Investigation of principal on hold for now

Pinellas County school officials have temporarily suspended an investigation of Maureen Thornton, the former principal at John Hopkins Middle School, while Thornton is on medical leave. On Dec. 4, the district took the unusual step of removing Thornton from her principal's position in the middle of the school year. A new principal was put in place the next day, a Friday. Thornton requested medical leave the following Monday and is under a doctor's care, the district said.

The district typically suspends investigations of employees who are on medical leave, said Valerie Brimm, an administrator in the Office of Professional Standards. One reason, she said, is so the district cannot be accused of worsening an employee's medical condition by adding stress. Another reason: It avoids situations where employees use a medical condition to recant statements to investigators.

Thornton has 31 days of sick leave. The investigation could resume when those days are used up in late January, Brimm said. The district does not disclose the substance of employee investigations until they are completed. Brimm said Thornton has not been interviewed yet, and her statement is the last piece of the investigation. She said more than 20 people have been interviewed so far.

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Comments

Talk about snakes, Thornton is a viper. I am glad she is getting her just due. Maybe altenore is next.

GB, you brought up an issue that no one has posted on in over 2 months. Thanks for stirring the pot.

So what's up with this case? When will a recommendation be made to the board?

[GB1]

You all are such snakes. Get yourselves some business, and leave MRS.Thornton, ALONE.

[GB1]

You all are such snakes. Get yourselves some business, and leave MRS.Thornton, ALONE.

Thornton NEVER played the race card.I am a former student of John Hopkins and I am now a freshmen.She was a good principal and never brought her students down in any way.Rumors get around very quickly.It happens.She will never be replaced by a better principal.

[BEEN THERE, DONE THAT GOT THAT T-SHIRT]

WHERE ARE THE TIMES REPORTERS? INVESTIGATE THE CHURCH CONVENTIONS THORNTON HELD AT HOPKINS MIDDLE! EVEN RAFFLED A CADILLAC!! (MORE THAN 1 CONVENTION)

It is sad that she will never answer any of the questions that surround her dismissal. Instead she is hiding behind bogus medical leave and will slither out of town having been fired for not reporting to work. Wouldn't an innocent person be fighting for their reputation and career?

Incredible tie in with the gunman in the link above. It had to have a huge effect on her marriage and life in general. I am also interested to her what exactly are the allegations she is accused of officially.

[RS]

Bob is correct in what he is saying. I am a parent of a student at the school and this is what I have been told by several people who work there. I am glad she is gone!!!!!

Maybe her husband was a pig who dragged her down?

[taxpaying gal]

Bob,

Do you have personal knowledge of the case against her? Or are you just speculating? I'm really curious what she is being investigated for. I wonder if it has something to do with what her husband did up north????

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/feb/09/na-pinellas-middle-school-principal-married-to-mis/

[2007teacher]

Ms. Thornton has run out of race cards. I think she might run out of sick days too. She needs to get the consequences she is going to deserve! She has all those clothes and shoes and glasses(lots of frames to match her clothes) and nowhere to go. When she came to Florida everyone thought she was a wealthy woman. She drove fancy cars, bragged about getting flowers from her husband, etc, but it was fake. She was running from her debts!!

Ms. Thornton often played the race card. She spoke freely about her desire to turn Hopkins back into an all black school.

Just a guess, but maybe Valarie Brimm told her to take medical leave to avoid the investigation while using up her sick leave. Otherwise, the sick leave would be lost upon leaving the district.

Your tax dollars at work!

[JJ]

Why do you people always play the race card? The person could have earned her position without regard to her race. The funny thing is that you people do crap like this all the time and cover for each other so it never hits the news. You 7:56 and Bob are the crap that falls from a pigs behind!

Medical Leave or EAP type systems are very often used to dodge a bullet. So much so, it's often seen as a sign of guilt.

The whole situation is a case study on the problems with Affirmative Action and PC. She'll most likely walk with permanent disability.

[David]

Interesting that she opted for "medical leave" the day after the new principal was put in place.

She must have done something fairly drastic to be removed from her duties in mid-year, especially given the current "politically correct" environment that we are in these days.

[Bob]

Theft, Insubordination, Failure to perform duty. Sounds like Affirmative Action at its finest

[Curious]

What exactly is she being investigated for? Does anyone know?