Oliphant Hiring To Get Broward Schools Scrutiny
FT. LAUDERDALE - (CBSMiami.com) - A furor over the Broward School District's hiring of former Broward elections supervisor Miriam Oliphant at the top of the teacher pay scale, despite the fact she has spent most of her career outside of a classroom, is now under review by Broward school officials.
Oliphant, who was removed from her elections post by Governor Jeb Bush after allegations of mismanagement, was hired January 31st as a high school guidance counselor at a $75 thousand annual salary, despite the fact she has little teaching experience, and most of her connection with the school system was as a former school board member.
The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports the district investigation focuses on Oliphant's resume, specifically a claim that she served as a guidance counselor from 2007 to 2010. The investigation will be done by the district's HR department.
The report said records show Oliphant worked a single day in 2007, as a substitute teacher. Records show she did work from 2008 to 2009 as a counselor, but was removed from that job when her temporary teaching certificate expired and she failed to pass the test needed for a permanent certificate.
She worked again as a substitute in 2010, and was hired for the guidance position at
Dave Thomas Center in Coconut Creek after passing the test for a permanent certificate last July.
Oliphant was one of 56 people who applied for the post. When hired, she was given the top salary authorized for the position, a move school officials said was justified because of the 23 years of experience. However, little of that experience was as a teacher, ruffling the feathers of critics who questioned the decision, and some teachers with more experience who were not considered for the position.
