Sounds like a pre-emptive strike to diffuse anticipated criticism after the public finds out about those teachers with criminal pasts in Pasco County.
June 20, 2008 - The Superintendent of the Pasco County School District worries that the new ethics law "may go too far."
The Ethics in Education Act, signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist on June 10, among other things prohibits school districts from concealing the misconduct of fired employees and causes school employees who commit certain felonies to lose retirement benefits.The Superintendent worried about teachers who might have had, for instance, a streaking incident in their past.
The provision that concerns Pasco school officials, though, states that teachers, administrators and other school employees who have direct contact with children would lose their certification and jobs if they have criminal records related to a long list of potential offenses.
State Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Fort Walton Beach, a co-sponsor of the legislation, disagreed with that interpretation. He said the ethics act specifies it is dealing with serious crimes. The act wouldn't prevent people from becoming teachers because of a minor offense, such as streaking, committed years ago, he said.Gaetz was a former Superintendent in Okaloosa County.
The act lists about 50 criminal violations that would cause school employees to lose their jobs. Some are directly related to crimes against children, such as sexual activity with minors, child abuse, child neglect and battery on a minor.The law is retroactive. It includes crimes that were committed before they were certified as teachers. The board attorney said he found that troublesome.
Other offenses include indecent exposure, dealing in stolen property, voyeurism, resisting arrest with violence, aggravated assault, recruiting someone to join a street gang and possession of contraband in a juvenile detention facility.
Most of the crimes on the list are felonies, but a few are misdemeanors that involve crimes against minors.
The act also requires each school board to adopt standards of ethical conduct and provide training for instructional personnel and school administrators. The deadline for implementation is July 1.
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Ethics in Education Act tracking. The enrolled bill text
SB 1712 was signed June 10.
