are due byFriday, May 5th. Verrone. We should consider ourselves lucky to have such a caring administrator at our school. Outsidelookingin, you need glasses or memory medicine. Now are you saying that a very good black principal has to be guilty because Hanna says so. Moreover, in light of the fact that timesheets were being submitted for the extra-duty, hourly work at issue, it is nonsensical for one to argue that he or she was unaware that those timesheets needed to reflect the hours that were actually worked," the judge wrote. Please ask each school board member for a response. Jones read the appeal to the board, Superintendent Rocky Hanna and a small audience of district employees and supporters of Burgess. This is a time to speak up and show support. I hope our community will support him and clear his name. Important Information . Crocodile Day by P.C. Whoever said that Burgess misdirects funds from school sports is truly a heinous liar. The word of doesnt even make any sense there; it cant function that way. I didnt," she said. "The Leon County School District does not discriminate against any person on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, age, sex (including transgender, gender nonconforming, and gender identity), marital status, disability, pregnancy, sexual orientation, or genetic information." After the offensive incident went viral, the Principal of Lawton Chiles High School, Joe Burgess, told a local news station: "Things are never going to be perfect, as a school we are imperfect. Joe Burgess, Principal Megan Abbott, TOY William Buchanan, RETIREE Harold Cheeseborough, SREY Stephanie Hart, Adult Volunteer . Im searching for Rockys motives, does he have a buddy with a personal grievance over football issues or maybe one who wants to the principal at Chiles? Its HAVE. But Joe is done with him and I expect will have some damaging testimony for DOAH. I would like to see some new board policies that really put these things in writing, incement, so that theres no ambiguity," Wood said. ", Superintendent Rocky Hanna said the district first learned of potential misconduct in June. If something was being done wrong, why wasnt anything ever brought up about the way these funds were spent before this supposed issue at Chiles? "It speaks volumes to these young ladies, who I have known since middle school," he said. Members argued many of Burgess' objections were outside the scope of the district's power. She held up a thick binder, full of colorful tabs and highlights. As such, he felt personally targeted when the investigation shifted to an entirely new allegation of wrongdoing once the initial allegation was disproven. Street Address 7200 Lawton Chiles Lane Street Address Line 2 - City Tallahassee State Florida Zip Code 32312 District Leon FNS Region Southeast Regional Office School Phone (850) 488-1756 Total Enrollment 542 School Website - Grade Level Grade Levels Grade 12 School Type School Type High Staff Contact Information Team Nutrition Leader Name TPD investigating shooting at Lake Bradford Road and Lake Avenue, Florida man guilty in 2017 serial killings of 4 people, Disabled veteran confronts past at Vietnam Memorial Wall. School board member Alva Striplin recused herself from the vote as soon as chair Darryl Jones called the meeting to order. Chiles High School recently appointed new head coaches for both the boys and girls varsity basketball teams. Burgess was reprimanded with a two-week suspension without pay, but wants a chance to prove his innocence. Perhaps if our local Public Indoctrination System and their Screwperincompetent focused more on Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic instead of reading, writing, and race bating we might avoid such errors in the future. FULL STATEMENT FROM JOE BURGESS ATTORNEY. Copyright 2021 WCTV. The investigation focused on claims that Burgess misdirected Advanced Placement funds at Chiles High School. Superintendent Hanna suspended Burgess, but the Chiles principal decided to appeal the decision and the matter has been forwarded to the Department of Administrative Hearings by the Leon County School Board. Stephen Webster, Burgess' attorney, saidhewill file a written objection to the proposed order and vows to take the case to the First District Court of Appeal if the suspension is upheld by the district. Chiles High School principal fighting back after being given 2-week suspension. ABC 27 first reported on the incident leading up to the suspension in July 2021. Principal Burgess is extremely disappointed to learn that his request for a name-clearing hearing with the District has been denied. I would guarantee that Rocky had no option but to suggest a suspension for Burgess, while this investigation is brought to a close. The investigation ultimately recommended that Mr. Burgess be disciplined in accordance with the districts policies. Originally, according to the LCS agenda from the meeting, Burgess filed exceptions to a recommended order in February 2022 which Superintendent Rocky Hanna responded to later that month. 19662022 Bond Elementary School. Check your students grades and attendance from your smart phone! 2023 www.tallahassee.com. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Frankly, I dont understand why it had to come to this. Why is Rocky not being investigated? Later in July, Burgess hired attorney Stephen Webster to appeal the proposed suspension and the board turned the matter over to the Division of Administrative Hearings before any district disciplinary action. The hours submitted often likely had no relationto the hours actually workedin the claimed pay period. The duties for which he was paid AP funds were also included in his base pay. Read the judge's entire recommended orderhere. These related videos and comments expressed on them do not reflect the opinions and position of Leon County Schools or its employees." Want morenews coverage? Please follow the link below to complete the senior survey. She then walked off the dais and hugged Burgess, who was sitting in the audience, before leaving the building. Chiles High School Principal Felt Personally Targeted by LCS Investigation added by Steve Stewart on July 14, 2021View all posts by Steve Stewart . 7200 Lawton Chiles Lane. The FBI found that Pons or the School Board did nothing wrong. Misuse of Funds Allegations at Chiles High School Results in District-Wide Audit added by Steve Stewart on July 18, 2021View all posts by Steve Stewart . Want morenews coverage? 2022 Glenn-Howell Distinguished Educator Of The Year, "Under Florida law, e-mail addresses are public records. "His attorneys pathetic and untruthful attempt to turn the narrative and claim that I did something inappropriate is an insult to me and my 32-year career with our school system," Hanna added. Hewas under investigation last year for allegedly misusing Advanced Placement funds to pay teachers and others for workthat wasn'trelated to AP classes, according to a report by the Coppins Monroe law firm, retained by the school board last Juneto investigate. It pertained to undocumented hourly pay from Advanced Placement project funds. If not, please subscribe using the link at the top of the pageand help keep the news you care about coming. Because some of the approved time was paid without documentation, however, the judge said Burgess approved payroll information that he knew was inaccurate. These related videos and comments expressed on them do not reflect the opinions and position of Leon County Schools or its employees." . " Copyright 2002-2023 Blackboard, Inc. All rights reserved. James S. Rickards High School. So that sounds like double dipping. Chiles High School Principal Joe Burgess says the allegations are not becoming of employees. No commentary included. When Hanna ran in 2020, did you as a black man support him or the black female that ran against him? 19532022 Killearn Elementary School. This is especially true, since Mr. Burgess is not the first principal in Leon county to manage these same funds previously used at Chiles and other schools in the county. ", The judge found thatBurgess "had no ill will" in using the money, calling the suspension "reasonable under the circumstances.". Lets move forward and stop this pettiness, our kids need Mr. Burgess back at Chiles High School now getting the current administration ready for this next school year. Burgess filed six objections to the recommended order, including that the district did not prove he violated a policy, that there was no training on time sheet procedures and the court erred by refusing to let Burgess introduce evidence of bias and motive. The 2023 ESE Parent Survey window is now open and will remain open until June 30, 2023. He is a man of integrity and he is an exemplary principal. Webster asked in a phone call with the Tallahassee Democrat. None of this work is, but we're going to get the job done.". As a result of the findings, Leon County Schools is in the process of conducting a district wide audit of hourly pay procedures at all schools. Through his attorney, Mr. Burgess exercised his right to due process and asked that the matter be turned over to an administrative law judge for review. Chiles principal loses challenge of his two-week suspension by Leon County schools, School district continues to pay down debt but Chiles payroll issue raises red flag, School choice expansion leaves Leon County Schools in $11.5M budget deficit, Florida school board advocates react to new term limit law signed by Gov. All rights reserved. Still, the judge noted that "Principal Burgess otherwise has an outstanding record as a district employee.". District Advisory Council, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM However, the investigation also found there is insufficient evidence to conclude that Burgess violated any law and the districts guidance on the issue can be unclear at times. The 2023 ESE Parent Survey window is now open and will remain open, Lawton Chiles High School is building a tradition of excellence by providing the best learning environment where students are challenged to be active learners, leaders, achievers and contributors within a global community. Thank you voters for giving us a vendetta driven Rocky for 8 years. A law firms alleges that burgess improperly paid employees for extra duty work and falsified records pertaining to payroll documents. Tallahassee, FL 32312. The statement indicates the Chiles principal felt personally targeted when the investigationshifted to an entirely new allegation of wrongdoing once the initial allegation was disproven.. Hanna wrote a book of lies about Pons. Perhaps LCS needs to reevaluate how this has been handled. However, an outside investigator was hired by Leon County Schools (LCS) to look into another issue. Some of the extra work wasalso allegedly paid without documentation. LOG IN. Now this policy thats not in policy, and this procedure that doesnt apply, and this practice that every principal has done including Rocky Hanna is now worthy of a two-week suspension?" If you do not want your e-mail address released in response to a public records request, do not send electronic mail regarding official business to the District or any of its employees. Click HERE for the 2022-2023 Off Campus Lunch Pass Application. The report found there was insufficient evidence to conclude that the Chiles High School principal, Joe Burgess, violated any law, policy, or rule. The sports teams got to use every penny they earned with their games. Whatever shakes out I hate the thought of losing Joe Burgess from the school district, he will be snapped up quick. If you're already a subscriber, thank you! Your email address will not be published. Substantial concerns about Burgesss conduct with regard to a $10,000 payment to the Chiles High School football coach, Kevin Pettis. Tallahassee resident Calvin Troxell said .
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