Broward School Board seeks to revamp investigations policy
School Board members want to revamp its personnel investigations process, but they want more details on proposed changes before taking a vote.
BY PATRICIA MAZZEI
PMAZZEI@MIAMIHERALD.COM
Following months of public outcry over the secretive way the Broward school district investigates its employees, School Board members decided Tuesday to do something about it -- soon.
Board members said they want to address most of the key issues that critics of personnel investigations have raised on and off for the past decade and repeatedly over the past year. But first they want more details on whether making changes to the rules about how investigations are handled would be legal and practical.
Some of the proposed changes include stating that an employee accused of wrongdoing is presumed innocent, clearly informing employees of allegations against them and requiring follow-up investigations into people who make false accusations against employees.
Those steps would tackle some of the criticism from parents and activists that the district's investigations do not give employees a chance to adequately defend themselves.
After a lengthy discussion at a meeting Tuesday, the board agreed to put off an initial vote on the changes until April 20.
In written comments to Tuesday's proposal, board attorney Ed Marko took issue with some of the changes.
For example, identifying the person who filed a complaint against an employee could run afoul with privacy and whistle-blower laws, he wrote. And telling an employee at the beginning of an investigation what specific rule he or she could have violated is ``premature,'' according to Marko.
Proponents of the changes strongly disagreed on that note.
``We are talking simple, simple due process rights for our employees,'' said Lisa Maxwell, executive director of the Broward Principals' and Assistants' Association.