Southpinellas: Oak Park student arrested; educators might face charges

PINELLAS PARK -- Two Oak Park School teachers face possible child abuse charges and the principal may be prosecuted for obstruction.

Authorities said the teachers encouraged a student fight, and the principal impeded an arrest.

The Pinellas County Sheriff's Office recommended bringing charges after a parent complained to deputies Thursday about a student fight.

Deputies say the incident began about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday when some 14 and 15-year-old students disrupted a class.

One made a remark that made a teacher cry. She left, and Bryant L. Alexander, 35, another teacher, came to restore order. Alexander got two students, ages 16 and 17, from another class and sat in the back as the older boys berated the younger students, authorities said.

Teacher Roslyn Holloway, 47, stood outside the class door. Both Alexander and Holloway did not intervene as the 16-year-old pushed several students from their seats and, in at least one case, slapped one in the back of the head, sheriff's officials said.

Deputies found probable cause to arrest the 16-year-old, whose named authorities withheld, on misdemeanor assault and battery charges. And they referred the teachers to the State Attorney's Office for consideration of a child abuse charge.

Friday, a supervisor for Pinellas County school resource officers met Oak Park principal Joseph Milana in Clearwater and told him of the impending student arrest and the referrals made to prosecutors.

Milana returned to school and had a staff member drive the 16-year-old suspect home, preventing his arrest, deputies said.

"Deputies say this unexpected action by Milana impeded their investigation," a Sheriff's Office statement said, "and his actions will be referred to the State Attorney's Office for consideration of an obstruction charge."

Deputies eventually took the teenager from his St. Petersburg home to the Pinellas County Juvenile Assessment Center.

Pinellas County contracts with Community Education Partners, a Tennessee firm, to operate Oak Park, which provides academic intervention programs for about 400 secondary students.

The school helps low-performing and disruptive students, teaching them time management, goal setting and manners, along with core subjects. Students stay two semesters before returning to regular schools.

Pinellas School spokeswoman Andrea Zahn said CEP has suspended all three faculty members while the case is being investigated.

"It's premature to even speculate on the situation until Pinellas County schools is fully aware of all the facts of the investigation," Zahn said.

On Monday, Zahn said, an assistant principal from a Pinellas high school will be assigned to Oak Park, and other district personnel will be on site.

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Comments on this article

by Jeff	12/23/07 07:31 PM
I am a student at OPS, and i have been going there for almost year now. The School is put together for all of the absolute worst kids in Pinellas County, and for most of them the school is not made for them, like myself. Just dont send your kid there

by M	11/10/07 01:37 PM
The school has employees called Learning Community Instructional Leaders. They supervise over 3-4 teachers. It makes no sense that some of these people have never taught and do not hold FL teaching certification. The distruct should investigate.

by Georgia	11/10/07 01:32 PM
The school district should consider disolving the partnership with Community Education Partners, which operates the Oak Park School. Administration is inept. The executives of CEP care about making a profit & have no idea how to effectively educate.

by christine	10/01/07 06:43 PM
My son goes to oak park because he failed the FCAT test .Now I see why he ask me every day to take him out.He feels like he will be hurt at school.We were told at the school interview that my child would be safe.He does not belong at this school.

by bibi	09/25/07 08:06 AM
JR, Pinellas county teachers start at $35K, these teachers are not paid by the county, they make less. Not only that, they are severely understaffed at this school. You cannot expect the teachers to teach and police their classes. They need HELP!

by Christina	09/24/07 04:51 PM
MY SON GOES TO THIS SCHOOL for bad grades, hasn't improved at all. He tells me every day how everyone uses the F word the teachers let them fight and sit back and watch. He says he's just trying to make it through the day without getting hit.

by Sarah	09/24/07 03:16 PM
Rhea- Have you volunteered there? All kids have the right to an education, and these teachers should find another job if they can't handle these kids. There are plenty of great teachers who know how to manage a classroom without resorting to abuse.

by Mr. Rhee	09/24/07 12:19 PM
Oak Park is a tough school for tough kids. I applaud all that would even consider taking a job working with that population of students.

by Harris	09/22/07 10:22 PM
What's wrongs with the school system? Since when the students have more rights then the educator? We come to school to learn, not make the teacher upset and get away with it!!! Never should have taken pray and the rod of correction out of school.

by Bob	09/22/07 09:50 PM
This is why my child does not attend public schools. The poor Teachers and staff are screwed no matter what. GO VOUCHER SYSTEM!!!

by jason	09/22/07 09:37 PM
well Mr samuel, i hope you don't get mugged/robbed by these thugs when they fail to get a diploma. oh, yea, that's right, you value disruptive students over class control.

by Lisa	09/22/07 03:10 PM
Violence should never be taught or encouraged as a remedy to civil disputes.

by Sara	09/22/07 03:01 PM
My nephew was placed in this school last year. He said the same thing happened to him. I was in disbelief that this could be true. I gues it was. I owe my nephew an apology! Sounds to me like they need to investigate.

by J R	09/22/07 02:23 PM
You want to hold teachers to a higher standard? - Pay them a higher standard! For $35,000 a year you might as well put a truck driver in the classroom - oh wait, he would have to take a pay cut!!!!!!

by why	09/22/07 01:18 PM
why was the typeos behaviorallowed in the first place.. those teachers should facethesame charges as those students.

by Whats the Matter with Kids tod	09/22/07 12:35 PM
These kids have NO respect for anyone. I think we need to return to the day where teachers can whack a kid with a ruler when they get out of line.

by Rhea	09/22/07 12:30 PM
Mr. Samuel-You weren't there and you have no idea what you are talking about. Go volunteer there for a week. You'd probably last about 15 minutes with these little "angels". they're not there for being nice.

by Mario	09/22/07 11:48 AM
How irresponsible, and people ask, why is there the violence and threats that is taking place in the nation's school system. These so called educators should be automaticaaly be banished from ever teaching again.

by jane	09/22/07 08:21 AM
Another reason why no one wants to be a teacher.

by Jay	09/22/07 07:30 AM
And if the teachers had laid a hand on the students to stop the fight, there would have been a complaint about that. As for the principal driving the kid home, better to have him arrested there than at school where things may disrupt. Absurd.

by Mr samuel	09/22/07 05:18 AM
A TEACHER is held to a higher standard,than the general public.Jail time and removal of the teachers should be considered. The alledged cover-up by the principal should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Schools

Oak Park student arrested; educators might face charges

Two teachers encouraged a student fight and the principal impeded an arrest, deputies say.