired through a long-term lease/purchase agreement. In response to the advertisement of the request for proposal in September, 1988, Mr. Xepapas submitted a proposal. [Stipulated Fact.] There were a total of nine persons or businesses that responded to the request for proposal for the Deltona facility. Mr. Polk knew that Mr. Xepapas had picked up a bid proposal package and, therefore, believed that Mr. Xepapas would submit a proposal. Mr. Polk appointed the committee which reviewed the proposals. This committee ultimately narrowed the acceptable proposals to two, including Mr. Xepapas, and directed that those two proposers submit final proposals. In January, 1989, Mr. Xepapas, in his capacity as a sole proprietor, was the successful bidder on the contract; however, there is no evidence to indicate that Mr. Polk abused his position in order to ensure this result. [Stipulated Fact.] Mr. Xepapas and Mr. and Mrs. Polk were co-owners of the condominium prior to and at the time that Mr. Xepapas was awarded the Daytona Beach Community College contract. Ultimately, Mr. Xepapas was not able to fulfill his obligations under the contract with Daytona Beach Community College. Although the evidence failed to prove that Mr. Polk asserted any influence over the decision to award the contract to Mr. Xepapas, Mr. Polk was involved to some small degree in the award of the contract to Mr. Xepapas. The evidence failed to prove that Mr. Polk disclosed his co-ownership of the condominium with Mr. Xepapas to the Board of Trustees of the Daytona Beach Community College, that he refused to participate in any way in the bidding process or that he attempted to take the more drastic step of severing his relationship with Mr. Xepapas while the bidding process was going on. In May, 1989, Mr. and Mrs. Polk ultimately quit claim deeded the property to Mr. Xepapas. The evidence failed to prove why. They, therefore, lost their investment in the property. Mr. Polk also resigned as President of Daytona Beach Community College as a result of the allegations concerning his relationship with Mr. Xepapas.

Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Commission on Ethics enter a Final Order and Public Report finding that the Respondent, Charles Polk, violated Section 112.313(7), Florida Statutes, as alleged in Complaint No. 89-80. It is further RECOMMENDED that Mr. Polk be subjected to public censure and reprimand. DONE and ENTERED this 13th day of December, 1991, in Tallahassee, Florida. LARRY J. SARTIN Hearing Officer Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1550 (904) 488-9675 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 13th day of December, 1991. APPENDIX TO RECOMMENDED ORDER The parties have submitted proposed findings of fact. It has been noted below which proposed findings of fact have been generally accepted and the paragraph number(s) in the Recommended Order where they have been accepted, if any. Those proposed findings of fact which have been rejected and the reason for their rejection have also been noted. The Advocate's Proposed Findings of Fact Proposed Finding Paragraph Number in Recommended Order of Fact Number of Acceptance or Reason for Rejection 1 1. 2 3-11. 3 13. 4 14-16. 5 16 and 18. 6 4, 12 and 19-20. 7 Hereby accepted. 8 3, 21, 27-28 and 30. The Respondent's Proposed Findings of Fact Proposed Finding Paragraph Number in Recommended Order of Fact Number of Acceptance or Reason for Rejection 1 1-2. 2 13. 3 3, 11 and 14. 4 20. 5 16. 6 4 and 17-18. 7 5 and 8-9. 8 6-7. 9 21. 10 22. 11 24. 12 26 and hereby accepted. See 23, 27 and 30. 13 27 and 30. COPIES FURNISHED: Virlindia Doss Assistant Attorney General Department of Legal Affairs The Capitol, Suite 101 Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050 David A. Monaco, Esquire Post Office Box 15200 Daytona Beach, Florida 32015 Bonnie J. Williams Executive Director Commission on Ethics The Capitol, Room 2105 Post Office Box 6 Tallahassee, Florida 32302-0006

Florida Laws (5) 112.312112.313112.317112.322120.57 Florida Administrative Code (2) 34-5.001534-5.010
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FREDERICK MCALLEY vs DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE, 96-004637 (1996)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Boca Raton, Florida Sep. 30, 1996 Number: 96-004637 Latest Update: Jun. 05, 1997

The Issue Whether Petitioner's application for Firefighter's Supplemental Compensation should be granted?

Findings Of Fact Based upon the evidence adduced at hearing, and the record as a whole, the following Findings of Fact are made: Petitioner graduated from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois in May of 1976 with a Bachelor of Science degree. His major was "Radio-Television." Petitioner is currently employed by the City of Delray Beach as a firefighter/paramedic, the job description for which reads as follows: JOB TITLE: FIREFIGHTER/PARAMEDIC GENERAL DESCRIPTION: Skilled technical work in the City's Fire Department in the field of fire suppression, prevention and emergency medical services. Work is performed under the general direction of the Battalion Chief. ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS: Performs all duties in the Firefighter job description. Responds with necessary equipment to requests for medical assistance, where life is endangered by illness or injury. Administers basic and advanced life support at the scene of an emergency. Transports victims to the closest appropriate medical facility according to protocol, unless turned over to a licensed transport agency with equal or higher medical authority. Maintains basic and advanced life support apparatus and equipment. (These essential job functions are not to be construed as a complete statement of all duties performed. Employees will be required to perform other job related marginal duties as required.) FULL PERFORMANCE KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Knowledge of the positions of firefighter and driver engineer and the skills to perform the duties of each. Knowledge of the geography of the City with respect to streets, hydrants and building access information. Knowledge of the location and layout of all high risk and special hazard occupancies, and the problems encountered with each. Knowledge of the strategy and tactics of handling fire, rescue and medical emergencies and the ability to analyze and respond effectively under stress to each. Knowledge of the record keeping system in use, the components of the system, and the functions of each. Knowledge of paramedic principles, practices and techniques and how they are used in rescue operation. Ability to carry out orders and to see that department and City policies are adhered to. Ability to perform Firefighter and ALS duties effectively. MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: High School graduation or possession of an acceptable equivalency diploma. Completion of minimum standards as required by the State of Florida. Successful completion of all medical and fitness requirements and examinations as described by the City. LICENSES, CERTIFICATIONS OR REGISTRATIONS: State of Florida Paramedic Certification. State of Florida Firefighter Certification. Protocol Certification issued by Department Medical Director. Class D Commercial Drivers License. ESSENTIAL PHYSICAL SKILLS: Meet physical requirement as indicated for State certification. Must endure sustained acts of physical exhaustion and endure periods of duty under unfavorable and life threatening situations. Heavy (45 pounds and over) lifting and carrying Reaching Acceptable eyesight (with or without correction) Acceptable hearing (with or without hearing aid) Ability to communicate orally Climbing (including ladders) Pulling Pushing Walking Standing Crawling Kneeling Bending Balancing Smelling Stooping Jumping Throwing Driving Running Swimming ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Hazardous conditions: flames, fire, chemicals, smoke, heat, gases, moving vehicles, falling structures and debris, electricity, poor ventilation, poor lighting and related hazards Stressful situations Bio-hazard infectious disease (Reasonable accommodations will be made for otherwise qualified individuals with a disability.) Because of his educational background in "Radio- Television," Petitioner has, on occasion, been requested by his supervisors to produce video tapes used for firefighter/paramedic training or for educating the public concerning the services offered by the City of Delray Beach Fire Department. The production of these video tapes, however, is not one of Petitioner's primary job duties.

Recommendation Based upon the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is hereby RECOMMENDED that the Department enter a final order finding that Respondent is not entitled to the supplemental compensation he is seeking pursuant to Section 633.382(2)(a)2., Florida Statutes. DONE AND ENTERED this 14th day of May, 1997, in Tallahassee, Florida. STUART M. LERNER Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (904) 488-9675 SUNCOM 278-9675 Fax Filing (904) 921-6847 Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 14th day of May, 1997.

Florida Laws (1) 120.57
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IN RE: SENATE BILL 522 (MERRIWEATHER) vs *, 09-000090CB (2009)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Tallahassee, Florida Jan. 08, 2009 Number: 09-000090CB Latest Update: May 08, 2009
Florida Laws (2) 316.183768.28
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AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION vs NORTH BEACH HOME HEALTH CARE, LLC, 14-003650 (2014)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Aug. 08, 2014 Number: 14-003650 Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
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PAM STEWART, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs THERESA CATHERINE ACKERMAN, 14-004055PL (2014)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Jacksonville, Florida Aug. 28, 2014 Number: 14-004055PL Latest Update: Apr. 16, 2015

The Issue The issue to be addressed is whether Respondent violated section 1012.795(1)(d) and (j), Florida Statutes (2011), and/or Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A-10.081(5)(a), and if so, what penalty should be imposed.

Findings Of Fact Respondent holds Florida Educator Certificate number 972355, covering the area of elementary education. Respondent’s certificate was issued on July 1, 2008, renewed on March 5, 2013, and is valid through June 30, 2018. Respondent moved to the State of Florida in approximately March of 2011, from the State of Maine. She, her husband, and two small children moved into an apartment in Ocean Park Apartments at 801 First Street South, Jacksonville, Florida. Respondent’s apartment faced the beach and was within 100-200 yards from the beach. Shortly after moving there, Respondent obtained renters’ insurance through Geico. The renters’ insurance was issued on approximately March 23, 2011. On March 26, 2011, Respondent called the Jacksonville Beach Police Department to report a burglary at her residence. Respondent reported that she and her husband had taken their children to the beach for the day, and upon their return that afternoon, she and her husband placed the stroller, containing a beach bag and various other belongings they took to the beach, inside the front door to the apartment. Respondent and her husband then went upstairs to put the children down for a nap. When they returned downstairs approximately an hour later, the stroller and its contents were missing. Officer Michael Abate of the Jacksonville Beach Police Department responded to Respondent’s call. He found no signs of forced entry or any other indications that there had been an intruder. However, the home was apparently unlocked at the time of the reported incident, which would negate the need of forced entry. Assuming for the sake of this Recommended Order that the burglary occurred,1/ it appears that the theft was a crime of opportunity, given the apartment’s proximity to the beach and the number of people in the area on a spring weekend. Respondent furnished to Officer Abate a list of approximately twelve items she claimed were stolen: the baby stroller; a beach bag; a canon digital camera; an Apple iPad; sunglasses; flip flops; a Coach® wallet; a Maine Driver’s License; a Bank of America credit card; $100 in cash; children’s shoes; and towels. On May 5, 2011, Respondent went to the police department and provided a more extensive list (supplemental list) of items she claimed were stolen. This list contained 47 items as opposed to the 12 originally described for Office Abate. In addition to the number of items described, there were a number of discrepancies between the first and second lists. For example, the original list identified $100 in cash. The supplemental list reported $160 in cash. The Coach® wallet was originally valued at $200, while the supplemental list valued the wallet at $248. The value of a pair of sunglasses changed from $150 to $199, and the digital camera’s value was amended from $799 to approximately $1,200. Other items added to the claim in the supplemental list included an iPhone 4, Otterbox Defender case, and Invisible SHIELD screen protector; an iPad case; a Kobo E-reader; make-up and name-brand cosmetics; monogrammed beach wraps; and a pair of Lacoste sunglasses in addition to the pair of sunglasses previously listed. On April 1, 2011, Respondent filed a written claim with Assurant Insurance Company, which provided her renter’s policy. The value of the claim submitted was $6,024.56. With the exception of her wallet and driver’s license, Respondent claimed that all of the missing items were purchased within a year of the alleged theft. No depreciation was acknowledged for any item. Assurant referred the claim to its special investigations unit for further review, which was conducted by Special Investigator Charles Beall. Mr. Beall interviewed Respondent by telephone on May 17, June 21, and August 3, 2011. During his investigation, Mr. Beall had discovered that some photographs submitted by Respondent of items supposedly taken in the burglary were actually taken two to three weeks after the burglary had been reported. Moreover, the photographs were taken with the camera that was listed as stolen. When Mr. Beall confronted Respondent in the telephone conference on June 21, with the times the pictures were taken, she could not provide an explanation. Respondent was hired at a Duval Charter School at Baymeadows on June 21, 2011. She continues to teach there. Mr. Beall also discovered during his investigation that a receipt from Amazon.com submitted by Respondent for the camera equipment was altered to reflect a higher purchase price by $639. The original receipt indicated that a single item, the camera, was purchased for $599. The receipt was altered to show the purchase of two items (a more expensive camera and a separately purchased lens) for $1198.95. When asked to confirm the information on the invoice she had provided to Assurant, Respondent initially confirmed the information as accurate. When confronted with the information received from Amazon regarding the purchase, Respondent admitted to altering the Amazon.com invoice in order to make up the monetary difference in her claims deductible. It is found that neither the camera, nor the items photographed with the camera after the date the theft was reported to the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, was actually stolen. Based upon its investigation, Assurant denied Respondent’s claim in full and notified Respondent of the denial by certified mail dated August 1, 2011. It also referred the case to the National Insurance Crime Bureau and to the Florida Department of Financial Services, Division of Insurance Fraud. Investigator Ed Johnson (now Lieutenant) from the Division of Insurance Fraud was assigned to the case, and during his investigation interviewed Respondent. During the interview, Respondent provided a sworn statement, which reads in part: In March of 2011 my family moved to the above listed address. Within two weeks of our arrival, we were the victims of a theft. I then filed a police report with the Jacksonville Beach Police Department, and filed a claim with my insurance company. While filing a report and claim, I purposely [sic] and untruthfully stated that a Canon T2i camera was stolen. Through the investigation of Mr. Charles Beall at Assurant Insurance it was determined that my claim for the camera was false, and my claim was denied. I falsified the camera being stolen in order to make up for the deductible on my claim. I also claimed that my ME (Maine) license was stolen. It has been determined that my ME license was actually used to acquire a Florida Drivers License on April 11, 2011.[2/] Lt. Johnson prepared and submitted an arrest warrant for Respondent’s arrest on September 29, 2011, and a warrant was issued that same day. Respondent was charged with filing false insurance claims, a third-degree felony. Respondent was arrested the following day. On December 14, 2011, Respondent entered a pre-trial intervention program. On October 2, 2012, based upon her completion of the program, the State Attorney’s Office declined to prosecute the charges. On April 29, 2013, Respondent submitted a letter to Pam Stewart as Commissioner of Education, in response to the preliminary investigation by DOE. The letter stated in pertinent part: In April, 2011, my home was robbed, while myself and my husband were settling our two young children upstairs for a nap. Our stroller was taken, along with all of the contents. The contents totaled less than $5,000, however the emotional toll was far more extensive. In the aftermath of such an event, our emotions were heightened, and we were in dismal spirits. Although we had renter’s insurance, we knew that we would struggle financially to replace all of the items that were stolen. At that time, I made a foolish decision to add an extra item to my insurance claim to make up for our deductible, so that we wouldn’t end up losing money. * * * They reported the case to local law enforcement, and I met with a Detective to explain how a law-abiding, well-respected community leader such as myself,[3/] had made such a decision. The Attorney General decided to pursue the case, and charge me of [sic] Insurance Fraud in the 3rd degree. I fully cooperated with law enforcement officers, and drove myself [to] the jail to accept my consequence. I bonded out of jail, hired a lawyer, and enrolled in a “Pre-Trial Diversion” program. . . . I completed several hours of community service, and paid a hefty fine during my “Pre-Trial Diversion” program. After a year, upon successful completion of the program, the charges were dropped, and I am left with an arrest record. I feel like I have paid the price for what I did, and learned several valuable lessons during the recovery process. My family has moved on financially from this crisis, but the emotional scars will remain. Educating children is my truest love. Giving back to my community and country by educating our future leaders, and enhancing the lives of people around me is really who I am. This situation has encouraged me to reflect deeply upon my character, and what I am passionate about. I appreciate your time and careful consideration regarding this situation. I made a poor decision, for which I have suffered immensely for [sic]. In both the letter submitted to the Commissioner of Education and during her appearance before a panel of the Education Practices Commission, Respondent consistently maintained that the residence was in fact robbed. Respondent’s admission that she inflated the amount of her insurance claim in order to cover the amount of her deductible is consistent with a burglary occurring. The fact that there was no evidence of forced entry into an unlocked home near the beach is not clear and convincing evidence that the theft did not occur.4/ Petitioner’s claim that Respondent was lying when she made statements that there was in fact a theft at her home is rejected.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Education Practices Commission enter a Final Order finding Respondent has violated section 1012.795(1)(d), Florida Statutes. It is further recommended that the Commission suspend her teaching certificate for a period of two years, followed by a period of probation for three years, and impose a fine of $1,000, payable within one year of the entry of the Final Order. DONE AND ENTERED this 22nd day of December, 2014, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S LISA SHEARER NELSON Administrative Law Judge Division of Administrative Hearings The DeSoto Building 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 Fax Filing (850) 921-6847 www.doah.state.fl.us Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 22nd day of December, 2014.

Florida Laws (6) 1012.011012.7951012.796120.569120.57120.68
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JOHN WINN, AS COMMISSIONER OF EDUCATION vs GREGORY HARRIS, 06-003721PL (2006)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Lauderdale Lakes, Florida Oct. 02, 2006 Number: 06-003721PL Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
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PALM BEACH COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD vs DEBRA TURNBULL, 19-006520TTS (2019)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:West Palm Beach, Florida Dec. 09, 2019 Number: 19-006520TTS Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024

The Issue The issue is whether Respondent, Debra Turnbull’s (“Ms. Turnbull” or “Respondent”), employment with Petitioner, Palm Beach County School Board (“School Board” or “Petitioner”), as an elementary teacher, should be terminated, based upon the statements of the nature of the controversy set forth in the Joint Second Amended Pre-hearing Stipulation filed by the parties.

Findings Of Fact The School Board is the constitutional entity authorized to operate, control, and supervise the District. Pursuant to Article IX, section 4(b) of the Florida Constitution, and section 1001.32, Florida Statutes, Petitioner has the authority to discipline employees pursuant to section 1012.22(1)(f), Florida Statutes. Respondent is an experienced teacher who has been trained in the proper method of interacting with co-workers and students, exercising best professional judgment, and following rules, policies, and directives. At all times relevant, Respondent was employed with Petitioner as a teacher at Forest Hill and had been assigned there for approximately two years, initially serving as a second-grade, dual language teacher. At all times relevant, Respondent’s employment was governed by the CBA between the District and the Classroom Teachers Association, School Board policies, and Florida law. Respondent was notified, by a Notice of Recommendation for Termination of Employment, dated and acknowledged by her on October 29, 2019, that she was being recommended for a 15-day suspension and subsequent termination due to: (1) Failure to Exercise Best Professional Judgment; (2) Gross Insubordination; and (3) Continued Failure to Follow Policy/Rule or Directive, when she screamed and yelled at her students. An Administrative Complaint, detailing the charges, was served on Respondent, through her attorney, on December 9, 2019. A few months after being assigned to the dual language class, Respondent was moved to a position in the Forest Hill computer lab, which was part of the fine arts rotation for students. As a media specialist, Ms. Turnbull was responsible for checking library books in and out; helping children find books; reading aloud with children; helping students with independent reading; developing lessons to encourage the students to interact with media other than books; and working in a partnership with the home room teachers to support them in special projects and research. The students’ homeroom teacher is not present during the media center visit by that teacher’s students, and routinely drops the students off at the beginning of the 30-minute time block, returning to pick them up at the conclusion of the visit. On or about April 12, 2019, Ms. Turnbull was working on a project with third and fourth-grade classes. She had been given broad discretion in developing a project for the third and fourth graders to celebrate the Everglades. The project was designed to have the children investigate and do research on various aspects of the Everglades, then produce a project to demonstrate what was learned. Ms. Turnbull decided to have each child do some individual research on a topic related to the Everglades, followed by their presenting their findings in a form with which they were comfortable. She gathered numerous books about the Everglades, a video or a DVD to play about the Everglades, and expected that the project would ultimately end up in an Everglades museum that would be displayed in the media center for the rest of the school’s students to visit and learn about the Everglades. She imposed a deadline on the students to have the project completed within three class sessions. In administering the Everglades project, Ms. Turnbull’s intent was that all of the children would research a topic in which they had a true interest. She gave an initial class in how to research and suggested some ideas for project topics. She and the students of each class brainstormed a list of approximately 15 topics that interested the children, which were placed on the board for all the children to see. Ms. Turnbull explained to the students that she would go around the room, so that each student could select the topic on which he or she would like to work, but that no more than four students in each class could work on a single topic, in order to enhance the learning experience for all by having more topics covered. Ms. Turnbull tallied the number of students who selected each topic, and, once a topic was chosen by four students, subsequent choosing students were redirected and limited to the other topics, which were ample for the class sizes. Once the topics were selected and assigned, the classes brainstormed different types of project presentations which could be used. Students were able to produce a diorama, an advertising poster, a research report, or other methods of presenting their projects. Ms. Turnbull used the same rule, that once four students selected a particular method of presentation, that mode would be closed. Similar to the selection of topics, Ms. Turnbull tallied the number of students who selected each presentation method, and, once a mode was chosen by four students, subsequent choosing students were redirected to other choices. On April 12, 2019, Ms. Turnbull met with the students from Ms. Goodson’s third-grade homeroom class, who were dropped off at the media center for their second project session. As they arrived, Ms. Turnbull directed the students to sit at the media center tables, where she had a whiteboard set up, and she and the students began to interact and list the various Everglades topics which interested them. On that day, the students had recently returned from spring break. Ms. Turnbull explained that all teachers know that, after spring break, students are looking towards the end of the school year and are not always focused. She felt that, as sometimes happens, “they were just not with me that day.” They were somewhat uncooperative and talking to each other, rather than listening to what she was saying. Ms. Turnbull had never had a particular problem with that class. It was one of the classes that she looked forward to seeing because they “had a good time together and got things accomplished.” However, on that day, the students were not following the directions she was giving them with respect to choosing the topic for their projects and then choosing their mode of presentation for the topic. Ms. Turnbull gave Ms. Goodson’s students specific directions that no more than four people could choose the same project and that, once there were four students who had selected a particular topic or project, that topic or project was no longer in play, and the next students who chose had to select something else. The students were not paying attention, and, when somebody tried to be the fifth or sixth person to choose the same topic, Ms. Turnbull would again tell the selecting student that there could be no more than four in a grouping and pointed to the board where the students could see four tally marks next to that topic. She would explain that the topic had closed and that something else had to be chosen. Soon thereafter, it would happen again with another student. When she had gone through the entire class, and when the tally marks were totaled, the numbers did not match, meaning that some students had not even made their selections. Gregory York, the IT person assigned to Forest Hill since 2004 or 2005, is responsible for fixing all technical problems at the school. Mr. York testified that he was in the media center on April 12, 2019, to discuss a repair issue with Respondent when he heard her yelling and screaming at a student who had raised her hand. Mr. York further testified that he and Ms. Turnbull “got into a little shouting match as well [when he explained why he could not fix her VCR], so [he] just left.” He described Respondent’s tone of voice as a “very high-pitched tone. Aggravated. … Loud and upset.” He specifically recalled a particular incident with one student as follows: But the one that I kind of recall was with that one particular student when direction was given to raise their hand and when she raised the hand, I guess the answer wasn’t good enough and it just got … it wasn’t just -- I don’t know, I don’t know what word to use, but it was just … I just felt like the student was just following directions and it seemed like she just got in trouble for following directions, from me, that’s all I’m saying. Mr. York admitted, on cross-examination, that “at the beginning, I don’t recall the whole conversation because I was too focusing [sic] with the IT person and then as I -- as we -- as I settled down, that’s when I can pretty much hear -- not hear, but I can see the environment and the tone has changed and that’s what I remember.” He did not remember what was being said when he claimed that the tone changed. Mr. York also remembered, on April 12, 2019, that a student raised her hand to ask a question. He did not recall the entire conversation, but said “it was like an upset conversation and everything and the student just wanted to ask the question and couldn’t answer it or whatever... it was just... just the whole ordeal was just loud.” Mr. York said that, after getting yelled at, “to me for following directions, she did not see -- she seemed a little hurt about it or whatever.” He claimed to “just remember the incident with the one student in particular, with the student raising their hand and, you know, she was just... It was an incident of her yelling at the kid and, you know, the kid got sad and everything like that.” Although he did not recall in any detail what was said or being done, Mr. York claimed “I just felt like the student was just following directions and it seemed like she just got in trouble for following directions from me, that’s all I’m saying.” He did not know why the student raised her hand or what she said. On cross-examination, Mr. York admitted that the hand raising “had something to do with voting, and, like I said, I heard that part and I remember the student just following direction, raising their hand and -- ... raising their hand to speak or maybe vote. I remember that part, the students raised their hand and she asked the student go ahead. And when she said what she had to say, it just went bad after that.” He repeated that he was within ten feet of Ms. Turnbull when this exchange took place, but did not recall whether Ms. Turnbull was explaining that there were already too many students who had made the particular selection. Also on cross-examination, after having his memory refreshed with his prior written statement and deposition testimony, Mr. York admitted that while he did not recall what Ms. Turnbull was “yelling” at the kids, he recalled her yelling or screaming at Assistant Principal Higgins about books. Ms. Turnbull testified that she was not yelling at the children. She admitted that the situation was getting a bit annoying and that, as time went by, and the same situation kept occurring over and over, she became what she termed, “a little bit more stern.” On cross-examination, Ms. Turnbull conceded that she has a loud voice and that sometimes people misinterpret a loud voice or enthusiasm as raising her voice. She explained that she was “a New Yorker,” having a style and expressing herself in a way that some consider “loud, animated, excited and boisterous.” Because the media center door is kept locked, teachers returning for their students typically knock on the door. Ms. Goodson did not knock on the door, but was somehow let into the media center, although she did not immediately ask for her students to leave the media center while Ms. Turnbull continued to work with them. Ms. Turnbull could not recall how long Ms. Goodson observed her students in the media center. Ms. Goodson recalled and estimated being in the media center for about 30 minutes. Ms. Goodson waited in the media center as Ms. Turnbull continued beyond the allotted class time with her students. Eventually, Ms. Goodson indicated that she had to return to her classroom with her students. There was a brief discussion between Ms. Turnbull and Ms. Goodson as the class was leaving. Ms. Turnbull asked Ms. Goodson if she would spend time in her classroom having the students choose topics and methods of presentation, as she had observed that those matters were not completed in the media center that day. Ms. Goodson, she testified, responded that “they are a low class.” Ms. Turnbull assumed Ms. Goodson was referring to academic ability, and responded that, even if they are low, this was not an academic exercise, but was rather a situation of making a choice and following directions. Neither teacher was yelling; instead, they were speaking quietly, because the children were in close proximity to them. Ms. Goodson had never discussed her students’ academic level with Ms. Turnbull until that day. Ms. Turnbull never thought of the class as a “low class.” She would have approached the lesson differently had Ms. Goodson advised that she believed her class was incapable of following two-step or three-step directions. Ms. Turnbull felt that Ms. Goodson spoke about her students as a “low class” in an effort to explain or excuse their behavior that day. When asked about the allegation that she yelled at Mr. Higgins when he was in the media center while Ms. Goodson and her class were present that same day, Ms. Turnbull testified that, since he was an assistant principal, she considered Mr. Higgins to be her boss. She would never yell at him, she testified. Ms. Turnbull felt that Mr. Higgins was someone to whom she could talk, and had she thought that he did something wrong with a book, she would have spoken with him. She did not recall any interaction with Mr. Higgins that day, or even that Mr. Higgins was in the room. In her deposition testimony, Ms. Goodson recalled that, at some point, Mr. Higgins was in the media center. She recalled Ms. Turnbull “went off for a couple minutes on him, saying next time do this, this and this. That’s not how we do it here, something like that.” Mr. Higgins testified during Ms. Turnbull’s case. He knows Ms. Turnbull and was familiar with this case. Mr. Higgins was aware that he had been identified as having been present in the media center during the alleged incident of April 12, 2019. He testified that he did not recall any incident that took place with Ms. Turnbull. He provided a statement during the investigation at a time shortly after the alleged incident wherein he stated that he did not hear anything from Ms. Turnbull on that date. He recalled being asked by Mr. York to assist with repairing the VCR. Mr. Higgins testified that Ms. Turnbull did not yell at him. Mr. Higgins said that he was not the type of person who would accept being yelled at without taking some action since he is the assistant principal and Ms. Turnbull is a media specialist. Mr. Higgins testified that he “returned the book, kind of finished the tech issue with work and walked out.” Mr. Higgins did not witness any yelling, screaming, or anything like that. Similarly, Ms. Turnbull did not recall any interaction with Mr. York on that day, although she recalled that some time before that day she had asked Mr. York to remove a cassette that had gotten stuck in her VCR. She conceded that, although she did not recall him being there, he could have been in the media center on that date. Ms. Turnbull recalled the student Mr. York mentioned in his testimony, although she did not recall her name. The student had a physical exceptionality and used an assistive device to walk. Ms. Turnbull was not aware of the student having any intellectual exceptionality. Like Mr. York, she did not observe the student crying at any point, and testified that she did not observe her upset or with a quivering lip. Ms. Turnbull did not intend to disparage or embarrass the student. Scott McNichols is the principal at Forest Hill. He testified that homeroom teacher Ms. Goodson reported an incident with Ms. Turnbull. Mr. McNichols had Ms. Goodson complete a witness statement. When Ms. Goodson provided the statement, Mr. McNichols contacted the school district labor relations department. Mr. McNichols spoke to no other witnesses about the matter. In general, classes at Forest Hill were heterogeneous with all different kinds of students mixed together. Ms. Goodson’s class was not an exceptional student education (“ESE”) class. She had some students with Individual Education Plans “(IEPs”), and some without. The level of the students in Ms. Goodson’s class was not advertised to the public. A teacher on the art wheel would only know whether Ms. Goodson’s class had ESE students if the ESE contact informed her. Mr. McNichols had no way to know whether the ESE contact informed a teacher as to the existence and nature of a student’s IEP. Ms. Turnbull specifically testified that the ESE contact never informed her of such matters concerning Ms. Goodson’s class. Ms. Vicki Evans-Paré is the director of Employment and Labor Relations for the District. She has held that position for a little over two years and is responsible for handling the CBA and employee discipline, along with other duties. With regard to employee discipline, it is her office that investigates and maintains discipline files. After consultation with the Superintendent regarding his decision as to employee discipline, her office is responsible for drafting the notice of recommendation to the employee that the Superintendent signs. With regard to Respondent’s case, Ms. Evans-Paré testified that she is familiar with Ms. Turnbull’s discipline file. As a records custodian for Petitioner, she provided clear and uncontroverted testimony with regard to the CBA’s provisions for progressive discipline and skipping steps when there is either an immediate danger to the health, safety, and welfare of students or district and/or a flagrant and purposeful violation of the rules. As the director, she makes recommendations regarding discipline to the Superintendent, and she found that Ms. Turnbull had a history of making inappropriate comments to students and acting inappropriately and had previously been given warnings and reprimands; such that, skipping steps, to suspension, was warranted given that prior discipline was not having an effect at all on Respondent’s behavior. Ms. Evans-Paré further testified as to the past practice under the CBA relating to the use of a verbal reprimand with written notation relative to notice of previously given directives. The CBA refers to the personnel file in Article II, Section B, under Rights and Responsibilities. In that provision, it states that “no item can be used to the detriment of an employee unless it is a part of his/her personnel file.” The two verbal reprimands that were offered into evidence were not being offered for progressive discipline purposes, but as allowed under Article II, Section M - Discipline of Employees, as follows: 5. Only previous disciplinary actions which are a part of the employee’s personnel file or which are a matter of record as provided in paragraph #7 below may be cited. * * * Except in cases which clearly constitute a real and immediate danger to the District, a District employee, and/or a child/children or the actions/inactions of the employee clearly constitute flagrant or purposeful violations of reasonable school rules and regulations, progressive discipline shall be administered as follows: Verbal Reprimand with a Written Notation - Such written notation shall not be placed in the employee’s personnel file maintained at the District headquarters, but will be placed in a file at the school/department and shall not be used to the further detriment of the employee after twelve (12) months of the action/inaction of the employee which led to the notation. The written notification shall be maintained at the school site/department pursuant to the District’s Records Retention Schedule. Under the discipline section, the verbal reprimands are certainly a matter of record that is permitted to be cited to, and the phrase “to the detriment of the employee” that is in the section regarding the personnel file, was not included. The terms in the CBA regarding the verbal reprimand and personnel file are not ambiguous. Therefore, they must be given their ordinary meaning. Rivercrest Cmty. Ass’n, Inc. v. Am. Homes 4 Rent Props. One, LLC, 298 So. 3d 106, 111 (Fla. 2d DCA 2020). Respondent acknowledged that she was trained in the Code of Ethics and that she had received previous directives regarding appropriate interaction with students, failure to exercise best professional judgment, and insubordination. She further acknowledged that she had received the allegations against her in the pre-determination notice and packet. Respondent has a prior disciplinary history. Respondent received a Written Reprimand on or about February 24, 2004, while working at Addison Mizner Elementary School, for “actions that violated the Code of Ethics, Sections 2(a) and (e).” At the time, Respondent inappropriately addressed five students (three ESE students, one “504” student, and a “regular” education student) when she “withheld the Valentine’s Day classroom party” for “talking,” for “forgetting materials,” and for “being off task.” Respondent received a Written Reprimand on or about June 5, 2014, from the Office of Professional Standards at the District for violations of School Board policies: 5.002, Prohibition of Bullying and Harassment; 3.02, Code of Ethics; 3.01, Commitment to the Student, Principle I; and 1.013, Responsibilities of School District Personnel and Staff; as well as Florida Administrative Code Rules 6A-10.080, Code of Ethics for the Education Profession in Florida, and 6A-10.081, Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida. At the time, Respondent “allowed the students to publicly assess their peers, deciding which students were creating a distraction, and which students were ‘hard-working.’” Respondent also “segregated’’ the students by sitting the “distracting” students in the back and also disparaging a student in front of the class ‘‘by suggesting that he should have learned certain skills when he was in kindergarten.” Respondent received a Written Reprimand on or about May 21, 2018, from the Office of Professional Standards at the District for “[failing] to exercise [her] best professional judgment, ethical misconduct, inappropriate interaction with students, and for failure to follow policy, rule, or directive.” At the time, Ms. Turnbull said “shut up” and “stupid” during work hours, and the students said they perceived it as being directed at them. Later on, during the Pre-Determination Meeting (PDM), Ms. Turnbull stated, “The District can go to hell,” while school administration recalled her saying “You go to hell.” Respondent received a Verbal Reprimand (Written Notation) on or about April 17, 2019, while working at Forest Hill, for her unprofessional conduct towards employees during duty hours and for failing to exercise her best professional judgment. At the time, an employee borrowed a Sharpie from Ms. Turnbull’s desk. Respondent reacted by addressing the employee “in a rude and confrontational manner” in the presence of “students and volunteers.” Later, Respondent “went after [the employee] again, continued berating her (disrespecting the personal space between both of [them]), and even mocked her.” The District’s process for determining the discipline to be imposed on Ms. Turnbull in this matter went through Ms. Evans-Paré, the director of Employee and Labor Relations for the District. She testified about the practices of her department and that Ms. Turnbull had received letters and notices of hearing, reassignments within the District, and a copy of the investigative report, which was prepared by another individual, who did not testify in the case. Ms. Evans-Paré testified that progressive discipline begins with a Verbal Reprimand with Written Notation for teachers. It then goes to Written Reprimand, suspension of any number of days, and then to termination. She believes that the employer can “jump steps” and that the CBA permitted that practice when there was “a real and immediate danger to the District, to students, to faculty, to adults, and then also if it’s a flagrant and purposeful violation of the rules.” She explained that steps were skipped in this case because of the nature of the allegation. Additionally, that it was a flagrant and purposeful violation. This is something that has been going on for years with making inappropriate comments to students, acting inappropriately. So[,] at a certain point you just move forward and progressive discipline, you can jump steps because the warnings, the other reprimands, they weren’t having any effect at all. And it was continually doing harm to students. Ms. Evans-Paré testified that the purpose of progressive discipline, and all the notices referenced in her testimony, is to ensure that the employee be told that an action is wrong and that the employee is not to repeat it, and to provide the opportunity to adjust his or her behavior accordingly. She admitted that its purpose was to give a person the opportunity to be advised that particular conduct was wrong and, therefore, be able to avoid it in the future. In her testimony, Ms. Evans-Paré stated that the recommendation of District administrators that went to the School Board in this case was for termination. She recommended termination, based on the fact that statements made by Respondent were to disabled ESE students, and what she termed the number of statements calling them “stupid” and “slow.” Ms. Evans-Paré claimed that Ms. Turnbull “did them over and over. Enough is enough.” Notwithstanding that testimony, Ms. Evans-Paré testified that only the School Board can suspend a teacher without pay. On cross-examination, she made it clear that pursuant to Florida Statutes, the ultimate decision maker concerning employee discipline, even beyond herself, is the Superintendent, and then, beyond him, the School Board. She did not testify as to any formal action taken by the School Board in this case and did not reference or provide any document which set forth any action by the School Board.

Recommendation Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is RECOMMENDED that the Palm Beach County School Board enter a final order finding that “just cause” exists to discipline Ms. Turnbull, by upholding her prior suspension, without pay, for 15-days, and restoring all benefits and back pay that have been lost/withheld since November 21, 2019. DONE AND ENTERED this 7th day of July, 2021, in Tallahassee, Leon County, Florida. S ROBERT S. COHEN Administrative Law Judge 1230 Apalachee Parkway Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3060 (850) 488-9675 www.doah.state.fl.us COPIES FURNISHED: Filed with the Clerk of the Division of Administrative Hearings this 7th day of July, 2021. Jean Marie Middleton, Esquire V. Danielle Williams, Esquire School District of Palm Beach County Office of the General Counsel 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite C-331 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406-5869 Matthew Mears, General Counsel Department of Education Turlington Building, Suite 1244 325 West Gaines Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 Richard Corcoran Commissioner of Education Department of Education Turlington Building, Suite 1514 325 West Gaines Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0400 Donald E. Fennoy, II, Ed.D., Superintendent School District of Palm Beach County 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite C-316 West Palm Beach, Florida 33406-5869 Mark S. Wilensky, Esquire Dubiner & Wilensky, LLC 1200 Corporate Center Way, Suite 200 Wellington, Florida 33414-8594

Florida Laws (9) 1001.321001.421012.221012.231012.271012.33120.569120.57120.68 Florida Administrative Code (2) 6A-10.0806A-10.081 DOAH Case (2) 15-004719-6520TTS
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DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE vs LARRY RYLAND PARKER, 00-001122 (2000)
Division of Administrative Hearings, Florida Filed:Tallahassee, Florida Mar. 13, 2000 Number: 00-001122 Latest Update: Dec. 24, 2024
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