Pubdate: Fri, 11 Nov 2005
Source: News-Press (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The News-Press
Contact:  http://www.news-press.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1133
Author: Dave Breitenstein
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/testing.htm (Drug Test)

SCHOOL TRANSIT WORKER OFF JOB

Lee Supervisor Refused Drug Test

South zone school transportation supervisor Kim DeLora has been
suspended without pay after leaving school grounds when asked to take
a drug test, records show.

According to documents released Thursday, DeLora passed through a Cape
Coral toll booth on Aug. 24, but the toll operator reported DeLora
"just didn't look right" and "wasn't herself." DeLora was driving one
of the Lee County School District's cars, not a bus.

South zone busing director Armando de Leon spoke to DeLora, the report
stated, noting her reactions were slow and speech was slurred. The
district then ordered her to take a drug test, but DeLora refused,
then handed over her district car keys and cell phone, leaving de
Leon's office.

Efforts to reach DeLora for comment were unsuccessful.

Also on Thursday, the board suspended south zone bus dispatcher
Shenetta Horne without pay for skipping town during the first week of
school. Supervisor Lorraine Watson denied Horne's initial leave
request to attend a family reunion in

Chicago, but Horne later furnished a doctor's note for the same days
and claimed to be sick, according to a petition released Thursday.

The district hired Identifax Investigative Services Inc., which filmed
Horne at the airport headed to and from Chicago.

Both women are appealing to Florida's Division of Administrative
Hearings.

That same state agency last month cleared another school employee of
wrongdoing. Physical education teacher Robert VanDeventer had been
accused by an elementary student of molestation in May 2004.

His exoneration means he will receive back pay and benefits, coaching
supplements and be reinstated, according to an agreement ratified
Thursday by the school board.

It's the second serious allegation from a Lee County student
overturned this year; the first was against Dunbar High band director
Michael Joyner.

"Any time I get an accusation, I'm going to err on the side of a
child," Superintendent James Browder said in explaining VanDeventer's
reinstatement.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Derek