“Getting the dates off of the platform is not easy due to the way the platform is set up.” The custodian of records responded to us after we requested the dates of completion for the school executives annual trainings. A couple weeks prior we requested and received a list of required annual training for all Leon County Schools employees.
On Jan 29th we requested the records and dates of the superintendent, assistant superintendents, chief financial officer, Jared Shively (HR director), and both directors of transportation. However, we heard no response. On February 11th we followed up and were notified that they were working on this request.
We were issued a fee: $25.83 and in a good faith effort we paid it. The request was fulfilled on February 14th. The records simply stated “completed” without the dates included. After clarifying that we required the dates, we had to wait another seven days before being told that they were unable to look up the dates of completion and would send us the dates upon retrieval.
A New Request
After four months of waiting, on May 7th we placed another request: “I would like the records of Rocky Hanna, Billy Epting, Shane Syfrett, Deanna McAllister, and Dr Michelle Gayle completed annual trainings along with the dates of completion.”
We simplified this request to just the superintendents and we also attached the annual training courses they had sent us in January. A month later they responded with all names except Dr. Michelle Gayle. Interestingly the document they attached for us to view is labeled as the request number for our original request.
We were told “Dr Gayle was not referenced in the prior request when you asked for these records. I will get this date to you as soon as possible. This is the information we have for this request.” This indicates that they never updated us once they retrieved the dates for a fee issued and paid request.
The dates of completion matched up to February 11th, the date we followed up with our original request. Except for Rocky Hanna who was a couple days after, and the Deputy Superintendent who isn’t even listed. Unfortunately our suspicions were confirmed. They didn’t provide the dates of completion because they were just completed – because we asked.
On June 12th we received the information for Dr. Gayle. She was enrolled in the Annual Training on February 11 2025 and completed the courses on the same day. These annual trainings are due “by October 1st of each year, the superintendent shall certify to the office of safe schools and document in the Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool that all school personnel have received annual training on the procedures contained in the District’s DAARP.”1
While our school Superintendent gives himself a raise that was outside of the percentage allowed in Florida statute. He and the other executives feel as if they are not bound to the same standards they place on district employees. Furthermore, stated in their own policies Rocky Hanna is to certify that all personnel have taken these trainings. He falsely certified that all personnel completed the training for school year 2024-2025.
A leader is someone who doesn’t merely point to tasks for others to do but also participates in the required assigned tasks. They don’t view themself as an exception, instead they strive to set the example of expectations.
- Policy Manual Section 8000 Operations School Safety and Security; po8405 II Policy section D ↩︎
