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Board Fires Teacher For Excessive Absences

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By RONNIE BLAIR

rblair@tampatrib.com

Published: March 4, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - The Pasco County School Board voted Tuesday to fire a Weightman Middle School teacher with a history of excessive absences.

In making their decision, board members expressed sympathy for science teacher Susan Gozo, who has chronic health problems, but they also said attendance is a fundamental requirement of the job.

"Attendance trumps anything else that comes out," board member Joanne Hurley said.

Board member Allen Altman said the district should offer Gozo the opportunity to be a substitute teacher on the days her health allows her to work.

Gozo was suspended without pay after she missed 12 1/2 days in the first three months of the school year.

That wasn't the first time she got into trouble over attendance, according to school district records.

Gozo was placed on probation July 10 because of an "unsatisfactory record of attendance" and told if her attendance did not improve she could be fired, records said.

When the absences continued into the 2008-09 school year, Superintendent Heather Fiorentino recommended that the school board fire Gozo.

Gozo contested the recommendation. An appeal hearing before the school board was held Jan. 20.

The board originally planned to make the decision on whether to fire Gozo on Feb. 17, but postponed action because attorneys in the case had submitted additional written information the board members needed to review.

Reporter Ronnie Blair can be reached at (813) 948-4218.

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