Abusive teacher could return to classroom . . .

[Guest guest]

I saw this story in the paper and can't believe that child protective services

or someone isn't stepping in to say that this woman shouldn't be around

children. It is amazing that even with witnesses, the police dept. couldn't get

a judge to convict her.

Glenda

http://weblogs.sun-sentinel.com/news/specials/weirdflorida/blog/2010/08/teacher_\

who_pulled_the_skin_of_1.html

Teacher Suspended for Abusing Profoundly Disabled Students Could Return to the

Classroom

Former Venice Elementary School teacher O'Neill was suspended for hitting

her special education students on the head with water bottles, kicking one

student and pulling the skin off the lip of another. O'Neill's behavior was

reported to the district by support staff who were with her in the classroom,

reports the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

The 47-year-old teacher was arrested by Venice police in 2008 on charges that

she abused her profoundly disabled students.

She was acquitted of criminal charges after a trial.

O''Neill, who earns about $80,000 a year, struck a settlement with the state

education department: She would serve a 2-year probation, receive a letter of

reprimand and pay a $500 fine. She would also have to pay $600 to cover the cost

of probation, reports the Herald-Tribune.

The agreement must still be approved by the Education Practices Commission next

month. The district had tried to fire O'Neill, but an arbiter ruled she should

keep her job because the district knew about

her behavior but never disciplined her or gave her a verbal warning as required,

reports the Herald-Tribune.

The arbiter did rule that O'Neill should serve a 4-week unpaid suspension,

reports the Herald-Tribune.

In the meantime O'Neill is working in the district's records department as her

case weaves itself through the state

disciplinary system, reports the Herald-Tribune.