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Manatee County School Board adopts judge's recommendation to terminate employee Leia Early
Summary
At a special meeting, the Manatee County School Board voted to adopt an administrative law judge's recommended order terminating employee Leia Early. The board acted after reviewing a multi-step investigation and an administrative hearing record; Early was not present.
The Manatee County School Board voted to adopt an administrative law judge's recommended order terminating employee Leia Early at a special meeting held this morning.
The board considered the recommended order in Manatee County School Board v. Leia Early (case no. 23-3998) after being presented with the administrative record. Miss Diago, who presented the item to the board, summarized the procedural history: an investigation opened in August 2023, the Discipline Review Committee recommended termination in September 2023, the superintendent approved that recommendation, an administrative complaint was served on Sept. 28, 2023, the employee requested an evidentiary hearing, a merits hearing was held Dec. 18, 2023, and the administrative law judge issued a recommended order on Feb. 1, 2024, recommending termination.
"Neither party filed exceptions to that recommended order," Miss Diago said, and she asked the board to note that Early and any representative had been notified of the meeting by mail and email but were not present. "I am comfortable resting on the record that's presented before the board today," she said, noting that if the employee had been present the board customarily allows up to 15 minutes for each side.
The superintendent told the board: "I recommend approval of the recommended order in Manatee County School Board v. Leia Early, case number 23-3998, by Administrative Law Judge Quinby Penck, recommending the termination of Leia Early and adoption of a final order." The motion to adopt the recommended order was moved by Miss Bray and seconded by Miss Messenger. The board voted verbally and the motion passed, with the board announcing approval by the membership present.
Board members were given two procedural options: adopt the ALJ's recommended order in full, or reject or modify the ALJ's conclusions of law or findings of fact but provide specific written findings supporting any rejection or modification. The presenting attorney said all procedural requirements had been met and that the board had been provided the full record, including the administrative complaint, hearing transcript, exhibits, and the ALJ's recommended order.
The chair closed the special business and recessed the meeting for about five minutes to allow the public broadcaster to switch to the workshop portion of the agenda.
Next steps: the board adopted the ALJ's recommended order as its final order. Leia Early and any representative were not present at the meeting and had been notified; the transcript and exhibits remain part of the administrative record.
