FL- DiPatri wants Palm Bay teacher fired

3-19-2009 Florida:

Brevard Superintendent Richard DiPatri recommended a Southwest Middle physical education teacher and basketball coach be fired for gross insubordination after he ignored orders to stop taking his camera-equipped cell phone into a boy's locker room.

DiPatri issued a letter to Carl Stamm on Tuesday that said the 63-year-old teacher was twice warned not to bring his phone into the locker room amid "a parent complaint and student concerns that you were possibly taking pictures of students." Yet he did so again, the superintendent said.

The district conducted an investigation but found no criminal activity was committed, said Andrea Alford, director of security for Brevard Public Schools. Palm Bay police also investigated, but no criminal charges were filed and the case was closed, police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said.

Spokeswoman Carrie Hoeppner said the Department of Children and Families was notified of the allegations March 10 and contacted the school district the next day. Hoeppner said DCF's investigation is ongoing and could take 60 days.

Stamm told FLORIDA TODAY his attorney advised him not to comment because there is an ongoing investigation.

Stamm is appealing DiPatri's recommendation and will meet with the superintendent in the next couple of days. The outcome of that meeting, along with the results of the district's investigation, will be sent to the Florida Department of Education, which will determine the fate of Stamm's teaching license.

The school board would have to approve Stamm's termination at its meeting Tuesday. If he is fired, Stamm would not be eligible to teach in the district again.

Firings over gross misconduct are rare, and district officials said they cannot recall a recent, similar situation.

Last year, Stamm received a verbal warning from then principal Robert Novelli for the "inappropriate use of the cell phone" after a parent complaint and student concerns, according to DiPatri's letter.

Current Southwest Principal Todd Scheuerer issued Stamm a written reprimand in November 2008 for the same issue.

District security said an investigation was conducted after each incident.

Stamm has been with the school district since August 2001. Besides working at Southwest, Stamm also has coached football at Bayside High and basketball at Palm Bay High.

The cell phone incidents were the only times disciplinary actions were taken against Stamm. ..News Source.. by MICHELLE SPITZER • FLORIDA TODAY