Deal’s case stems from former Superintendent Todd Bowden’s recommendation to fire her in 2018. Deal has fought the case for more than two years, despite not having the support of the Sarasota Classified/Teachers Association and declining to testify in her own defense during a lengthy administrative hearing last year.
The case has been drawn out by both appeals and leaves of absence. She has been working in the district’s facilities department since the fall of 2019 as the case played out.
Deal had already been disciplined several times during her tenure at Sarasota High when she allegedly got into a shouting match with a student in 2018, prompting Bowden’s recommendation for termination.
However, Hoffman argues that under Florida law it is the schools’ responsibility and not a law enforcement duty.
As he is trying to boost deputy pay to entice more recruits into the field, the quarter-million-dollar crossing guard contract stood out as one natural place to cut, especially since the district started its own police force instead of using Sheriff’s Office deputies in schools.
Hoffman’s letter listed dozens of services the Sheriff’s Office still provides at no cost to the school district. This includes providing detectives for felony crimes, the bomb squad and K9 unit, use of the forensic drug laboratory, crime scene technicians, 911 dispatch services and multi-agency active shooter training.