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In Ransaw's absence, board votes to fire him

After the ex-principal does not show, some on the School Board say they feel justified in backing the judge's recommended penalty.

By MATHEW WASSERMAN
Published April 19, 2006

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County School Board unanimously adopted an administrative law judge's recommended penalty of termination for former Powell Middle School principal Michael Ransaw on Tuesday.

In March, Judge Ella Jane P. Davis found Ransaw guilty of misconduct and gross insubordination in a series of incidents that began when he pawned a school laptop while working as an assistant principal in Broward County in the fall of 2001, then was dishonest about the matter when he applied for jobs in Hernando County.

Superintendent Wendy Tellone suspended him on Nov. 19, 2004, after learning about the laptop investigation. She decided not to reinstate him in 2005 when she found out he had deleted documents and files, including public records, after he discovered that Hernando County officials were investigating him.

The absence of Ransaw and his attorney, Willie Jones, at Tuesday afternoon's special board meeting caused a stir among board members.

"I've had my concerns about which direction I would support today," said board member Pat Fagan. "Since they didn't show up and show us that respect, I have no problem voting for this motion today."

Several other board members made similar comments, and board Chairman Jim Malcolm said he thought their absence was a legal tactic to get the proceedings dismissed.

"We will hear something more about this," he predicted.

Ransaw has 30 days to appeal the board's decision, but Karen Gaffney, the board's former attorney and the prosecutor of the case, said even if he does, she does not believe the decision would be overturned.

If Ransaw and his attorney had attending the meeting, they would have been given 10 minutes to outline the exceptions they had made to Davis' findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Instead, Gaffney alone had 10 minutes to point out the lack of exceptions to statements by Davis about Ransaw's credibility and misrepresentations.

Gaffney and board attorney Paul J. Carland also noted that Ransaw completed only one of the nine steps for filing exceptions. Carland said that Ransaw hand-delivered a box containing the 1,200-page transcript of the case to Carland's office Tuesday morning, but did not deliver any other portions of the record, including evidence admitted.

Board members were unsure if they should proceed Tuesday without Ransaw and his attorney, wondering about the legal ramifications and whether the pair were given proper notice.

After Carland explained that he sent two letters to Jones, one on March 23 and another April 10, the board decided to proceed.

"This has been a long and arduous process," Malcolm said. "I finally understood why it was taking so long when I got a copy of the 63-page order by Judge Davis. . . . It was very apparent to me that in her thoroughness, it took time. . . . It left absolutely no doubt in my mind where to go with this."

After the board voted, members mused about Ransaw's talent, charisma and potential.

"He started a career in which we could all be proud," Malcolm said. "What was a bright hope in one hand turned into darkness in the other. I feel badly for him. I feel badly for his family."

Mathew Wasserman may be contacted at Mat65432@aol.com

[Last modified April 19, 2006, 01:58:13]