Palm Beach County School Board To Finalize Termination…
DELRAY BEACH, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — A teacher in the Palm Beach County School District is set to be ousted later this month, according to documents obtained by BocaNewsNow.com. Beth Rudolph was a pre-K “ESE” teacher. She is accused of violating the Palm Beach County School District “drug and alcohol free workplace” policy. The school district says it investigated an unspecified incident and has “just cause” to fire Rudolph. This is the letter sent by Superintendent Michael Burke to Rudolph at her Delray Beach home:
>> Dear Ms. Rudolph: Based upon information presented to me, I hereby inform you that there is “just cause” , which can be substantiated by clear and convincing evidence, to warrant your termination from your position as a Teacher ESE Pre K. I will recommend your termination from employment at the Wednesday, April 23, 2025, School Board Meeting, which will be held at 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, West Palm Beach, FL 33406. This action is taken in accordance with sec. 1012.22, Fla. Stat. and sec. 1012.27, Fla. Stat.
On or about January 21, 2025, you became the subject of an Office of Professional Standards investigation based upon allegations of policy violations related to Allegation 1: Disregards to Drug and Alcohol-Free Workplace Standards Allegation 2: Failure to Exercise Best Professional Judgment. At the conclusion of the investigation, the allegations were substantiated.
Therefore, these actions violate the following: Allegation 1: Disregards to a Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace Standards, Policy 1.013(1), 1.013(4) Responsibilities of School District Personnel, Policy 3.02(2), 3.02(4)(a), 3.02(4)(b), 3.02(4)0), 3.02(5)(b)(i), 3.02(5)(b)(ii) Code of Ethics, Policy 3.10(6) Conditions of Employment with the District, Policy 3.96(4)(a), 3.96(4)(d), 3.96(4)(f), 3.96(11)(b), 3.96(11)(d) Drug and Alcohol Free Workplace. Allegation 2: Failure to Exercise Best Professional Judgment, Florida Administrative Codes 6A-10.081(1)(b), 6A-10.081(1)(c), 6A-10.081(2)(a)(1), The Principles of Professional Conduct of the Education Profession in Florida.
Sufficient just cause exists for you to be disciplined pursuant to sec. 1012.22(1)(f), Fla. Stat. and sec. 1012.27(5), Fla. Stat.; School Board Policies 1.013(1), 1.013(4), 3.02(2), 3.02(4)(a), 3.02(4)(b), 3.02(4)(g), 3.02(4)(i), 3.02(5)(b)(i), 3.02(5)(b)(ji), 3.10(6), 3.96(4)(a), 3.96(4)(d), 3.96(4)(f), 3.96(11), 3.96(11)(b), 3.96(11(d), Florida Administrative Code 6A-10.081(1)(b), 6A-10.081(1)(c), 6A-10.081(2)(a)(1), 6A-10.081(2)(a)(5) and the Classroom Teachers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement with CTA, Article II, Section M, Discipline of Employees (Progressive Discipline) for the violations stated above.
If you wish to appeal this decision, you may choose either to file a grievance under the provisions of the Classroom Teachers Association Collective Bargaining Agreement Article VII, Section C through the Department of Labor Relations; or request a hearing before the Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) by submitting a request in writing to Shawntoyia Bernard, Esquire, General Counsel to the School Board, 3300 Forest Hill Boulevard, Suite C-332, West Palm Beach, Florida 33406.
Failure to timely request an Administrative Hearing under 120.569, Fla. Stat., shall waive all rights to request a DOAH hearing on such matters and shall be subject only to appeal rights under sec. 120.569, Fla. Stat. and sec. 120.57, Fla. Stat.
I will recommend the termination of your employment become effective on Thursday, May 15, 2025. If you elect to file an appeal as stated above, you must do so, on or before Wednesday, May 14, 2025.
Further, I will recommend that effective Thursday, April 24, 2025, you begin 15 days of unpaid suspension to allow for the time period of the appeal. If you do not contest the charges made against you by timely appealing the recommendations described above, the facts as alleged, shall be deemed accepted and your employment will be terminated effective Thursday, May 15, 2025. If you appeal, your suspension without pay, effective Thursday, April 24, 2025, will remain in effect, but the termination will be stayed until the conclusion of the administrative process, which may include a grievance or a DOAH hearing and Board action.”
While Ms. Rudolph has a significant history of interaction with the court system in Palm Beach County, we see nothing involving drugs or alcohol. The specific incident leading to her termination from the Palm Beach County School District was not specified.
You are hereby advised that the investigative report concerning this matter is now complete. The contents of the report, the related investigative materials, and my recommendations for disciplinary action are considered public record and will be released, upon request, minus any allowable exemptions, ten (10) days from the date of receipt of this notice. <<
Ms. Rudolph has a history of interaction with the Palm Beach County court system. There are no filings, however, involving drugs or alcohol. The specific incident leading to her termination was not listed in the documents that we obtained.
