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No Charge In Pupil Mouth-Tape Allegation; District May Act

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune
and LISA A. DAVIS | The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 30, 2008

Updated: 04/30/2008 01:15 pm

WESLEY CHAPEL - No criminal charges will be filed against a Seven Oaks Elementary School employee who reportedly taped children's mouths to discipline them, but the employee's job could be in jeopardy.

The Pasco County School District is investigating the actions of a paraprofessional last week, and a recommendation is expected to be made to the school board for action at its meeting Tuesday, Assistant Superintendent Renalia DuBose said.

"Sometimes poor judgment doesn't rise to the level of being illegal," DuBose said.

The Pasco County Sheriff's Office announced early today that its investigation of the case turned up no evidence of child abuse, and it closed the case as unfounded, declining to release additional information.

The sheriff's office's conclusion, though, doesn't necessarily mean an employee would be allowed back in a classroom with elementary school children, DuBose said.

"We have a different standard," she said.

District officials were hoping to meet with the paraprofessional and the paraprofessional's attorney today, DuBose said. Once the district completes its investigation, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino is expected to make a recommendation to the school board, she said.

The board meets at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The allegations came to light last week after a mother alerted the media and school officials about the incident.

Tiffany Spurling said another mother told her April 22 that a substitute teacher taped the mouths of her daughter, MacKenzie, and a few classmates to keep them from talking when they were supposed to be reading.

Spurling said she asked her daughter about it and was told it was true. Spurling said MacKenzie also reported being strapped to a chair with a belt.

Although Spurling originally thought a substitute teacher was responsible, DuBose said no substitute was involved.

The paraprofessional and a teacher were removed from the classroom Friday and questioned as school district officials turned the case over to the sheriff's office.

DuBose said Wednesday that the teacher was a bystander and wasn't involved in what happened.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com. Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083 or ldavis@tampatrib.com.

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