Principal's discipline debated

The ousted principal of Tarpon High admits he made a mistake, but did it merit his removal?

By KATHERINE GAZELLA, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 10, 2002

TARPON SPRINGS -- Former Tarpon Springs High School principal John Nicely agrees he made a mistake in an incident involving a student's grade, but should that have resulted in his transfer out of a job he loves?

No, he says, and many Tarpon Springs students, teachers and parents agree.

Outside the school, however, the ramifications of Nicely's misstep and his punishment remain a matter of debate. Many educators say they understand why he tried to help a student. Some said his punishment -- being transferred to an administrative job in the school district -- was too harsh.

"He did something he shouldn't have done, so go ahead and give him a reprimand. Suspend him for a couple of days, at the very most," said Rob McMahon, president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association.

From Pasco County, however, schools Superintendent John Long sees it differently.

"I think he made a serious mistake . . . that would destroy the credibility of the Pinellas County School District," Long said.

The spark that touched off the controversy involved the absentee policy at Tarpon Springs High School, where students take four classes a day for a nine-week period. That means one absence at Tarpon Springs High weighs more heavily than at some other schools.

Under Nicely, the school set up a policy of automatically failing students who miss 10 days or more in a nine-week period. But students are given the option to appeal the decision.

In January and February, six seniors appealed their failing grades to Nicely. To encourage them not to miss more school, he worked out a deal that allowed them to keep the grade they would otherwise earn in their classes, as long as they had no more unexcused absences for the remainder of the school year.

The problem occurred when one of those students asked Nicely to send her passing grades to a college so she could qualify for a scholarship. He agreed, but told her he would alert the college if she ended up with a failing grade. He kept the Fs on her transcript at the high school.

According to Nicely, the school district said he made a mistake by having different grades on the transcripts at the college and at the high school. He was told that his decision affected the school district's credibility.

Former St. Petersburg High School principal Tom Petit said the Pinellas County school district's reputation is so strong among colleges and universities that this incident would not damage it.

"The important thing is to help the kids. Knowing John the way I did, I know he would do what he could to help kids," Petit said.

Several parents and teachers have questioned whether Nicely's transfer had something to do with a sexual discrimination lawsuit filed by former Countryside High principal Sharon Lambeth.

Lambeth was transferred to a supervisory position at the school district after allowing a star football player to retake two exams after graduation in 1997 to help him get into Bethune-Cookman College. She later filed a lawsuit against the school district, saying a male principal would not have been transferred.

"This may have been an attempt by the Pinellas County School District to use his situation to prove . . . that they do not discriminate on the basis of sex," said Marcia Cohen, Lambeth's attorney.

Many students, meanwhile, have made calls to the school district, urging it to reconsider the transfer of their principal.

As for Nicely, he said he could accomplish a lot in his new position as supervisor of work force development. He will talk to students about college, junior college and technical programs.

"I'm some place I think I can do some good," he said.

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111

Contact the Times | Privacy Policy
Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright