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Substitute Teacher Plans To Sue Pasco Schools Over Wizardry Claim

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By RONNIE BLAIR | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 7, 2008

LAND O' LAKES - A substitute teacher who said he lost his job because of claims that he was practicing wizardry plans to file a lawsuit against the Pasco County School Board.

The school district received notice Monday of Jim Piculas' plan to file the lawsuit.

Piculas was at Rushe Middle School in January when he performed a disappearing toothpick trick for students. He said he later received a telephone call from a human resources supervisor who told him a parent complained and he had been accused of practicing wizardry.

School district officials, though, had a different version of events. They said there were numerous problems with Piculas' classroom performance, including failure to follow the lesson plan, allowing students on computers when another teacher told him not to and telling a student she was in charge of the class.

Summer Romagnoli, a school district spokeswoman, said the notification of intent to file a lawsuit has been forwarded to school board attorney Dennis Alfonso.

Government agencies must be given six months notice before a lawsuit is filed.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218 or rblair@tampatrib.com.

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