TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Teachers May Be Charged

ADVERTISEMENT

By RAY REYES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 22, 2007

PINELLAS PARK - The state attorney's office will consider criminal charges against two teachers and the principal of Oak Park School for allowing students to discipline other students, the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office said Friday.
Detectives want the state attorney's office to consider child abuse charges against teachers Bryant L. Alexander, 35, of 1730 54th Terrace S., St. Petersburg, and Roslyn K. Holloway, 47, of 1873 Stancel Drive, Clearwater.

Both denied the allegations, the sheriff's office said.

Principal Joseph Paul Milana, 36, of 216 Grove Circle S., Dunedin, may be charged with one count of obstruction for interfering in the investigation, the sheriff's office said.

He could not be reached for comment late Friday.

A 16-year-old boy also was arrested Friday and charged with five counts of misdemeanor battery and one count of misdemeanor assault for his involvement in the incident at the school, authorities said.
Detectives say a group of disruptive students, ages 14 and 15, upset their teacher with an offensive remark and brought her to tears Wednesday. Alexander entered the room to restore order with two students, ages 16 and 17, detectives said.

Alexander sat in the back of the classroom and Holloway stood at the classroom door while the older boys used profanity and berated the other students, authorities said. During the 30-minute incident, the 16-year-old pushed several students from their seats to the floor and at least one student was slapped in the back of the head, detectives said. No injuries were reported, the sheriff's office said.

A parent complained Thursday, and deputies assigned to the school looked into the incident.

When Milana questioned the investigation and learned of the pending arrest Friday, he arranged for an Oak Park employee to drive the 16-year-old boy home, temporarily preventing his arrest, detectives said.

The boy was arrested at his home and taken to a juvenile detention center Friday. The 17-year-old boy was not arrested, detectives said.

Oak Park School, 8570 66th St. N., is an alternative school for disruptive and low-performing students run by Tennessee-based Community Education Partners, authorities said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 865-4433 or rreyes@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT