The Lakeland Board of Education voted to deny a request for an additional hearing on the disciplinary hearing authority (DHA) decision involving Leo Genovese and then voted to affirm the DHA’s findings at its April business meeting.

The board reviewed video and accompanying documentation from the DHA and discussed whether to grant a second hearing. "This item concerns the disciplinary hearing authority decision of 03/14/2025, which involved Leo Genovese," Dr. Horrell, the district superintendent, told the board before motions were made. After a motion to deny an additional hearing was moved and seconded, the board approved the motion by voice vote. The board then considered whether to affirm, overturn or modify the DHA decision and voted to affirm the DHA findings.

Why it matters: An appeal to the board is a standard step after a DHA ruling; the board’s decisions on process (whether to grant an additional hearing) and on the underlying findings determine whether the DHA ruling remains the district’s final disciplinary outcome.

Board procedure and record: Dr. Horrell explained the two-step decision the board faced: first whether to grant or deny an additional hearing, and second whether to affirm, overturn or modify the DHA decision based on the video and documents the board had reviewed. The motions were made from the floor, seconded, and carried by voice votes; the transcript records the board approving both the denial of an additional hearing and the affirmation of the DHA findings. The transcript does not record individual roll-call tallies for these votes.

Votes at a glance:
• Motion to deny a hearing on the DHA decision concerning Leo Genovese — moved, seconded, approved by voice vote (tally not specified in the record).
• Motion to affirm the findings of the DHA in the Leo Genovese matter — moved, seconded, approved by voice vote (tally not specified in the record).

Next steps: With the board’s affirmation, the DHA decision stands unless further lawful appeal options are pursued outside the board process. The board recorded the actions during its April business meeting and moved on to other agenda items.