Investigation

District official in 'alcohol' investigation had problems in the past

Deedara Hicks was terminated from grant program

By Mike Mason

CREATED Mar. 13, 2013

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  • Tonight, we're uncovering new information about the Lee County school district official at the center of a controversial investigation. Lee County school Superintendent Joseph Burke is accused of improperly suspending an investigation into Deedara H Video by fox4now.com

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 LEE COUNTY - Tonight, we're uncovering new information about the Lee County school district official at the center of a controversial investigation.  Lee County school Superintendent Joseph Burke is accused of improperly suspending an investigation into Deedara Hicks after she was accused of being drunk on the job.  Now Four in your Corner investigator Mike Mason is learning Hicks has had serious problems in the past.

 
The Superintendent came under fire last year for hiring Hicks at the highest pay grade....and for giving her a raise soon after. That was before these most recent allegations surfaced and the state determined "no further action" was required into Hicks' alcohol investigation. But now we're learning Hicks had problems in her previous job.
 
Superintendent Joseph Burke worked with Deedara Hicks in Orange County before hiring her as one of his top directors in Lee County.
 
Mike Mason: "Have you ever been under investigation while you were, or had complaints filed against you, in Orange County?”
Joseph Burke: "No."
Mike Mason: "Has Dr. Hicks?"
Joseph Burke: "No."
Mike Mason: “Never?"
Joseph Burke: "No."
 
But we found Hicks did have problems while working at Florida Atlantic University in Fort Lauderdale.
Hicks worked there for four years....until May of 2011 - just months before Burke hired her in Lee County.
According to Burke, Hicks had a good track record.
 
Joseph Burke: "Dr. Hicks has had good performance in her previous, in her previous work."
 
But Fox 4 found the Department of Education requested FAU terminate Hicks from her oversight of a grant program...citing her "failure to perform". At the time, Hicks was the Regional Executive Director of a grant program for FAU. The job was a joint effort with the state aimed at improving student achievement throughout Florida.
 
In a letter from DOE dated April 5th, 2011, the Deputy Commissioner outlined a number of reasons Hicks should be terminated from the program. They include: "Hicks has failed to attend required conference calls, as well as meetings with school Superintendents and other school staff. Dr. Hicks does not notify her supervisor of these absences."
 
And more alarming, the commissioner writes: "Dr. Hicks failed to report to work and told the team that she had to reschedule due to a required department activity/function. However, there was no department event requiring her attendance during that week. In addition, Dr. Hicks has falsified her timesheets, claiming to have worked hours when in fact she was absent."
 
As a result, the state requested FAU "terminate Dr. Hicks" saying they "cannot allow Hicks to continue to jeopardize such an important mission."  FAU won't confirm whether Hicks resigned or was fired.  We do know her last day was May 2nd, 2011.
 
Despite all this, Burke says Hicks has done a great job for Lee County.
 
Joseph Burke: "I think the main thing is that Dr. Hicks has been a very, very excellent employee."
 
Burke says Hicks was given a good performance evaluation in Lee County last year. As far as the allegations Burke improperly suspended the investigation into Hicks, state officials will decide whether to launch an investigation in the coming weeks.