Official in Mold Alert Suspended

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Published Thursday, April 20, 2006

Official in Mold Alert Suspended

By Dunn & Crouse

The Ledger - Lakeland,FL

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?

AID=/20060420/NEWS/604200387/1004

Lakeland -- The district administrator who pulled teachers out of a

Polk County juvenile detention center because of mold concerns has

been placed on a weeklong suspension.

Polk Superintendent Gail McKinzie put Dennis Higgins, the district's

director of alternative education, on administrative leave after he

aggressively pressed the state Department of Juvenile Justice to

correct environmental conditions at the Polk Juvenile Correctional

Facility.

The district maintains Higgins' suspension is not retribution for

his involvement with Sabal Palm, the alternative school at PJCF.

But Higgins said that his suspension is " absolutely a political

move, " because it brought more attention to DJJ, which has been

under heavy scrutiny for two inmate deaths and a rape at other

detention centers in the state.

Higgins pulled district teachers out of Sabal Palm on March 3 after

nearly half the district staff reported health problems because of

mold in the air.

Two independent air quality reports confirmed substantial mold in

the buildings.

Since then, Higgins has sent numerous e-mails and has called several

DJJ and Department of Education officials to ask that inmates at

PJCF be reviewed by an independent medical team and that their

parents be notified.

DJJ committed to a $5 million renovation of the facility, pending

legislative funding. Last week, a spokeswoman said the agency sent

parental notification and invited the Polk County Health Department

to interview teachers, PJCF staff and students.

Higgins thinks his suspension is a result of pressure by state

officials.

When McKinzie suspended Higgins on Friday, she said he didn't use

the proper procedure to resolve the situation at Sabal Palm and had

become an obstacle to its resolution, Higgins said.

Lauer, assistant superintendent of human resource services for

Polk schools, confirmed that Higgins has been suspended.

" Dennis is on . . . administrative leave with pay this week, " he

said.

As a senior director, Higgins is paid about $86,000 per year.

Lauer said he could not comment on Higgins' case, specifically.

However, he did say his suspension is what's best for everyone

involved.

He said districts can place people on administrative leave at their

discretion.

He said Higgins' suspension is not political retribution and has

nothing to do with the principal's recent comments on the health

conditions at Sabal Palm.

" Everybody wants the situation at Sabal Palm to be resolved, " he

said. " Those kids need to be in school. "

Higgins said he's been told not to continue his involvement with

PJCF when he returns to work Monday.

Higgins said he's done all he can and doesn't plan to aggravate the

situation further. He plans to retire next year and take a long

leave of absence for health reasons in the summer.

Higgins said he's contacted legal representation and has considered

leaving the district sooner than planned.

" I have no regrets about any of the actions I've taken, " he said. " I

think they want me to go away and, frankly, I'm willing to go away. "