20-000433TTS Miami-Dade County School Board vs. Georgette A. Lucas
 Status: Closed
Recommended Order on Friday, December 4, 2020.


View Dockets  
Summary: Respondent?s physical handling of two students warrants discipline, and progressive discipline following a prior reprimand warrants a ten-day suspension without pay.

1P RELIMINARY S TATEMENT

5On January 15, 2020, the School Board took action to suspend without

17pay and initiate dismissal proceedings against Respondent. Respondent

25timely requested a hearing pursuant to sections 120.569 and 120.57(1), and the matter was referred to DOAH for conduct of a hearing.

47This case was set for a video teleconference hearing on May 29, 2020. On

61May 18, 2020, the undersigned ’ s office contacted counsel for the parties to

75inquire whether they objected to the final hearing being co nducted through a Zoom conference. On that day, Respondent ’ s counsel notified the

99undersigned ’ s office that Respondent did not agree to conduct the hearing

112through a Zoom conference. Due to travel restrictions and the fact that the Miami DOAH office was cl osed to the public for live appearances, on May 20,

1402020, the undersigned issued an Amended Notice of Hearing by Zoom

151C onference for May 29, 2020.

157On May 21, 2020, Respondent filed a Motion to Continue and Reschedule

169Final Hearing, objecting to conducting the hearing through a Zoom

179conference. Respondent expressed concerns about the ability to meaningfully

188cross examine witnesses through a Zoom conference. On May 22, 2020, the undersigned denied Respondent ’ s motion to continue.

208During the Zoom hearing on May 29, 2020, the ALJ, counsel for

220Petitioner, and Petitioner ’ s witnesses appeared through the Zoom video

231conference. Respondent and her counsel appeared through the telephone,

240without the opportunity to observe the other participants in the Zoom conferenc e. At no time prior to the hearing did Respondent or her counsel

265inform the ALJ or opposing counsel that they would not have access to a personal computer, a laptop computer, an electronic tablet, or a smart phone to allow them to participate with video in the hearing. According to counsel

304for Respondent, he travelled to Miami to be with his client at her classroom

318teacher union ’ s office, and found that no computers were available for video

332access to the Zoom conference. Respondent and her counsel did not a ttempt to

346access the Zoom conference by any video means, including a smart phone, nor

359did counsel for Respondent remain in his office in Clearwater which,

370presumably, had full computer video capability.

376The final hearing was held on May 29, 2020. Petition er presented the live

390testimony of student s and alleged victims , C.J. and J.E. ; T eacher Alisa

403Bennett ; and Principal Pedro Cedeno. Petitioner ’ s Exhibits 1 through 4, 6

416through 10, 12, and 16 were admitted into evidence.

425Respondent testified on her own beh alf and offered no exhibits.

436A one - volume T ranscript of the final hearing was filed on July 17, 2020,

452and the parties timely filed proposed recommended orders. Both proposed

462recommended orders have been duly considered in the preparation of this Recommend ed Order. All references to Florida Statutes are to the version in

486effect at the time of the incidents giving rise to the proposed termination of

500Respondent ’ s employment as a teacher.

507F INDINGS OF F ACT

5121. At all times material hereto, Petitioner was a dul y constituted School

525Board charged with the duty to operate, control , and supervise all free public

538schools within the S chool D istrict of Miami - Dade County, Florida (“School

552District”), pursuant to a rticle IX , section 4(b) of the Florida Constitution and

565s ection 1012.23, Florida Statutes.

5702. At all times material hereto, Respondent was employed as an

581elementary school teacher at Van E. Blanton Elementary School (“Blanton”)

591by the School Board and held a professional services contract. She began

603working for the School District as a substitute teacher in 1994 and has been

617employed as a full - time teacher for 14 years.

6273. On April 20, 2016, Respondent was issued a Professional

637Responsibilities Memorandum regarding student discipline. The purpose of

645the memo was to remind Respondent of how to properly treat children who

658are misbehaving after she was observed sending two students to stand in the

671corner after blurting out answers.

6764. On or about April 25, 2016, Respondent hit a student with her hand on

691the student ’ s arm, leaving the student ’ s arm visibly red and welted.

7065. A summary of a conference - for - the - record from May 18, 2016, was

723admitted into evidence. Pedro Cedeno, the principal at Blanton for the past

735three years, stated that he considered the current inci dents similar in nature

748to this prior incident from 2016.

7546. On May 19, 2016, Respondent was issued a written reprimand relating

766to the April 25, 2016 , incident.

7727. On April 18, 2017, the Education Practices Commission (“EPC”) filed an

784Administrative Compl aint against Respondent based on the April 25, 2016 ,

795incident under EPC Case No. 17 - 0457 - RT.

8058. On December 14, 2017, a Final Order was entered in the EPC case,

819adopting the parties ’ Settlement Agreement, which issued Respondent a

829letter of reprimand and p laced her on one year ’ s probation.

8429. Throughout Respondent ’ s tenure with the School Board prior to the

855instant matter, the only discipline she received was the reprimand described above.

86710. Three incidents, occurring on March 8, 13, and May 23, 2019,

879res pectively, gave rise to these proceedings.

88611. Respondent worked at Blanton as a first - grade teacher. On March 8,

9002019, Mr. Cedeno was standing near the main office when he saw

912Respondent and her class coming in from the hallway. Mr. Cedeno saw

924Respondent pull a student, C.J., who was kneeling on the ground at the back

938of the line. Respondent said something to the student, but Mr. Cedeno could

951not hear it. Mr. Cedeno saw Respondent pull the student by the arm. He

965testified that Respondent was “pulling her t o move her whole body over to the

980back of the class … it was more of a pull, which is what caught my attention.”

99712. Mr. Cedeno approached Respondent and asked, “What ’ s going on?” He

1011also told Respondent that they cannot pull students like that. He advised

1023Respondent it would be better to leave the child there and call for attention

1037or assistance. Apparently, the video cameras were not working on March 8

1049because no video footage was available for Mr. Cedeno, Respondent, or the

1061undersigned to review after th e incident or at hearing.

107113. On March 13, 2019, Mr. Cedeno saw via video that Respondent had

1084her students lined up as they were coming or going into the classroom.

1097Mr. Cedeno observed Respondent grab and pull a student into the class. That

1110caught his atte ntion. It was not an appropriate way for Respondent to have

1124handled the situation. Both the March 8 and 13 , 2019, incidents involved C.J.

113714. The March 13, 2019, video showed that C.J. was moving slowly in the

1151hallway while the rest of Respondent ’ s student s were already in the

1165classroom. Respondent waved at C.J. and said something to the effect of “let ’ s

1180go.” When C.J. did not respond, Respondent went to C.J., took her by the

1194arm, and walked her into the classroom. While the video does not show excessive fo rce being used to pull C.J. up from the floor where she was tying

1223her shoe, it did show more than Respondent reaching out her hand, then waiting for C.J. to take her hand to be led. There was a small amount of force involved in getting C.J. up and moving. Respondent testified she was not mad

1266at C.J., but she was firm in telling C.J. she needed to get going and into the

1283classroom.

128415. From the video, C.J. did not seem embarrassed and was not crying

1297when she was physically urged up and into the classroom. Th e video does not

1312evidence violence, anger, or aggression. It does evidence a teacher pulling a

1324young student up from the floor and walking her briskly into the classroom.

1337At hearing, however, C.J. testified credibly that she was both embarrassed

1348and sad by the incident.

135316. Following the March 13 , 2019, incident, Mr. Cedeno filed a personnel

1365investigative form with the School District ’ s Office of Professional Standards.

1377No action was taken to remove Respondent from her position or to impose

1390any discipline.

139217. J.E. , a student, testified regarding the May 23, 2019, incident. He s a i d

1408Respondent w as his teacher during the prior school year. He watched the

1421video of the incident and identified both himself and Respondent in the video.

1434J.E. had asked Respondent if he could go to the bathroom. Respondent did

1447not allow J.E. to use the bathroom at that time. Then, J.E. tried to get into

1463the classroom to use the bathroom and Respondent pushed J.E. The video

1475shows Respondent push J.E. J.E. fell and then got up. His leg was hurting

1489and it made him feel mad.

149518. J.E., a large child for his age, appeared somewhat distracted while

1507testifying, and his mother had to prompt him once or twice to pay attention to the questions being asked and to give audible answers. However, his

1533recollection of the Ma y 23, 2019, incident was clear. He admitted that he was

1548acting up, which was confirmed by Respondent, but was “mad” at being pushed into the classroom where he landed on one of his classmates. He was only mildly injured and did not r equire first aid or medical care as a result of

1591his fall.

159319. Respondent noted that J.E. was a disruptive student who is

1604disobedient, bigger than the rest of the students in the class, and is known for pushing and bullying the other students. R espondent te stified that on

1631May 23, 2019, r ather than entering the classroom when he was supposed to,

1645J.E. doubled back, grabbed another student, and spun the student around, which caused that student to cry. Respondent was obviously frustrated by

1667J.E. ’ s behavior and gave him a push into the room. J.E. bumped into his best

1684friend, which sent the two of them sprawling onto the ground.

169520. According to Respondent, J.E. fell to the ground laughing and

1706clowning around, after which they all sat down and started class. J.E. did not

1720appear embarrassed or upset by the incident, Respondent testified.

172921. The May 23, 2019, incident was captured on video and was personally

1742witnessed by a teacher, Alissa Bennett, who was coming down the hall with

1755her class at the time.

176022. Ms. Be nnett is a fifth - grade teacher at Blanton and was employed as

1776such during the incidents giving rise to these proceedings. Ms. Bennett

1787knows of Respondent but does not know Respondent personally. Ms. Bennett

1798testified regarding the May 23, 2019, incident an d reviewed the video of the

1812incident during her testimony. On May 23, 2019, Ms. Bennett was walking

1824her class to lunch. It was about 11:30 or 11:35 a.m. She came out of the

1840stairwell and saw a big commotion in front of her. There was a lot of yelling

1856and k ids in the hallway. When Ms. Bennett walked closer, she saw

1869Respondent push a student into the classroom. Ms. Bennett kept walking and heard one of her students exclaim, “ [w] ow, that teacher just pushed that

1895student.” Ms. Bennet t said, “I was kinda like, o h, my God. Did that just

1911happen? Did I just see that?” She recognized this as a serious incident. She

1926took her students to lunch. Later that night, she told her boyfriend about the

1940events she witnessed at school. She was a new teacher and was not sure what

1955to do about it. Her boyfriend encouraged her to report the incident. The

1968following day, on May 24, 2019, Ms. Bennett reported the incident via text to

1982the counselor. She also spoke to Mr. Cedeno about what she saw.

199423. Mr. Cedeno acknowledged speaking wit h Ms. Bennett about the

2005incident. He explained that Respondent could have avoided the situation by using a call button, an emergency button that immediately notifies the office,

2028or she could have asked another person in the hallway for assistance. For

2041exam ple, there are always security and staff in the hallway , and they are

2055present in the video evidence submitted. The security and other staff

2066members have radio access. Mr. Cedeno testified that there was no excuse,

2078based upon what he saw in the video, for R espondent to push J.E.

209224. The School Board and the United Teachers of Dade, the classroom

2104teachers union, have agreed to be bound by the principle of progressive

2116discipline, and that discipline imposed shall be consistent with that principle.

2127Accordingly, they have agreed that the degree of discipline shall be

2138reasonably related to the seriousness of the offense.

2146C ONCLUSIONS OF L AW

215125. DOAH has jurisdiction over the subject matter and the parties to this

2164action pursuant to sections 120.569, 120.57(1), and 1012.33(6)(a), Florida

2173Statutes.

217426. In accordance with the provisions of a rticle IX, section 4(b) of the

2188Florida Constitution, district school boards have the authority to operate,

2198control, and supervise all free public schools in their respective distri cts and

2211may exercise any power except as expressly prohibited by the state

2222constitution or general law. A school board ’ s authority extends to personnel

2235matters and includes the power to suspend and dismiss employees.

2245§§ 1001.32(2), 1001.42(5), 1012.22(1)(f ), and 1012.23(1), Fla. Stat.

225427. In Florida, the district superintendent has the authority to make

2265recommendations for dismissal of school board employees, and the school boards have the authority to suspend, without pay, school board instructional

2286staff with professional service contracts for “just cause.” §§ 1001.42(5),

22961012.22(1)(f), and 1012.33(6)(a), Fla. Stat.

230128. Since the School Board seeks to terminate Respondent ’ s employment,

2313the School Board bears the burden of proving the allegations in its Not ice of

2328Specific Charges by a preponderance of the evidence. See McNeill v. Pinellas

2340Cty. Sch. Bd. , 678 So. 2d 476 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996); Allen v. Sch. Bd. of Dade

2357Cty. , 571 So. 2d 568, 569 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990); and Dileo v. Sch. Bd. of Dade

2374Cty. , 569 So. 2d 883 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990).

238329. The preponderance of the evidence standard requires proof by “the

2394greater weight of the evidence” or evidence that “more likely than not” tends

2407to prove a certain proposition. See Gross v. Lyons , 763 So. 2d 276, 280 n.1

2422(Fla. 2000) (citations omitted); see also Williams v. Eau Claire Pub. Sch. , 397

2435F.3d 441, 446 (6th Cir. 2005) (holding trial court properly defined the

2447preponderance of the evidence standard as “such evidence as, when

2457considered and compared with that opposed to it, has more convincing force

2469and produces [a] belief that what is sought to be proved is more likely true

2484than not true”).

248730. “Just cause” is defined to include misconduct in office. See

2498§ 1012.33(1)(a), Fla. Stat.

250231. The School Board ’ s authority to termi nate a teacher requires “just

2516cause” as defined under section 1012.33, which provides, in relevant part:

2527(1)(a) Each person employed as a member of the

2536instructional staff in any district school system

2543shall be properly certified pursuant to s. 1012.56 or

2552s. 1012.57 or employed pursuant to s. 1012.39 and shall be 33 entitled to and shall receive a written contract as specified in this section. All such

2579contracts, except continuing contracts as specified

2585in subsection (4), shall contain provisions for dismi ssal during the term of the contract only for

2602just cause. Just cause includes, but is not limited to, the following instances, as defined by rule of the

2621State Board of Education: immorality, misconduct

2627in office, incompetency, two consecutive annual perfor mance evaluation ratings of unsatisfactory under s. 1012.34, two annual performance

2645evaluation ratings of unsatisfactory within a 3 - year

2654period under s. 1012.34, three consecutive annual

2661performance evaluation ratings of needs improvement or a combination of needs improvement and unsatisfactory under s. 1012.34,

2678gross insubordination, willful neglect of duty, or

2685being convicted or found guilty of, or entering a plea of guilty to, regardless of adjudication of guilt, any crime involving moral turpitude.

270832. As to the count concerning “Misconduct in Office,” Florida

2719Administrative Code R ule 6A - 5.056(2) defines the term as follows:

2731(a) A violation of the Code of Ethics of the

2741Education Profession in Florida as adopted in Rule 6A - 10.080, F.A.C.;

2753(b) A violat ion of the Principles of Professional

2762Conduct for the Education Profession in Florida as

2770adopted in Rule 6A - 10.081, F.A.C.;

2777(c) A violation of the adopted school board rules;

2786(d) Behavior that disrupts the student ’ s learning

2795environment; or

2797(e) Behav ior that reduces the teacher ’ s ability or his

2809or her colleagues ’ ability to effectively perform

2817duties.

281833. The Principles of Professional Conduct for the Education Profession in

2829Florida are codified in Florida Administrative Code Rule 6A - 10.081 , which

2841pr ovides, in relevant part, as follows:

2848(1) Florida educators shall be guided by the following ethical principles:

2859(a) The educator values the worth and dignity of every person, the pursuit of truth, devotion to excellence, acquisition of knowledge, and th e

2883nurture of a democratic citizenship. Essential to the achievement of these standards are the freedom to learn and to teach and the guarantee of equal opportunity for all.

2911(b) The educator ’ s primary professional concern will

2920always be for the student and for the development

2929of the student ’ s potential. The educator will

2938therefore strive for professional growth and will

2945seek to exercise the best profes sional judgment and

2954integrity.

2955(c) Aware of the importance of maintaining the

2963respect and confidence of on e ’ s colleagues, of

2973students, of parents, and of other members of

2981community, the educator strives to achieve and

2988sustain the highest degree of ethical conduct.

2995* * *

2998(2) Florida educators shall comply with the

3005following disciplinary principles. V iolation of any of

3013these principles shall subject the individual to revocation or suspension of the individual

3026educator ’ s certificate, or the other penalties as

3035provided by law.

3038(a) Obligation to the student requires[, in relevant part,] that the individu al:

30521. Shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student ’ s mental and/or physical health

3076and/or safety.

3078* * *

30815. Shall not intentionally expose a student to

3089unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement.

30936. Shall not intentionally violate or deny a student ’ s

3104legal rights.

3106* * *

31098. Shall not exploit a relationship with a student for personal gain or advantage .

312434. School Board Policy 3210, Standards of Ethical Conduct, provid es, in

3136relevant part:

3138All employees are representatives of the District

3145and shall conduct themselves, both in their

3152employment and in the community, in a manner that will reflect credit upon themselves and the school system.

3170A. An instructional staff mem ber shall:

3177* * *

31803. make a reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learning and/or to the student ’ s mental and/or physical health and/or

3205safety;

3206* * *

32097. not intentionally expose a student to

3216unnecessary em barrassment or disparagement;

32218. not intentionally violate or deny a student ’ s legal

3232rights;

3233* * *

323621. not use abusive and/or profane language or display unseemly conduct in the workplace [.]

325135. Despite her protestations to the contrary, Resp ondent ’ s physical and

3264verbal actions endangered the mental and physical health and safety of h er

3277students. Her actions embarrassed them and can reasonably be seen as

3288causing them disparagement by their peers. C.J. testified that she felt

3299embarrassed and sa d by how Respondent treated her. J.E. said Respondent ’ s

3313actions made him mad. Yes, C.J. was dawdling in the hallway and J.E. was

3327acting up and clowning around, but these are elementary school students,

3338first graders, not more toughened high schoolers. They deserve a gentler

3349hand than Respondent exhibited here.

335436. School Board Policy 3210.01, Code of Ethics, provides , in relevant part:

3366All members of the School Board, administrators,

3373teachers and all other employees of the District, regardless of their pos ition, because of their dual

3390roles as public servants and educators are to be bound by the following Code of Ethics. Adherence to the Code of Ethics will create an environment of honesty and integrity and will aid in achieving the

3426common mission of providi ng a safe and high

3435quality education to all District students.

3441* * *

3444Application

3445This Code of Ethics applies to all members of the

3455Board, administrators, teachers, and all other employees regardless of full or part time status. It also applies to all persons who receive any direct economic benefit such as membership in Board

3486funded insurance programs.

3489Employees are subject to various other laws, rules, and regulations including but not limited to The Code of Ethics for the Education Profession in

3513Florida and the Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida, F.A.C. Chapter 6A - 10.081, the Code of Ethics for Public

3537Officers and Employees, found in F.S. Chapter 112,

3545Part III, and Policy 3129, which are incorporated

3553here in by reference and this Code of Ethics should

3563be viewed as additive to these laws, rules and

3572regulations. To the extent not in conflict with any laws, Board policies or governmental regulations,

3587this Code of Ethics shall control with regard to

3596conduct. In the event of any conflict, the law,

3605regulation or Board policy shall control.

3611Fundamental Principles

3613The fundamental principles upon which this Code of Ethics is predicated are as follows:

3627* * *

3630E. Integrity - Standing up for their beliefs a bout

3640what is right and what is wrong and resisti ng

3650social pressures to do wrong;

3655F. Kindness - Being sympathetic, helpful,

3661compassionate, benevolent, agreeable, and gentle toward people and other living things;

3672* * *

3675H. Respect - Showing regard for the worth and

3684dignity of someone or something, being courteous and polite, and judging all people on their merits. It takes three (3) major forms: respect for oneself, respect for other people, and respect for all forms of

3719life and the environment ;

3723* * *

3726Each employee agrees and pledges:

3731A. To abide by this Code of Ethics, making the well -

3743being of the students and the honest performance of professional duties core guiding principles ;

3757B. To obey local, State, and national laws, codes

3766and regulations ;

3768C. To support the principles of due process to

3777protect the civil and human rights of all

3785individuals ;

3786D. To treat all persons with respect and to strive to be fair in all matters ;

3802E. To take responsibility and be accountable for his/her ac tions ;

3813* * *

3816G. To cooperate with others to protect and advance the District and its students ;

3830* * *

3833Conduct Regarding Students

3836Each employee:

3838A. shall make reasonable effort to protect the student from conditions harmful to learni ng and/or

3854to the student ’ s mental and/or physical health

3863and/or safety;

3865* * *

3868E. shall not intentionally expose a student to unnecessary embarrassment or disparagement;

3880F. shall not intentionally violate or deny a student ’ s

3891legal rights [.]

389437 . In this matter, Respondent failed to make a reasonable effort to

3907protect C.J. and J.E. from conditions harmful to their physical and mental

3919health. While both students were not cooperating with Respondent ’ s attempts

3931to get them into the classroom and mai ntain reasonable order, her actions

3944went beyond what is expected of a teacher of first and second - grade ,

3958elementary school students. Specifically, Respondent grabbed C.J., mildly

3966hurting C.J. physically and embarrassing C.J. Respondent ’ s actions also

3977made C.J. feel sad. Regarding J.E., Respondent pushed J.E., which made him

3989mad. While the behavior of the two students was not helpful to Respondent ’ s

4004attempts to maintain order among her students, she is not excused from

4016responsibility for her physical actions towards the two.

402438. School Board Policy 3213, Student Supervision and Welfare, notes

4034that “[p]rotecting the physical and emotional well - being of students is of

4047paramount importance.” Teachers are charged with “maintain[ing] the

4055highest professional, mora l, and ethical standards in dealing with the

4066supervision, control, and protection of students on or off school property.”

4077Respondent ’ s actions fell short of this mandate.

408639. While Respondent should not be excused from discipline for her

4097actions concerning students C.J. and J.E., the greater weight of the evidence

4109does not support departing from the principles of progressive discipline. It is

4121true that Respondent committed Misconduct in Office, as described in detail

4132in paragraphs 32 through 35 above, but s he should not receive the most

4146severe discipline available, namely, termination of her employment. Given

4155the existence of only one prior reprimand and the fact that the three

4168incidents giving rise to this matter occurred in such close proximity to one

4181anot her, significant discipline is warranted. With a clean record prior to these

4194incidents over a 14 - year career, however, except for the reprimand,

4206termination is not reasonably related to the seriousness of the offenses. A suspension of ten days, however, is clearly warranted here.

4227R ECOMMENDATION

4229Based on the foregoing Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law, it is

4242R ECOMMENDED that the Miami - Dade County School Board enter a final order

4256suspending Respondent for ten days without pay and awarding her back pay

4268from the date her employment was terminated, except for the ten days of

4281suspension.

4282D ONE A ND E NTERED this 4th day of December , 2020 , in Tallahassee, Leon

4297County, Florida.

4299R OBERT S. C OHEN

4304Administrative Law Judge

4307Division of Administrative Hearings

4311The DeSoto Building

43141230 Apalachee Parkway

4317Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 3060

4322(850) 488 - 9675

4326Fax Filing (850) 921 - 6847

4332www.doah.state.fl.us

4333Filed with the Clerk of the

4339Division of Administrative Hearings

4343this 4th day of December , 2020 .

4350C OPIES F URNISHED :

4355Cr istina Rivera, Esquire

4359Miami - Dade County School Board

4365Office of the School Board Attorney

43711450 Northeast 2nd Avenue , Suite 430

4377Miami, Florida 33132

4380(eServed)

4381Mark Herdman, Esquire

4384Herdman & Sakellarides, P.A.

438829605 U.S. Highway 19 North , Suite 110

4395Clearw ater, Florida 33761 - 1526

4401(eServed)

4402Michele Lara Jones, Esquire

4406Miami - Dade County School Board

44121450 Northeast 2nd Avenue , Room 430

4418Miami, Florida 33132

4421(eServed)

4422Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent

4426Miami - Dade County School Board

44321450 Northeast Second Av enue, Suite 912

4439Miami, Florida 33132

4442Matthew Mears, General Counsel

4446Department of Education

4449Turlington Building, Suite 1244

4453325 West Gaines Street

4457Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0400

4462(eServed)

4463Richard Corcoran, Commissioner of Education

4468Department of Educ ation

4472Turlington Building, Suite 1514

4476325 West Gaines Street

4480Tallahassee, Florida 32399 - 0400

4485(eServed)

4486N OTICE OF R IGHT T O S UBMIT E XCEPTIONS

4497All parties have the right to submit written exceptions within 15 days from

4510the date of this Recommended Order. Any exceptions to this Recommended

4521Order should be filed with the agency that will issue the Final Order in this case.

Select the PDF icon to view the document.
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Date
Proceedings
PDF:
Date: 01/22/2021
Proceedings: Agency Final Order of the School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/13/2021
Proceedings: Agency Final Order
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2020
Proceedings: Recommended Order
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2020
Proceedings: Recommended Order (hearing held May 29, 2020). CASE CLOSED.
PDF:
Date: 12/04/2020
Proceedings: Recommended Order cover letter identifying the hearing record referred to the Agency.
PDF:
Date: 07/27/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 07/27/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 07/27/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Proposed Recommended Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 07/27/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (Michele Jones) filed.
PDF:
Date: 07/17/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Filing Transcript.
Date: 07/17/2020
Proceedings: Transcript (not available for viewing) filed.
Date: 05/29/2020
Proceedings: CASE STATUS: Hearing Held.
PDF:
Date: 05/26/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Pre-hearing Statement filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Order Denying Respondent's Motion to Continue and Reschedule Final Hearing .
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Witness List filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Exhibit List filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Notice of Serving Amended Answers to Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Pre-hearing Statement filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Specific Charges filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's List of Witnesses filed.
Date: 05/22/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Proposed Exhibits filed (exhibits not available for viewing).
PDF:
Date: 05/21/2020
Proceedings: Motion to Continue and Reschedule Final Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/21/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Filing Petitioner's List of Exhibits filed.
PDF:
Date: 05/20/2020
Proceedings: Amended Notice of Hearing by Zoom Conference (hearing set for May 29, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; amended as to Zoom conference).
PDF:
Date: 05/19/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Notice of Serving Answers to Respondent's First Set of Interrogatories to Petitioner filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/17/2020
Proceedings: Respondent's Notice of Discovery Requests to Petitioner filed.
PDF:
Date: 04/16/2020
Proceedings: Order Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for May 29, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 04/15/2020
Proceedings: Status Report filed.
PDF:
Date: 03/19/2020
Proceedings: Order Canceling Hearing (parties to advise status by April 15, 2020).
PDF:
Date: 02/21/2020
Proceedings: Order Granting Continuance and Rescheduling Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for April 9, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 02/20/2020
Proceedings: Motion to Continue and Reschedule Final Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/13/2020
Proceedings: Order of Pre-hearing Instructions.
PDF:
Date: 02/13/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Hearing by Video Teleconference (hearing set for March 3, 2020; 9:00 a.m.; Miami and Tallahassee, FL).
PDF:
Date: 02/12/2020
Proceedings: Notice of Appearance (Mark Herdman) filed.
PDF:
Date: 02/10/2020
Proceedings: Undeliverable envelope returned from the Post Office.
PDF:
Date: 02/04/2020
Proceedings: Petitioner's Response to Initial Order filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/28/2020
Proceedings: Initial Order.
PDF:
Date: 01/27/2020
Proceedings: Agency action letter filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/27/2020
Proceedings: Request for Administrative Hearing filed.
PDF:
Date: 01/27/2020
Proceedings: Referral Letter filed.

Case Information

Judge:
ROBERT S. COHEN
Date Filed:
01/27/2020
Date Assignment:
01/28/2020
Last Docket Entry:
01/22/2021
Location:
Tallahassee, Florida
District:
Northern
Agency:
Other
Suffix:
TTS
 

Counsels

Related Florida Statute(s) (10):