INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – The Indian River County School Board will seek an administrative judge to hold a termination hearing for a teacher who was found guilty of drug trafficking late last month.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Fran Adams had originally recommended the School Board terminate Raquel Wright, who was convicted of trafficking oxycodone on July 21 following an undercover buy-bust a year ago.
Wright, as is her right, has requested a termination hearing, which is to be held no later than about 60 days from now.
Given the request for the hearing, the School Board approved Adams’s amended recommendation to suspend the teacher without pay pending the outcome of the hearing.
School Board member Carol Johnson told her fellow members that she would prefer to refer the termination hearing to an administrative judge rather than have the board itself oversee the proceedings.
“It’s very difficult,” Johnson said of sitting in that position, referring to a time before when the then-School Board did precisely that. She added that, out of fairness to the teacher, she’d rather someone with a legal background handle the hearing.
“You feel as though you’re not giving them the benefit of the doubt,” Johnson said, explaining that as board members, they do not necessarily have the skills or background to make an informed decision.
An administrative judge, however, would be able to analyze the evidence, take witness statements into account and render an opinion the School Board could then evaluate.
Fellow board member Claudia Jimenez agreed that taking the judge’s recommendation under consideration would be best.
“We all have our preconceived notions,” Jimenez said.
Member Jeff Pegler asked if the board still had to hold a hearing given that the teacher could be sentenced to jail time.
Wright’s sentencing hearing is scheduled for Aug. 30.
School Board Attorney Suzanne D’Agresta said that Wright is entitled to a hearing, regardless of whether or not she would be able to attend.
