Florida Commission on Human Relations finds “Unlawful Practice” with Termination of Leon School Board Director of Maintenance

By Staff on September 11, 2018 Exclusive, Local, School Board

An investigation by the Florida Commission on Human Relations into the termination of Stephen Shelton by the School Board of Leon County concluded that the School Board’s “stated legitimate, nondiscriminatory reasons for its employment decision are pretextual. Therefore, the charge of unlawful age discrimination is found to meritorious.” Pretextual generally refers to a reason for […]

Two Leon School Board Races Headed to Runoff

By Staff on September 3, 2018 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

Two of the three races for seats on the Leon County School Board are headed to a runoff. Incumbent school board member Joy Bowen was able to avoid a run-off in the District 5 race with 53.2% of vote. Bowen received 3,867 votes while Bowen’s only challenger, Marcus Nicolas, tallied 3,401 votes. District 4 incumbent […]

Poll Finds Voters Support School-Board Term Limits

By Staff on March 13, 2018 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

A proposed constitutional amendment that would impose eight-year term limits on members of county school boards would pass comfortably if it goes on the November ballot, according to a new poll. The poll, released Tuesday by the Tallahassee-based firm Clearview Research, shows that 68 percent of voters support limiting school-board members to two four-year terms. […]

School Board Term Limits Ready For House Floor

By Staff on February 15, 2018 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

County school-board members would face an eight-year term limit under a proposed constitutional amendment approved Thursday by the House Education Committee. In a 14-2 vote, the panel endorsed the measure (HJR 1031), sponsored by Rep. Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville. The proposal would limit school board members, who serve four-year terms, to no more than eight consecutive […]

School Board Member Says Deerlake Teachers Fear Retaliation from Administrator Julie Lawson

By Staff on February 7, 2018 Exclusive, Media Gallery, School Board

UPDATED The Leon County School Board has informed Tallahassee Reports, that after an investigation, Ms. Striplin’s complaint against Ms. Lawson was unsubstantiated. Deana McAllister, Director Labor and Employer Relations, wrote in response to Ms. Striplin’s formal complaint that ” it has been determined that your complaint is unsubstantiated and does not meet the threshold for […]

School Board, Superintendent Proposals Head to Constitution Revision Commission

By Staff on December 15, 2017 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

Two measures that would affect Florida school boards and school superintendents are headed to the full state Constitution Revision Commission. On Thursday, the commission’s Local Government Committee approved a measure (Proposal 43), sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds of Naples, that would limit school board members to no more than two four-year terms in office. Currently, […]

Hanna: School Choice Caused Resegregation

By Karen Murphy on October 22, 2017 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

During the October 10th Leon County School Board (LCSB) meeting, Superintendent Rocky Hanna blamed school choice in Florida for Leon County’s recent ranking as one of the five most highly-segregated school districts in the state. Hanna faced questioning from LCSB chair Georgia “Joy” Bowen on the resegregation of Leon County schools identified in a Sept. […]

School Board Member Striplin Addresses Overcrowding, Northeast High School

By Staff on October 15, 2017 Exclusive, Media Gallery, School Board

After hearing a presentation at the most recent Board meeting about Leon County School’s proposed capital expenditures over the next five years, one board member was critical of what was not addressed in the plan. School Board member Alva Striplin said, “this is painful, painful to me again…there is no forward thought to my district […]

State Audit Finds Leon County School Board Erred in Giving Teacher Bonuses

By Staff on August 24, 2017 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board

Tallahassee Reports has confirmed with the Leon County School Board that a state audit has determined that approximately 20 teachers received bonuses that must be returned. The bonuses range from $5,000 -$10,000. The total amount expended by the error that occurred in 2017 was expected to be around $120,000. The bonuses were part of the […]

Leon School Board to Consider Settlement Agreement with Woody Hildebrandt

By Staff on March 28, 2017 Exclusive, Local, Media Gallery, School Board, Uncategorized

Tonight the Leon County School Board is scheduled to vote on a settlement agreement between the Leon County School Board and former employee Woody Hildebrandt. The agreement can be viewed here. A review of the agreement shows that the Leon County School Board will pay Woody Hildebrandt $55,000 in accrued sick leave, will not provide […]