Tag Archives: Peter Licata

HR Investigation Lead To Reassignment Of Broward Schools Labor Relations Chief During Negotiations With Broward Teachers Union

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A “hostile work environment” investigation forced the temporary reassignment of the Broward Schools Director of Employee And Labor Relations in the middle of District negotiations with the Broward Teachers Union, documents obtained by REDBROWARD show. On September 7, 2023 David Azzarito, the “Chief People Officer” a.k.a. executive director of human resources, placed Susan Cooper, director of employee and labor relations, on “temporary assignment.” For years, Cooper has overseen negotiations with numerous employee and labor unions including the BTU.

In his September 7, 2023 letter, Azzarito told Cooper she was “prohibited” from the employee and labor relations offices at the Broward School District headquarters in downtown Fort Lauderdale. Cooper was assigned to an office in Sunrise, Florida. Cooper was told she would be advised of her new work duties.

The hostile work environment investigation was prompted following the receipt of written complaints by two employees in Cooper’s department.

“ERRATIC BEHAVIOR”

In a July 11, 2023 multiple page letter to Deputy Superintendent Valerie Wanza, Patricia Sapp stated she would have complained about Cooper earlier but “I thought my job would be in jeopardy.” Sapp stated Cooper needed training on how to run a department. She also complained about Cooper’s lack of attendance at work. Sapp wrote, “I have never seen [Cooper] come in and work for a full week in the office.” Sapp said Cooper always left work early or simply failed to show up at the office.

Sapp’s most explosive allegation details an encounter in May/June 2023.

“I smelled alcohol one time on [Cooper’s] breath as she came in about 8:00 AM in the morning,” Sapp wrote. “It was very potent.”

A second written complaint was sent to David Azzarito on September 6, 2023. Penned by Manager Sherline Manzo, this second complaint also detailed Cooper’s managerial skills. Manzo said the atmosphere inside the Employee and Labor Relations Department was “unbearable” and “not functioning.” Manzo wrote, “The entire department prefers that [Cooper] remain at home in order for us to work.”

Manzo said she personally witnessed Cooper’s “erratic behavior” at work.

She said Cooper “makes you feel very uncomfortable and interferes with our ability to work.”

Manzo claimed Cooper suffered from mood swings, had difficulty focusing and was “unstable.”

INVESTIGATIVE REPORT

According to the official report, following complaints by several employees, David Azzarito opened a hostile work environment investigation into Susan Cooper on September 5, 2023. Cooper was reassigned two days later. Then, Azzarito initiated interviews with ten staff members of the Employee And Labor Relations Department. The report states the interviews were conducted between September 11 and September 15, 2023.

Azzarito’s questions focused on communication styles, working environments, and whether employees witnessed “intimidating” or “offensive behaviors.”

Amazingly, Azzarito never asked about alcohol use, absenteeism, tardiness or “erratic behaviors” described in the written complaints.

While some employees said Cooper was “rude” and absenteeism was mentioned, Azzarito would find there was not enough evidence to determine there was a “hostile work environment.”

The investigation concluded on September 21, 2023 and Azzarito provided a copy of his report to Susan Cooper one day later.

An October 4, 2023 “meeting summary” form details the corrective steps Azzarito wanted Cooper to follow. These included stereotypical human resources directives such as regular meetings, more open communications and adherence to District goals. Cooper was also told to “observe your attendance.”

REBUTTAL

One month later, Susan Cooper submitted her response to David Azzarito. Cooper promised to follow the corrective action on communication, meetings and attendance. But she complained about the two written complaints by her employees. Cooper wanted more time to address the specific allegations in the letters.

Cooper said she was “never given the opportunity to provide my response (my side of the story, so to speak) to these allegations during the investigation.”

Cooper wanted twenty days to write a rebuttal. The documents obtained by REDBROWARD do not contain any further rebuttal by Cooper.

BTU TO THE RESCUE?

While her support from some of her own employees was lukewarm at best, Susan Cooper did have one big supporter—BTU president Anna Fusco.

How did Anna Fusco find out about the Cooper investigation?

Chief People Person David Azzarito emailed Fusco the day after he launched the investigation. But Azzarito did not divulge the existence of an investigation in this email.

Azzarito wrote, “This correspondence is to let you know there will be a temporary change to the BCPS labor team. Until further notice, please direct all labor inquiries and business to Denise Kent…and myself.”

The file obtained by REDBROWARD contains an (undated) glowing endorsement by Fusco of Susan Cooper on BTU letterhead.

“MY FRIEND”

Fusco wrote:

I am writing this letter as a staunch advocate and supporter of Susan Cooper. I have known Susan for decades, and for the past seven years, have worked with her very closely in my capacity as President of the Broward Teacher’s Union. I know Susan, and her personality and work ethic, very well.

As Chief Negotiator for the Broward County Public Schools, Susan had done a masterful job of representing the District with dignity, kindness and grace in the face of often contentious discussions. Never once has she raised her voice or in any way created anything other than a professional work environment. Not once has anyone who works with her expressed any concerns to me about their work environment.

I find the allegations against her to be without merit, and trust that the District will discover the same. Susan has always been, is, and will always be a leader who represents the Broward County Public Schools, and her department, with distinction.

I am happy to elaborate on anything that might assist you in completing your investigation.

One Broward School District insider told REDBROWARD the relationship between the District’s labor team and the BTU is part of School Board Member Torey Alston’s call for a State Investigation into District practices.

On Friday, Alston formally asked the Florida Department of Education, Office of the Inspector General for help.

In his letter, Alston alleges School Board Members talked to BTU President Anna Fusco about items discussed in closed meetings. These items allegedly included dollar amounts and “strategic decisions.”

Alston alleges “district staff member(s) were talking to [Fusco] about the Board’s closed sessions. Alston wrote, “The Superintendent took some action in this regard, removing at least one district employee from the negotiation process and our closed sessions, after initially hearing and learning of the same information.”

Who told Anna Fusco and BTU about the Cooper investigation?

Fusco’s letter specifically addresses the allegations made by Cooper’s employees.

Why did BTU offer to assist the investigation?

Why did Superintendent Licata remove Cooper from the negotiations?

Asked about Cooper’s removal from the negotiation process, John Sullivan, Broward Schools Chief Communications and Legislative Affairs Officer told REDBROWARD:

“The Superintendent possesses full authority concerning the participation of staff members in closed-door meetings and negotiations. Therefore, to streamline the negotiation process, the Superintendent decided to limit staff involvement in closed-door negotiations and has authorized only the Chief People Officer to engage in negotiations with BTU.”

With allegations of “erratic behavior” and improper communications with unions perhaps the Florida Department of Education should start asking questions, no?

Susan Cooper remains the director of the employee and labor relations department.

Email From Democrat Activist Details Efforts By Staff And County Commissioner Beam Furr To Eject Broward School Board Member Brenda Fam From Book Review Meeting

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REDBROWARD obtained an email from a Democrat activist to Broward School Superintendent Peter Licata detailing chaos at Monday book review committee meeting in Hallandale Beach. The Superintendent’s Review Committee held a public meeting at Gulfstream Early Learning Center to discuss reviews of two books—Forever by Judy Blume and Choke by Chuck Plahniuk. An email by Siobhan McLaughlin, a Broward Democrat Party member and former president of the local National Organization Of Women (NOW) chapter, shared efforts by staff and Broward County Vice Mayor Beam Furr to keep Broward School Board Member Brenda Fam from participating in the meeting.

McLaughlin started with a scathing criticism of the process. She claimed the meeting started thirty-minutes late. She was shocked that public comments were not allowed. “Participation at School Board meetings to comment on issues is a Byzantine, opaque exercise in futility, designed to make any meaningful statement of opinion, difficult at best,” McLaughlin wrote.

Later in her email, McLaughlin focused on the attendance of School Board Member Brenda Fam. McLaughlin made the scurrilous claim Fam was a “Proud Boys adjacent member.”

McLaughlin claimed school staff members felt threatened by the presence of Fam. “Brenda Fam, was alerted to the potential silencing/ distress of staff due to her position as the ultimate employer/ decision maker of policy,” Mc Laughlin wrote.

Then, McLaughlin claimed Broward Vice Mayor Beam Furr, a Review Committee member, offered advice to Fam. She wrote, “[Fam] ignored the request of member (and policy maker on the County Commission) Beam Furr to not attend.”

McLaughlin claimed Fam recorded the public meeting without permission.

In a telephone interview with REDBROWARD, Fam confirmed the efforts to eject her from the Review Committee meeting. Fam said staff and committee members objected to her presence at the meeting. When Fam reminded them this was a noticed-public meeting, some member claimed this committee was not subject to Florida’s Sunshine Law. The member claimed “quasi-committees” did not need to follow those rules.

After being falsely accused of being a member of the Proud Boys, Fam said she feared for safety.

Fam told REDBROWARD she was prepared to ask for Superintendent Licata for security after last night’s events.

Why is Beam Furr, an elected official, trying to keep Brenda Fam, a fellow elected official, from attending a public meeting?

That’s chilling.

Here is the full McLaughlin email to Superintendent Peter Licata:

Dr. Licata:

I am absolutely appalled by the meeting of the Superintendent’s Review Committee for Library Media Objections held at Gulfstream Early Learning Media Center earlier today. It wasdisgraceful. The meeting was advertised for a 4p start time, 1/22/24. When I questioned the moderator, Ms Taylor, at 4:20pm, she told me it was to start at 4:30.  I can forward a screen shot of the advertisement in the South Florida Sun Sentinel with the 4p start time.  Does the Communications/Media staff not coordinate with the appropriate staff to verify information? 

The meeting did not start until 4:35 (with a five minute delay for people just arriving in the parking lot). “People”, staff and  committee members, could not FIND the facility and went to another Gulfstream named property. Does the support/clerical  staff not send out correct information, start times and directions to the appropriate facility? How else do you explain that staff, committee members went to the wrong facility, blocks away? Not to mention, not being there for the 4p advertised start time. Dr Wilson herself was a NO SHOW.

The address was clearly printed in the newspaper advertisement.  Ms Taylor pointedly mentioned the meetings start on time, but she herself blatantly ignored this “policy”.

To advertise a meeting and keep people waiting is incredibly DISRESPECTFUL of the public’s (as well as staff and member’s) time and resources. Is there another way to describe this lapse of courtesy?  What will the accountability for this rudeness entail? Who is ultimately responsible for this abject performance? Support staff, Ms Taylor, Dr Wilson, you?

There were no “public comments” allowed: how do interested parties of all points of view actually communicate with the advisory committee if not at meetings held across the county?  When asked by the parent member of the committee when the recommendations would be discussed, the information, provided by Ms. Taylor, was incorrect. 

Participation at School Board meetings to comment on issues is a Byzantine, opaque exercise in futility, designed to make any meaningful statement of opinion, difficult at best.

This same parent mentioned that “outreach” to interested parties was sorely lacking. How are members appointed and how do you account for the vast divergence of opinions that need to be considered? Are recommendations to serve made by the School Board members? Is there a effort to alert the public of opportunities to serve? If not, why not?  This meeting was a poor reflection on the professionalism of the supposedly educated staff and ultimately, yourself.

School Board and Proud Boys adjacent member, Brenda Fam, was alerted to the potential silencing/ distress of staff due to her position as the ultimate employer/ decision maker of policy, yet she ignored the request of member (and policy maker on the County Commission) Beam Furr to not attend.  She then recorded the meeting without the express permission, or even the basic courtesy of asking, the public. Explicit policy regarding this problem need to be addressed. Is there a chilling of expression due to School Board member attendance? I would submit it would absolutely have such an effect.

There was no tabletop / placard names of Committee members. When I publicly asked, as a point of personal privilege, for the members to introduce themselves, it was ignored by Ms Taylor.  There was no roll call to verify quorum. An overhead slide of members, not readily visible to anyone further than 3 feet away, is not an excuse for the non introduction of your representatives. Perhaps the staff needs an inservice on how to run effective meetings. Clearly, they are lacking the basic skills to do so.

Another member, presumably, showed up at 5:05 and sat down. As Ms Taylor mentioned, there are no “minutes” taken. How do you account for quorum, attendance issues, if members just show up and are seated with no notice? I have attended civic associations and Girl Scout patrol meetings that were run in a more professional manner.

I am deeply disappointed by the lack of professionalism, courtesy and basic rules of effective management of meetings. I expect better from your representatives /appointees and staff and look forward to the courtesy of a response from you or the appropriate staff member to address these concerns (not just the acknowledgement of receipt of email, as is the current practice of the administrative staff.)

Sincerely,

Siobhan McLaughlin