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Schools

Remarks reviewed

By Times Staff
Published June 27, 2005

Here is a summary of racial remarks made by five white Pinellas teachers during the 2004-05 school year.

NOV. 11, LAKEWOOD HIGH: Coach Brian Bruch tells a Lakewood High football player to get his "black a--" back into the huddle. He later apologizes. Superintendent Clayton Wilcox recommends Bruch be fired, but black residents intervene on Bruch's behalf. He gets a 10-day suspension, loses his coaching job but still can teach math at another high school.

FEB. 24, RIVIERA MIDDLE: Social studies teacher Dohn Bear includes the word n----- on a quiz about the Rosewood massacre of 1923. Wilcox recommends dismissal. Bear's case will be heard Aug. 10-11 by a hearing officer.

MARCH 8, NORTH WARD SECONDARY: Teacher Helga Reaves said either that a student was "acting like a cotton picker" (the student's story) or that "You are taking your cotton picking sweet time" (her story). Wilcox recommends a suspension, the length to be determined by the principal. Her appeal will be heard by a hearing officer.

MARCH 30, TYRONE ELEMENTARY: Teacher Geoffrey Nelson says "you monkey" while carrying a black student from his class. The student was being disruptive. Nelson immediately apologizes to the student and the principal. Wilcox recommends a five-day suspension, but the School Board votes 6-1 against it. Nelson likely will get a written reprimand.

APRIL 18, DUNEDIN HIGH: Teacher Jacqueline Bovis moves to prevent a fight between a black student and another student, telling the black student, "Get your black a-- over there." She apologizes to the student, to the girl's grandmother and to the principal, who is black. Wilcox initially recommends Bovis be fired but changes that to a 10-day suspension to be consistent with the School Board's recent actions. An appeal before a hearing officer is pending.

[Last modified June 27, 2005, 09:40:04]