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School board refers Teresa Royal termination hearing to Department of Administrative Hearings
Summary
The Citrus County School Board voted to refer a staff termination hearing request (Teresa Royal) to the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings; the board discussed timeline, likely costs and procedural consequences.
The Citrus County School Board voted to refer a pending termination-hearing request from employee Teresa Royal to the Florida Department of Administrative Hearings (DOAH).
Board counsel advised the board that the statute allows the board either to hear such cases itself or to refer them to DOAH. Counsel outlined an estimated timeline discussed at the meeting: DOAH typically has about 10 days to assign an administrative law judge, 30 days to hold a hearing, and another 30 days to issue a recommended order; counsel also estimated an hourly judge rate in the range of $150–$200. Several board members said referring the matter to DOAH would provide a neutral third-party process and move the matter through a tighter timeline.
A motion to refer the hearing to DOAH carried unanimously after a second by Board Member Frank. The board’s attorney noted that a DOAH administrative law judge issues a recommended order that returns to the board for final action, and the board may accept or reject the judge’s recommendation based on the evidence presented in the hearing.
No final disciplinary decision was made by the board at the meeting; the referral directs the case to DOAH for hearing and recommended findings.
