Teacher agrees not to keep animals in classroom

A Freedom High School science teacher has agreed to keep animals out of her classroom after nine dead gerbils were found there over the summer.

At a hearing today, Margaret Barthel also agreed to permanently relinquish her ball python to Hillsborough County Animal Services.

Animal Services cited Barthel, the head of Freedom High School's science department, with five citations of animal cruelty after she failed to provide adequate care for the gerbils and a python for two weeks in July, according to court documents.

"No policies have changed, but I'm sure teachers who are keeping animals in their rooms are much more careful," Hillsborough County Schools spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said.

Protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals stood outside the Hillsborough County Courthouse holding signs such as "Classrooms are for students, not animals" and "Max fines for cruel crimes" tried to get people's attention before Barthel's hearing.

"This is just an example of what can go wrong when animals are kept in a classroom," said PETA campaign coordinator Amanda Fortino, who organized the rally. "We have the responsibility to give them protection and respect."

The outcome isn't quite a victory for the protesters, who were hoping for the maximum $5,000 fine - or not allowing classroom pets.

"I'd like to see them permanently ban animals in the classroom," said protester Chi Nguyen-Zeh of Tampa. In her free time, she said, she rescues injured animals such as dogs, ducks and chickens.

Tampa police detectives investigated and found no criminal wrongdoing on Barthel's part.

According to a police report, several Freedom High teachers said Barthel had a history of neglecting animals, including several finches that allegedly died in their cages, a ball python that died after being deprived of heat, and frogs dissected alive by her students.

The conditions in the gerbil cages were deplorable, according to investigators, who were told of overcrowded cages, inadequate food and unchecked breeding practices.

School officials said Barthel has never been disciplined for misconduct in her 10 years with the district.

The school district's Office of Professional Standards still has an investigation open into the animals' deaths, and it's not yet known whether the case's outcome will affect Barthel's status as head of the science department, Cobbe said.

Barthel agreed to pay $1,000 for the snake's care since the county seized the reptile in July and donate $500 to Animal Services.