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Settlement Agreement Donofrio Executed
Settlement Agreement Donofrio Executed
Settlement Agreement Donofrio Executed
4024E7C5-43F3-4036-B86C-3E3D015746E6
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT
Recitals:
C. On March 24, 2021, the School Board initiated a disciplinary investigation into
allegations of the Employee’s alleged misconduct (the “Disciplinary
Investigation”).
D. On April 16, 2021, Employee filed a civil action in the United States District
Court, Middle District of Florida, alleging claims against the School Board and
Schneider under several statutes, including 42 U.S.C. §§ 1981, 1981a, and 1983,
Title VI, Title VII, and Fla. Stat. §§ 760 and 103.4505 (the “Civil Action”).
E. Employee, Schneider, and the School Board desire to resolve all pending issues
and settle all matters, including all claims, potential claims, and disputes
between Employee and the School Board or Schneider, including those arising
from or relating in any way to Employee’s employment with the School Board,
including the issues Employee alleged in or that relate to the Civil Action
and/or the EEOC Charges.
Section 1: Recitals. The foregoing Recitals are true and correct, and are
incorporated into this Agreement by reference.
Section 3: Settlement Payment. Within ten days following the later of (a) the
School Board approval of this Agreement and (b) Employee’s execution and delivery
to the School Board of this Agreement, the School Board shall pay Employee $300,000
(the “Settlement Payment”), paid in three separate checks:
(i) $120,000, less taxes (W-2 for earnings related claims), payable to
Amy Donofrio;
(iii) $60,000 for attorneys’ fees and costs (this payment shall be made
to Scott Wagner & Associates, P.A., Tax ID #65-1056212).
a. Release by Employee.
(i) Employee (on her behalf and on behalf of her heirs, personal
representatives, and any other person or entity who may be entitled to make a
claim on her behalf) fully and freely releases and discharges the School Board
and Schneider, together with their respective directors, officers, board members,
agents, employees, contractors, representatives, and attorneys, including
attorneys with the Office of General Counsel, from any and all claims, charges,
actions or causes of action of any kind or nature that Employee once had or
now has, whether such claims are now known or unknown, including any
claims arising from or relating to her employment with the School Board, the
Civil Action, and/or the EEOC Charges, including any claim for attorneys’ fees
and costs outside of Section 3 of this Agreement, and further including all
claims, known and unknown, asserted or unasserted, that Employee has or may
have, including but not limited to, for violation of:
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(i) the parties shall file a joint stipulation of dismissal of the Civil Action
with prejudice, with the parties to bear their respective attorneys’ fees and
costs except as otherwise provided in Section 3(iii);
(ii) Employee will request to withdraw all pending EEOC charges and Office
of the Inspector General (“OIG”) complaints; and
(iii) Employee will withdraw all pending public records requests to the School
Board made by Employee or on Employee’s behalf.
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Employee’s contract prior to the completion of her investigation and therefore the
School Board did not recommend discipline for Employee.”
Section 8: Employee Personnel File. At any time, but no later than ten days
following the School Board’s delivery to Employee of the draft report from the
Disciplinary Investigation (see Section 7.c., above), Employee may submit to the
School Board via email to ACook@coj.net a response in writing to any information in
Employee’s Personnel File pursuant to Fla. Stat. § 1012.31(2)(d). That response will
be included in Employee’s Personnel File and, to the extent the statement responds to
the draft report from the Disciplinary Investigation, in that report. The School Board
will provide Employee a copy of the Personnel File within 1 day following the
Effective Date.
Section 9: Miscellaneous.
any such benefits (beyond the School Board’s obligations under the American Rescue
Plan, Sect. 9501). Notwithstanding the foregoing, Employee has or will be paid
$819.51 as accrued sick leave after Employee delivers to the School Board her exit
interview packet, returns all School Board property (including laptops, keys, tablets,
and ID badges), and verifies the return of all School Board property by completing the
exit checklist (see Exhibit B).
e. This Agreement represents the entire agreement of the parties. There are
no oral promises, representations or agreements outside the express agreements set
forth in writing in this Agreement. This Agreement replaces all earlier contracts and
agreements between the parties.
g. The parties agree that this Agreement shall not be construed for or against
any party because that party drafted all or part of this Agreement.
h. This Agreement shall be governed and construed under Florida law. The
venue for any dispute arising out of this Agreement shall be a court of competent
jurisdiction in Duval County, Florida.
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provisions and parts of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect and shall
be fully enforceable.
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DocuSign Envelope ID: D52452AA-3E8B-4364-A371-5CFBC8EA9A1A
DocuSign Envelope ID: 4024E7C5-43F3-4036-B86C-3E3D015746E6
Amy Donofno
DocuSjgned by:
Date."
7W^r5'
By:_
Elizabeth Andersen
Title:_
8/4/2021 | 12:38 PM EDT
Date:
Scott Schneider
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Date: \ • i/
01113267.2
Internal Complaint Form
Please return this form to:
Office of Equity and Inclusion/Professional Standards
Office of Equity and Inclusion/Professional Standards
Phone: 904-390-2181
1701 Prudential Drive
Fax: 904-390-2468
Jacksonville, FL 3207
Today’s
Name Date
Address Phone
City, State, ZIP
Code
Department: ____________________________________________ Your Position: _______________________________
Supervisor/Principal: ______________________________________________
Additional Information (please include names of witnesses and any available documentation)
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
____________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________ _____________________________________________
Signature Please type or print name
Please note that intimidation, threats, coercion or retaliation are strictly prohibited against anyone who asserts a right protected by civil
rights laws. Anyone who believes she/he has been intimidated or retaliated against as a result of filing a complaint or being involved in
any way with an investigation conducted by the Equity Office, can file a separate complaint with this office.
Exhibit A
EXIT INTERVIEW INSTRUCTIONS
Duval County Public Schools considers its employees to be its most valuable resource. As a result, the School
District is committed to identifying and implementing strategies that will allow for the retention of a highly
competent workforce. The use of Exit Interviews as a tool for gathering information regarding the experience
of employees leaving the district is critical in the development and implementation of recruitment and
retention strategies.
In order to facilitate the collection of information, the District has developed an exit interview form and
process to be used by all District/School employees.
Revised 7/21/19
Exhibit B
Employee Separation Checklist
The purpose of this checklist is to assist DCPS employees and departments with an exit process when an employee separates employment with the
district. Employees leaving the district must be aware of pertinent information, rights and benefits that may affect them at separation. The
employee and responsible department must complete below tasks and sign where appropriate prior to separation.
EMPLOYEE’S FULL NAME EMPLOYEE PIN
DEPARTMENT/
LAST WORKING DAY
SCHOOL NAME/#
Employee should sign/obtain signatures at the school/dept. site for Tasks 1-4 before submission to Human Resource Services for Tasks 5-7:
TASK AREA RESPONSIBLE SIGNATURE/TRACKING
*NOTE: I UNDERSTAND THAT FAILURE TO RETURN ALL DCPS PROPERTY AND SUBMIT THIS FORM TO HUMAN RESOURCES
PRIOR TO MY SEPARATION FROM THE DISTRICT, MAY RESULT IN A DELAY IN THE PROCESSING OF MY FINAL PAYCHECK AND
ANY LEAVE PAYOUT. ADDITIONALLY, SHOULD I INCUR AN OVERPAYMENT (CLAIM) WITH THE DISTRICT AFTER SEPARATION, I
WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAYMENT OF THE CLAIM BEFORE BEING CONSIDERED FOR REHIRE BY DCPS.
PERSONAL
EMAIL
EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE DATE
Completed form must be returned to Human Resources, 1701 Prudential Drive, 1st Floor Fax: 390-2292
Revised 7/21/19
For HR Use Only: _________________ HR TECH __________ TERM KEY DATE
Exit Interview Questionnaire and Leave Disposition Form
Please submit to HR, 1st floor, 1701 Prudential Drive: Fax: 390-2292
Personal Email Address: _________________________________________ Separation Date (will be verified by HR): _________________________
Would you be interested in an Exit Interview? Please indicate method: ☐ In Person ☐ Email ☐
If you have been involuntarily terminated, please skip to Notification of Separation of Rights
Reason for Separation (Indicate the SINGLE most important reason contributing to your separation by selecting ONE of these
reasons):
_____Employment in Education in FL _____Entrepreneurship _____Lack of advancement opportunity
_____Employment in Education outside FL _____Maternity/Parenthood _____Dissatisfaction with Supervisor
_____Employment outside of Education _____Illness of Family Member _____Dislike/Unsuitable assigned duties
_____Continuing Education _____Personal Illness/Disabled _____Inadequate Benefits
_____Spouse Transferred _____Resigned during Probation _____Stress on Job
_____Relocation _____Inadequate Support
_____Military _____Inadequate Salary
I DECLARE THIS AN OFFICIAL NOTICE OF SEPARATION FROM SCHOOL DISTRICT EMPLOYMENT AND LEAVE DISPOSITION AS SET FORTH BELOW:
(CHOOSE ONE)
_____I declare this as an official notice of separation from school district employment and request that my unused sick leave balance remain on
deposit. I acknowledge (1) that these days will not be available as sick leave until I return to full-time employment or am employed by another
Florida county which permits sick leave to be transferred into that county: (2) that these days will not be eligible for terminal sick leave pay should I
return to employment with Duval County, but may only be used as sick leave when all leave earned after my most recent date of employment is
used.
_____I declare this an official notice of separation from school district employment and request payment of my terminal leave pay in accordance
with School Board policy. I understand that my sick leave balance will be reduced to zero hours remaining.
_____I declare this an official request for my unused sick leave to be transferred to another Florida public school district/or public Florida
University per their policy. Please complete the “Request for Transfer of Accumulated Sick Leave Balance” form found at the following link:
https://dcps.duvalschools.org/Page/10234. Return completed form to the DCPS Payroll Department for processing.
Revised 7/21/19