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Hernando Today

Hernando County School Board seeks clarification on anonymous tips

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By JEFF SCHMUCKER

Hernando Today

Published: October 26, 2009

BROOKSVILLE - At least three of five school board members agree board policy concerning anonymous tips about district employees needs to change.

Their opinions differ on how strict the policy should be.

During a recent meeting concerning a teacher accused of drug use, it was revealed the matter was brought to district officials' attention by a woman who would only give a first name of Michelle and a cell phone number. It was never revealed whether Michelle was her first name or if the cell number belonged to someone else.

However, board members and board Attorney Paul Carland agreed district policy didn't allow for anonymous phone calls to investigate personnel. During the meeting however, Carland said he didn't consider Michelle's call anonymous, since she gave a possible first name and at least a cell number officials could use to contact her, even if it wasn't hers.

However, board members Sandra Nicholson and Pat Fagan agree a possible first name and phone number isn't enough and that district officials should require more information from someone before investigating a teacher or some other school employee.

Nicholson said under current guidelines, too often students or others could decide they don't like a teacher and provide false information to hurt a teacher they don't like without school officials having to determine whether the information is credible.

Fagan agrees and added people forget that accusations can hurt people, even when they're not valid. As parks and recreation manager for the county, he said he deals with the issue often.

"We see people accused of crimes in the papers often and I think there's an assumption of guilt when those things come up," Fagan said. "I think if people are going to provide information that could possibly ruin someone's life, they should I.D. themselves to show credibility."

Although board member James Yant agrees the issue should be discussed before board members, he also believes that all phone calls regarding possible illegal activities of employees should be investigated – especially when it involves an employee who deals with educating students.

"When we have a case involving a teacher, which could also affect students, we need to act right away, whether the information comes from an anonymous source or not," Yant said. "If we spend too much time investigating sources before going straight to the employee, then by then we could be too late to deal with the problem. Then who's responsible?"

During last week's meeting, board members considered reinstating Michael Provost, a former health and physical teacher at D.S. Parrott Middle School who later admitted to using marijuana following a phone tip to school officials.

However, Provost's attorney, Mike Herdman, argued that under the current policy and the way the board attorney interpreted it, anonymous sources could be used to investigate anyone in the district.

"What you're saying is I could call in and say, 'My name is John and I saw the superintendent smoking marijuana,' and just leave a cell phone number," Herdman said. "And then you'd be expected to investigate."

No mention of anonymous sources is found anywhere under complaint procedures in the board's policy. For written complaints, a name must be submitted within 10 days after a said incident. Authors of those complaints are then kept confidential.

A written request to Hernando County School District for the specific board policy concerning anonymous phone calls was returned via e-mail from Celine Rivera, secretary to the superintendent to say, "The answer to your question can be found in the School Board Policy manual which is online." Carland is out of the office until Monday.

Meanwhile, board members agree that residents are encouraged to communicate with district officials and report any problems they might have.

"We need to sit down at a workshop and explain how we want things to be done so we can keep the lines of communication open," Nicholson said. "That way, we can all be on the same page."

Despite phone calls, Board Chairman John Sweeney and board member Dianne Bonfield could not be reached for comment by press deadline. An e-mail was also sent to Sweeney – since his phone mailboxes were full – but also was not returned by press deadline.

Reporter Jeff Schmucker can be reached at 352-544-5271 or jschmucker@hernandotoday.com.

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