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Credibility is key issue in principal's suspension saga

Suspended Powell Middle School principal Michael Ransaw's disciplinary case has turned into an unpleasant saga that threatens to drag on even longer, leaving the leadership of the school and Ransaw's future in limbo.

That is unfortunate, because the outcome seems inevitable. Ransaw's credibility has been undermined to the point that it is virtually impossible for him to be an effective administrator in the Hernando County School District.

Just as it appeared the School Board was prepared to bring an end to the tumult by either reinstating Ransaw or, as Superintendent Wendy Tellone recommended, terminating his employment, Ransaw's attorney filed voluminous public records requests that prompted the school district to delay the public hearing scheduled for Tuesday.

While it is necessary for the district to comply with the records request - to examine the personnel files of every employee who has been disciplined in the past four years - it is unlikely the findings will have direct bearing on Ransaw's case. That's because the evidence Tellone has gathered to support her recommendation for termination is overwhelming.

When he applied for a job at Nature Coast Technical High School, and later accepted a job as assistant principal at Pine Grove Elementary School in 2002, it was deceptive of Ransaw to not tell Tellone he was under investigation by the state Department of Education. The DOE's inquiry was prompted by an incident that occurred in Broward County in which Ransaw pawned a school-owned laptop computer and used the money for personal reasons.

Ransaw was not prosecuted, but was suspended for 10 days and demoted from his position as an assistant principal. When Ransaw applied for work in Hernando County, he did not acknowledge that demotion, leading district officials to believe he was still an assistant principal.

After learning that Ransaw was under investigation by the state, Tellone suspended him with pay on Nov. 19. On Dec. 14, the School Board changed that to suspension without pay, pending the results of Tellone's investigation.

Viewed as a whole, the findings of that probe paint a picture of an employee whose veracity is in doubt, and who reacted to his unflattering circumstances by continuing to conceal information.

For example, Ransaw was in possession of two taxpayer-owned laptop computers, two Palm Pilot organizers, two cellular telephones and a stereo. When instructed to return that cache of equipment, district officials say he deleted the contents, including public records, which is against state law. The district also alleges he used the equipment for personal reasons.

Ransaw has received support from some parents who are pleased with his accomplishments at Powell Middle School. They say students are behaving better and learning more and they do not believe the Broward County incident should come to bear on his performance here. However, since the rest of the superintendent's findings were released, that support has waned.

But Ransaw's past success has become a secondary question. The question now is whether his credibility is damaged to the point he no longer can command the respect an educator, especially an administrator, must. Misrepresenting the truth calls into question not only his honesty, but his ability to make judgments in an organization where accountability to the public is paramount.

This case has put a strain on the school district's administrative staff, but things are running smoothly at Powell under the direction of acting principal Earl Deen. That is one bit of good news. Another is that Tellone already is revamping the way the district conducts background checks on prospective employees, and she is tightening procedures for how the district keeps track of school equipment. Thank goodness for silver linings.

However, a cloud remains. If Tellone and the School Board cannot trust Ransaw to admit a mistake and tell the whole truth, then they are left with no choice but to permanently relieve him of his responsibilities. Approximately 3,000 district employees and 20,000 students await their decision.

[Last modified January 16, 2005, 00:33:22]