Broward school board postpones 26 corrective actions after public outcry over due process

The Broward County School Board voted Nov. 12 to postpone corrective actions for dozens of employees and ordered a deeper review after a sustained wave of public testimony from teachers, union leaders and attorneys who said the district’s disciplinary process lacked transparency and consistent due process.

Dozens of staff packed the boardroom during the H2 item, where several employees and union representatives described short notice, limited evidence sharing and what they called inconsistent discipline. Attorney Richard Rossi, speaking for one employee, said his client had a 30-year career and denied the allegations that led to a proposed action. “The allegations … were completely unsubstantiated,” Rossi said, asking the board to deny the recommendation.

Board members repeatedly described the morning’s testimony as troubling and urged staff to provide fuller case files. After debate, board member Dr. Zeman moved an amendment to postpone 26 corrective actions classified as corrective (excluding statutory disqualifiers such as alleged student injury) and bring them back to the December board meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

The board directed the superintendent to deliver case files, videos and witness statements to board members so they could review the records before December. Superintendent Howard Hepburn said the district’s investigative teams had completed reviews but agreed to provide additional materials and to meet with board members who requested a one-on-one briefing. David Azzarito, the district’s executive director of professional practices, told the board that pending appeals and grievance processes can hold suspensions in abeyance while employees file formal appeals.

Union leaders from the Broward Teachers Union, the Federation of Public Employees and other staff groups pressed the board for a fuller audit of how cases are handled and for clearer, consistent discipline guidelines. “This is a runaway train,” said Lisa Maxwell of the Broward Principals and Assistants Association. Multiple speakers asked that the board either require or direct the chief auditor to compare staff actions to written policy and report back with findings.

Board members said they supported the principle of accountability but were concerned by the number of employees with no prior discipline facing multi-day suspensions. Several members asked staff to return with precedent data showing how the district treated similar incidents over the past three years.

What’s next: The 26 corrected-action items will be pulled from today’s agenda and returned to the board for adjudication in December. The board also asked the superintendent and the chief auditor to prepare a package of case files, videos and evidence for members to review before that meeting, and to outline any procedural changes staff will adopt in response to concerns raised in public comment.