POT SMOKING TEACHER NOW HEAD OF THE CLASS

BROOKSVILLE - A teacher originally suspended for smoking pot was back
in front of a classroom Wednesday after being given a third chance to
work for the district.

During Tuesday's school board meeting, board members voted 4-1 to
reinstate Michael Provost as a teacher for the district following his
apology and much discussion as to whether the board should fire or
reinstate him.

Board members had originally agreed to transfer him to STAR Education
Center in light of prior drug use that cost him his previous teaching
job as health, career education and physical education teacher at D.S.
Parrott Middle School. Much of his job involved educating youth about
drug prevention.

However, Provost's comments to a newspaper about his displeasure at
being transferred to STAR prompted board members to reject the
agreement at a later meeting.

Provost apologized Tuesday for his actions and explained his earlier
reaction was due to his misconception about the nature of his
transfer. By the time he learned more about his new job, he said it
was too late to take back what he had said.

"Frankly, I ran my mouth without thinking," Provost said. "I should've
been happy to have a job."

He added that the media had misrepresented his comments by focusing on
the negative. He listed some of his accomplishments while working for
the school district. He also pleaded with board members to give him
another chance, saying that his wife and two sons were relying on him
to turn his life around.

Although board members James Yant and John Sweeney changed their minds
about reinstating Provost, board member Dianne Bonfield said via
speakerphone from her home that she doubted Provost's sincerity.

Instead, she said she believed Provost's earlier statements about his
unhappiness of being transferred to STAR and that he was now saying
whatever was necessary to be reinstated.

"When a reporter calls and asks a question - that gut reaction is
really what is in the heart," Bonfield said. "I think our board
attorney and our superintendent had the correct analysis of this for
termination and I support that."

Vice Chairwoman Sandra Nicholson said she wasn't comfortable
transferring Provost to STAR and asked whether there was another
alternative. However, she was told the only other option would be to
create another position.

In the end, Nicholson voted in favor of hiring Provost.

Earlier this year, Provost was suspended following an anonymous tip
claiming he had been spotted smoking marijuana. After being confronted
by school officials, Provost admitted to smoking the drug and also
failed a drug test.

He claimed during Tuesday's meeting that the tipster was a family
member seeking to hurt him with the tip.

In September an administrative law judge from the Division of
Administrative Hearings ruled that Provost should be reinstated as a
teacher and that board members dismiss charges for his dismissal - in
part based on improper procedure used by district officials to handle
the situation.

With the agreement, Provost will receive $14,542.31 in back pay and
benefits up to late November. He also has to undergo random drug tests
at his expense and complete a drug treatment program or counseling.

Following the vote, Nicholson said she hoped the board made the right
decision.

"This is one of the most difficult decisions I've had to make; no
matter what we did here today, people will criticize us," Nicholson
said. "I'm expecting great things from you, and I pray you don't let
anyone else down."