Board Approves Outside Investigation of Superintendent, Staff

An investigation into claims of political coercion and intimidation by the Pasco County Superintendent's staff is moving forward.

The Pasco County School Board authorized district attorney Dennis Alfonso to engage outside counsel to further investigate claims during its regular meeting Tuesday, July 24.

Alfonso said that the initial findings from an investigation of the claims of coercion and intimidation warrant the move. 

Barbara Munz, a retired educator who spent 33 years in Pasco County, was among those who addressed the board during that meeting. She told the board she'd been contacted by several current employees who feel intimidated and threatened due to political coercion by the superintendent.

The initial focus of the past few weeks was to determine whether allegations brought to the board's attention do, in fact, violate policy if they are found to be true, he said.

“The investigation thus far has shown that yes, if the allegations are true, they could be a violation of policy,” Alfonso said.

Alfonso pointed out that no specific allegations of misconduct have been brought against Superintendent Heather Fiorentino.

Because it would be awkward for the board to investigate the superintendent or her staff, Alfonso recommended engaging counsel not affiliated with the district to pursue further investigation.

Any investigation authorized by the board should prescribe parameters and a focused directive to look at the specific allegations that have been brought forward.

Both the Hillsborough and Lee county districts have engaged in similar investigations recently, Alfonso told the board.

Some of those who have come forward have done so anonymously, Alfonso said.

School board member Cynthia Armstrong asked how such an investigation would work with the district's whistleblower policy.

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As far as protecting those who do come forward, there is a whistleblower policy in place. However, the findings of an investigation will become public record once the investigation is complete, Alfonso said.

Alfonso advised that he has been in discussion with the attorney engaged by Hillsborough County, whose fee would run $175 per hour.

A “reasonable”cost, in Alfonso’s opinion.

His recommendation was based on policy language adopted by the board on first read earlier in the evening.

The policy as it existed prior stated that complaints of misconduct were to be directed to the board chair, with no further directive. The new policy spells out procedure which dictates that, if allegations do not appear to involved criminal misconduct, the matter shall be assigned by the board attorney to a law firm not affiliated with the school board attorney. (A copy of the new language is attached to this article.)

Board member Steve Luikart made the motion to follow the procedure spelled out by the language of the new policy. Board member Allison Crumbley seconded his motion.

Luikart said it was important to him that the board follow the advice of its attorney.

“The policy seems pretty clear,” Crumbley said.

Following the unanimous approval of the motion by the board, Daniel Hamm of Hudson addressed the board during the second public comment portion of the meeting.

Hamm said the accusations against the superintendent’s staff brought to the attention of the board by Munz on July 3 were, in his opinion, a "political attack” brought on by supporters of another candidate.

The superintendent has many supporters in the retired sector, Hamm said. 

“Munz seems to me a cowardice,” Hamm said.

If “cowards and good old boys” persist, the vocal minority will triumph, he said.

The attorney’s fees for the investigation will come out of the district’s operating budget, which is already operating on a deficit, district CFO Olga Swinson said after the meeting.

A budget amendment will be required to cover the expense, she said.

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