Building Public Trust One Tryst At A Time

Today we find in the Tampa Tribune this story: Ragusa Complained About School's Public Reprimands


First the "she said -she said":

"After a student approached Ragusa wanting to complete a math test, Flanagan and another teacher "charged up to my classroom and confronted me in front of two students," Ragusa wrote in the complaint.

"Again, I was reprimanded out in the hall, with doors ajar, ELP classes in session, and other faculty gawking while exiting their classrooms at the end of the day. You disclosed aloud your perception of matters that occurred at previous schools, exclaiming, 'Haven't you had trouble with being alone with male students in the past?' I have since had to endure whispers from faculty wondering 'what happened to Ms. Ragusa at her last school.'"

Flanagan denied that allegation, district spokeswoman Linda Cobbe said."

and then there is this:

"On Jan. 22, based on complaints from her principal, Ragusa was reprimanded for "a pattern of behavior that demonstrates a loss of effectiveness," Cobbe said. Those complaints included using profanity while speaking with students in class and discussing her personal life with students.

Ragusa made another complaint against Flanagan that involved male students.

One instance occurred after an Oct. 7 bomb threat drill, Ragusa wrote. She said Flanagan yelled at her in front of students and colleagues because the principal thought she refused to leave the building during the drill, instead staying behind with a student.

Flanagan, she said, yelled that Ragusa was "totally unfit to work with children" and that she "would definitely be contacting professional standards" to report Ragusa.
Regarding that Oct. 7 incident, Cobbe said Ragusa was alone with a student in a classroom after the drill and Flanagan maintains that she responded properly."

Ok, we all know (?) who gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to "she said/she said". Don't we?

But what should be of strong concern to everyone is the apparent lack of attention to information, let alone a detail.


"Cobbe said the district was aware Ragusa previously had issues regarding conduct with students but was not aware of any sexual relationships.

"There was a pattern of inappropriate behavior," Cobbe said of Ragusa's teaching record before the investigation. "It was never anything that rose to the level of sex, but it was clear she didn't know her boundaries."

However, one of the instances Cobbe cited as inappropriate behavior ultimately led to sex between a Davidsen Middle School student and Ragusa during the 2006-07 school year, according to court records.

Cobbe said she was unaware that the instance she mentioned led to sex."

One would think that a "pattern of inappropriate behavior" would be a detail.

But there is more: "Ragusa, 29, was arrested March 13 after investigators accused her of having sex at least three times from January 2007 to May 2007 with a then-14-year-old student, according to records. That was the student Cobbe cited."

That makes the lack of awareness of the above detail even more significant.

But there is more. The following makes it look like equal consideration was given to all, no need to make a public spectacle of the inner-workings of a nationally recognized public school system:

"Linda Kipley, the school district's general manager for professional standards, met with Ragusa and her union representative Dec. 12, Cobbe said. They discussed Ragusa's complaints against Flanagan.

Ragusa's complaints were not investigated and were quickly dismissed, Cobbe said."

A possible soundbite for the HCPS public relations person: "Hillsborough County Public Schools has not found any wrong doing involving the actions of any of our employees".