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Teacher Sex Scandals, Cell Phone Use Targets of Local Students in Tally

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By VALERIE KALFRIN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 26, 2009

Bay area high-school students hope to persuade state legislators to make teenagers wear headsets to use cell phones while driving and to give mandatory jail time to teachers who have sex with students.

The proposals surfaced as part of this year's "Ought to Be a Law" competition, sponsored annually by Rep. Kevin Ambler (R-Tampa) and Sen. Victor Crist (R-Tampa).

Students from Leto High School who drafted the bill about cell phones and other electronic devices were in Tallahassee last week to lobby before a committee.

Students from Armwood High School who drafted the teacher-sex bill traveled to Tallahassee today for a similar purpose.

"The kids are very excited to see the process in action," Armwood Principal Marc Hutek said today.

If enacted, both bills would take effect Oct. 1.

Karishma Mahtani wrote the presentation for the electronics bill, which was selected as the competition's winner. She and the Leto students are working with Ambler's staff. Ambler is a co-sponsor of the bill, filed as House Bill 1127.

However, Rep. Kelli Stargel (R-Lakeland), who was a judge in the competition, liked the Armwood students' idea so much, she offered to work with them also, officials said. Stargel filed a bill entitled "Sexual Misconduct with Students by Authority Figures" as House Bill 659. It has an identical bill in the Senate.

The electronics bill would require teenagers under 18 to refrain from using a cell phone while driving unless wearing a hands-free headset. The bill also allows law enforcement to add an enhancement of a $50 fine and 1 point on the license of such a driver who is caught during another traffic offense sending text messages, using an MP3 player or using a personal gaming device. The enhancement is similar to ones given to drivers caught speeding in construction zones.

The use of electronics while driving is a popular topic among legislators this year, but this bill has no financial cost to the state, said Amber Smith, an aide for Ambler's office.

A study by Allstate insurance found that Tampa is the worst city for teen drivers, heightening the need for better focus on the roadways, Smith said.

The teacher-sex bill would make any sexual conduct between students and teachers a first-degree felony, requiring jail time. Armwood student Kelly Drapeza in her presentation noted that state statutes consider sexual activity with a specified minor a second-degree felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison.

However, only one of the 10 Bay Area teachers accused in a sex scandal since 2005 "has served even a day of jail time," Drapeza said in the presentation.

"The court system has not done an adequate job of prosecuting the sexual offenders that we once called educators," the presentation states. "House arrest and probation are obviously not effective enough deterrents."

Former Greco Middle School teacher Debra Lafave received house arrest and probation after her 2004 arrest for having sex with a then-14-year-old boy.

Former Davidsen Middle School teacher Stephanie Ragusa, arrested in 2008 and accused of having sex with two underage students, is scheduled for trial in August.

Reporter Valerie Kalfrin can be reached at (813) 259-7800.

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