Citrus County Teacher Removed from Classroom for Racist Podcast
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CHIEFLAND Thursday, March 8, 2018 Proudly servingITIZEN Chiefland and Levy County for 69 years 2 sections,C 20 pages Volume 69, Number 3 www.chieflandcitizen.com Chiefland, FL 32644 $.75 Citrus County teacher removed from classroom for racist podcast BY CARLY ZERVIS cluded with her employment test preparation tutor for ed family is so very admi- al standards require that Citrus County Chronicle application, Volitich earned a Kaplan Test Prep in Maryland rable,” Pribanic said in the teachers “support the beliefs, bachelor’s degree in histo- and as an assistant director letter. “Her depth of charac- shared vision, and mission A Citrus County middle ry from for Huntington Learning ter would be an asset to any adopted by the district.” school teacher removed Ohio State Centers in Pennsylvania. school district’s classroom. That standard, the first of from the classroom after University None of Volitich’s former Dayanna is an individual of five in the district’s Instruc- being outed as the host of a in May 2014 supervisors or references quality character, and most tional Evaluation System, racially charged podcast has and was listed on her job application notably, her integrity will also requires that teachers no record of suspensions pursuing had responded to a Chronicle demonstrate her commit- “respect students’ cultural, or other disciplinary action a master’s reporter’s request for com- ment to her students, admin- linguistic, and family back- by the Citrus County School degree in ment Monday evening. istrators, community, and ground,” “maintain a climate District, an examination of education- Janet Pribanic, chief peers.” of openness, inquiry, fairness her personnel file revealed al studies operating officer at a Pitts- A former supervisor at and support” and “adhere to Monday. at Johns Volitich burgh-based business analyt- Kaplan also provided a letter. professional responsibility Dayanna Volitich, originally Hopkins ics company co-founded by Matthew Krul, who worked as and ethical conduct.” from Aliquippa, Pennsylva- University Volitich’s father, provided a a tutoring academics man- The school district opened nia, and in her second year when she applied for a Citrus reference letter for Volitich ager, described Volitich as an investigation into Vo- as a teacher in the district, County teaching position in in which she acknowledged “an authentic team player, an litich on Friday after being was hired in August 2016 as June 2016. The Chronicle knowing Volitich since child- effective communicator, and contacted by a reporter a middle school social stud- was unable to confirm Mon- hood and described her as a proven self-starter.” from the Huff Post inquiring ies teacher, the position she day whether she obtained the dedicated, committed and While Volitich is not about racist remarks Volitich continued to occupy at the degree. mature. accused of breaking any made on the podcast and on time of her removal. During her college years, “Dayanna’s compassion laws, the Citrus County According to a resume in- she worked as an ACT/SAT shown to family and extend- School District’s profession- See TEACHER, Page 5A City approves grant application County may for police cars BY C.L. WATSON join opioid Citizen Correspondent Tri County Commu- nity Resource Center Director Beverly Good- lawsuits man requested the city donate use of the BY SEAN ARNOLD Tommy Usher Pineland Staff writer Center for an event with chef Laura Fowler Goss. In a scene reminiscent of the successful lawsuits The event is a parent against Big Tobacco in the 1990s, pharmaceutical and child cooking class companies have become a target for their role in instructed by Goss the opioid crisis. March 21 from 10 a.m. The Levy County Commission on March 6 sig- to noon. Commissioner naled its intent to join in on the action in order to Teresa Barron made the recover costs that the opioid addiction has wreaked motion to donate use of on local services and healthcare. The lawsuits, both the center. Commission- federal and state, contend that the drug makers er Donald Lawrence sec- have knowingly misled users about the harmful onded. The motion was effects of their painkillers, leading to widespread unanimously approved. addiction and long-term health problems. City Manager Mary County attorney Anne Bast Brown said at the Ellzey presented the meeting she has consulted with other counties USDA Community Facili- that have reached agreements with firms to join ty Grant for purchase of in lawsuits, and has spoken with law firms seek- four police vehicles. In ing business from counties. She says counties like October 2017, the com- Alachua and Osceola have signed onto agreements mission gave approval with firms that avoid any costs up front for the to file the application counties, and those counties are shielded through for the 4-to-1 matching the agreements from counter-suits from the phar- grant. The USDA would maceuticals. pay $140,595 and the “These attorneys have developed formulas for cost to the city would how they can figure out what each county’s health- be $46,865 for four new care costs are (related to opioid addiction),” Brown said. See CITY, Page 9A With a motion from Lilly Rooks, and a second from Rock Meeks, the commission directed Brown Citizen photo, Sean Arnold to move forward in her research and make a recom- CHIEFLAND Chiefland senior shortstop Erika Gilliam celebrates during the Lady Indians’ mendation for an agreement with a law firm. ITIZEN 4-1 win versus Branford March 1. Gilliam, one of three returning starters Brown said the county should join with a firm C for the club, is leading the team at the plate with a .556 batting average. that is filing a state lawsuit, since the county would P.O. Box 980 CMHS, which started the season 9-0, faces rival Trenton Friday, March 9, automatically be included in a federal lawsuit, and Chiefland, Fl 32644 for a District 1A-7 showdown in Chiefland. The clubs have met eight times any federal settlement funds would be divvied up Phone: 352-493-4796 in the past two seasons, including in a pair of thrilling regional champion- throughout the country. ship meetings. See OPIOID, Page 5A SCORE to assist Levy businesses BY MICHAEL BATES Levy County civic, com- Citrus County Chronicle munity and government leaders to get the word The Citrus County out. That process starts SCORE chapter got the this week. green light this month “We’ve been here to expand into Levy for 25 years (in Citrus County. County), but they don’t That will be a big deal know us there,” he said. to businesses there be- Green said he has ap- cause it will have closer pointed a Levy County representation and expansion team among no longer have to rely his volunteers who will on its distant SCORE make those contacts. affiliate all the way in Green got the OK from Gainesville for business the Gainesville chap- assistance, said Jim ter for the expansion. Green, chairman of the Then, on Feb. 1, Citrus Citrus SCORE. County SCORE received “We thought it would a matching grant from Citizen photo, Sean Arnold make more sense for us SCORE National to cover Katheryn “Kat” Davis, left, helped students enroll at CF at Preview Night March 1 to do it,” Green said. the cost of expanding in Chiefland. Cedar Key School senior Dakota Phillips is pictured on right. See the Now the work begins, story on Page 10A. he said, to meet with See SCORE, Page 5A 2A Chiefland Citizen Thursday, March 8, 2018 Levy County Sheriff's Reports Most Wanted The Levy County Simmons, 36, Gainesville, Anyone with infor- Sheriff’s Office reports the Often Used Abbreviations possession of marijuana mation about these following arrests: Driver’s License–DL over 20 grams, possession individuals is asked • Feb. 27, Justin Allen Driving While License Suspended or and/or use drug equip- to call the Sheriff’s Aushburn, 25, Bronson, Revoked–DWLSR ment. Bond $60,000. Office at 486-5111. To possession of marijuana Driving Under the Influence–DUI • March 3, Blucher remain anonymous, not more than 20 grams. Failure to Appear–FTA Jonathon Smith, 37, call Crime Stoppers Released on Own Recognizance–ROR Bond $1,000. Bronson, cruelty to child at 1-877-349-8477. Chiefland Police Arrests Resisting With Violence–RWV • Feb. 26, Jason Resisting Without Violence–RW/OV without great bodily harm. Dakota Barber, 22, Violation of Probation–VOP ROR. Chiefland, possession of • March 1, Isaac David Albritton, 43 controlled substance w/o a Emmanuel Smith, 24, Morrison prescription, possession Marie Ferranti, 36, Ocala, • March 1, Hazel Archer, fraud. Bond FTA and/or use of drug equip- possession and/or use of Renee Pinson, 31, $5,000. ment. Bond $11,000. drug equipment. Bond Williston, possession of a • Feb. 28, Eugene • March 4, Michael $10,000. controlled substance w/o a Luciano Stabile Jr., 48, Arthur Bray, 39, Williston, • March 2, Roosevelt prescription, possession of Tampa, DUI. Bond DWLSR, FTA, possession Tavares Frazier, 32, marijuana not more than $2,000. of marijuana not more Florida, unarmed burglary 20 grams, possession and/ • Feb. 26, Benny Lee than 20 grams. Bond of an occupied dwelling, or use of drug equipment. Stephens, 60, Chiefland, $2,000. possession of burglary Bond $26,000. two counts battery, crimi- • Feb. 27, Casey tools with intent to use, • March 3, Tana nal mischief/damage to Buesing, 33, Cedar Key, contempt of court viola- Frances Plank, 27, Inglis, property, unarmed bur- non-support of children or tion of injunction domestic DWLSR, possession and/ glary of an occupied Summer Farnsworth, John Stauff, 37 spouse. Bond $1,300. violence. Bond $125,000. or use of drug equipment.