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Highlands Today

AP High School Teacher Suspended

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By Marc  Valero | Highlands Today

Published: June 13, 2008

AVON PARK — An Avon Park High School teacher has been suspended without pay for an undisclosed incident, which is being investigated by the school district and a state education bureau.

Science teacher John Altic's five-day suspension from May 21-27 was formally approved by the School Board of Highlands County on Tuesday.

Altic was suspended because of an incident, which is currently under investigation, that occurred May 16 at Avon Park High School, Human Resources Director Vivianne Waldron said. Since this is an active investigation no more information can be released, she added.

Altic, 63, was suspended for five days because that is the maximum length of time the superintendent can suspend a teacher without input from the school board, Waldron said. A disciplinary letter has been placed in his personnel file.

He has been recommended for a fourth-year annual contract, she said. Typically after a teacher works for three years they receive professional services contract (PSC) status, which guarantees them a position each year. They can only be terminated for "just cause."

But, pending the outcome of this investigation, Altic was offered a fourth-year annual contract, Waldron said. Teachers working on an annual contract need to have their contract renewed by the district each year for their employment to continue.

If the Bureau of Professional Practices Services at the Florida Department of Education decides to take some action on his teaching certificate that would reopen the whole issue for the district as well, she said.

There is no estimation of when the district's investigation will be completed.

"It has slowed down a little bit now because of the fact that school is out, and we have to talk to a couple of people," Deputy Superintendent Rodney Hollinger said Thursday.

"No comment," Altic said when he was called by Highlands Today.

The Professional Practices Services (PPS) investigates alleged wrongdoings by teachers in Florida who hold a teaching certificate and pursues disciplinary actions against the certificates of teachers found to have committed acts of misconduct. The PPS investigates whether or not the teacher has broken the law or violated state Board of Education Rule, which includes the Code of Ethics and Principles of Professional Conduct.

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