Prince Street Principal Arrested For DUI
I am a practicing Attorney in Baltimore City and have been reading this blog with great interest since its first entry. I'm vacationing in OC right now and have looked into this incident as an unbiased observer who may be able to shed some light on all this.First let me stress that a DUI is a VERY SERIOUS offense in the State of Maryland...period (more serious than a DWI).
With that being said let me emphasize that the local Board of Education, I believe it's Wicomico, is fooling itself to dismiss Mr Nunzio's DUI as merely a 'personal matter'. Driving on a State road with a State drivers license and getting a DUI IS a PUBLIC matter. And Mr Nunzio is a PUBLIC aka STATE employee.
As a State of Maryland school Principal Mr Nunzio is mandated by contract to adhere to a Code of Moral Ethics and act as a role model for his students and community at large.
Since he has violated his contract the law mandates he therefore must be terminated or take early retirement if eligible.
Your Superintendent knows this or should. For Wicomico County I believe it is a John Frederickson. I say this as I am using the Internet for validity which is not always current. You can contact your school Board for this county for a phone/email for Mr Frederickson I would surmise.
In conclusion, I am assuming that your Superintendent is pursuing this route for Mr Nunzio.
If not, you can contact Maryland's State Supervisor of public schools below and express your desire for Mr Nunzio's removal if it has not yet occurred:
--Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Schools
410-767-0462
Llowery@msde.state.md.us
Thank you and best of luck.
April 4, 2013 at 5:02 PM
45 comments:
Yeah if i get pulled i will use the same excuse he did?
If it's such a serious offense then why don't people get jail time?
Why is it that everyone wants someone fired for everything they do wrong? Innocent until proven guilty! Wait until end of trial and then start your lynch mob. Everyone complains about our rights being taken away but no one wants innocent until proven guilty anymore unless it is them.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH 5:02 PM! I imagine there may be some clause whether or not a conviction is required.He did however refuse to test which in and of itself should be cause for his dismissal from the board of ed. A person of his supposed great character and position should be held to a higher standard.
Did anyone read the actual police report from this incident? This guy was sloshed. All over the road and couldn't even follow the directions the officer was giving him. This wasn't just someone that was a bit tipsy and thought they were ok. He was bombed. NO excuse for that at all. 6:43 he gave up his right to being innocent when he refused to take the breathalyzer.
Didn't another government employee get a DUI and nothing happened? A certain DA.
DUI in the state of Maryland is a JOKE! First time offender is looking at a $400 fine and unsupervised probation as long as you didn't injure/kill anybody.
7:13 It is your right to refuse a breathalyzer test. Doing so will result in arrest, but you don' t have to take it. That is not a good reason to dismiss an employee.
Where there is smoke, there is fire!
7:30 PM assumes it was a first DUI. Hope that's right.
Ok..first of all, who is this person who wrote this post? For all we know, it is all made up and the guy is not even a lawyer. Id so, put your name on the post.
Second, Nunzio was issued a citation over the issue. A citation results is a traffic court summons....not a criminal trial.
Third, if he was to get fired, every teacher or public employee must be firedmformthe same offense. Since there is no precedence for this, it won't happen.
Finally, refusing a breathalyzer only results in a loss of your license form90 days. It doesn't result in an arrest.
The BOE or Dr. Fredericksen is not required to fire him....maybe reprimand him or require treatment, but not fire.
I really can't think of a reason that a person should lose his livelihood short of murder, bank robbery, gun crimes, etc. Making a bad decision while drunk is not a career crasher, but it must be held on post. Let's just say, he's on notice. And ignorant as well.
was this letter signed? I hope so because if not how are we to know for a fact it isn't written by an enemy of the principal.
Since when do we need an "impartial" Baltimoron lawyer looking into things for us? Sounds like just another ambulance chaser. Let us handle our own, Mr. Shyster!
i don't see anything abnormal going on here. Hell we let our states attorney's around here drive drunk while even packing handguns. If they can get away with it why not other public officials? lol its all in who you know around here all ways has been all ways will be.
Welcome to the eastern shore!
If Davis Ruark didn't lose his job, then Nunzio shouldn't. Move on people.
Yes. He did lose his job. That's why he's not here anymore. In fact he's moved on and is doing extremely well. So let's just say bye bye to Nutzio!
I seriously doubt the poster is a lawyer. If he was he would know that any board of education employee is not a state employee, but a county employee.
A lawyer who is so ill informed would certainly not be worth his fee.
A letter to the state superintendent would be a waste of time. She has no authority over county employees.
The guy shouldn't be a principal to begin with. Just ask the teachers who have worked at his schools.
Sounds like you retiring to the good old Eastern Shore , Baltimoron.
11:42 pm Board of Education Employees in Wicomico County are NOT county employees. They are State Employees.
Teachers, administrators including principals are state employees 11:42. I'm not sure about other BOE employees but the one is question is a state employee.
I've had 2 dealings with Mr. Nunzio, and I think he is a GREAT Principal. We really need more like him (as Principal). He made a mistake like many of us as well as other public officials.
I plan on retiring to the shore soon. I can say one thing and that is things WILL change when I get here. And no I am not from Baltimore.
He should have been terminated when he was at East Salisbury. Just ask the teachers there at the time about him. He was spineless and never supported them. He never took a principled stand. He only covered his own ass. He needs to leave. Karma is a bitch.
Layers equal greed and corruption.
Yea sure 8:39 Joe said the same thing.
Anon 8:39, What are you going to do to make such a drastic change? You would be better off staying where you are, someone could get hurt with your attitude.
11:42. you couldn't be more wrong. all BOE employees are state employees. Not county employees. The county partially funds BOE but has no authority over it it it's employees.
While the theory, "state road, state license, state job" all sounds really great, that is not how things go. We all have state licenses and drive on state roads. So, the fact that he has a state job is the only thing that separates him from thousands of other (according to the theory). There are a lot of people that receive all or part of their income from the state, does the author think this rule of his should apply to all of them as well? The only thing that one should take into consideration , in my opinion, was whether the driver was on school property, driving a BOE owned vehicle OR requires a license to perform his job. All of those answers are NO. Do I like Nunzio? Heck no! Can't stand him! He is an arrogant ass who deserves all the negative attention he is getting. But be fired? I don't think so.
9:05 and 9:41....The letter was signed and contact information given even. It helps to read the article all the way through...
If the person writing this is an attorney, he must not practice criminal law. Driving while intoxicated (DWI) is the more severe charge than driving under the influence (DUI). Just another nitwit with too much free time on their hands.
Joe sure has your attention. Doesn't he?
Think peaceful my friend. You will like the changes.
Please hurry 8:39. I live in this horrendous belly of the pig. The shore is definitely in need of an upgrade. But in all fairness the head is in Annapolis.
April 5, 2013 at 11:13 AM
--Lillian M. Lowery, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Schools
410-767-0462 Llowery@msde.state.md.us
The above (which is at he end of the letter) is NOT a lawyer. Please read the article again. slowly. so you can comprehend what it says. Ms Lowery is the person you would call or e-mail if you want Fredericksen or Nunzio fired. The imaginary Lawyer did not leave his name or phone number. That is a clue right there because how many Lawyers do you know that give FREE advice WITHOUT being asked? or even if asked?
You people get on here and comment on subjects you know nothing about - including the nitwit Balt-ti-moron
who thinks Sbynews readers will believe him to be a Lawyer. This reader believes our Lawyer is only a nut with a grudge.
m
To 8:39 who said "things WILL change when I get there." Wait a minute. You want to move to some community and change it... Help me understand why you would do that? It takes an awfully large ego and a really disgusting hatred for the culture of a place to want to move there and change it. And did you ever think that we might like it here on the Shore? Maybe we don't need/want you to move here and change it.
Why would a lawyer care unless someone else wants the postion. A relative of this lawyer?
You people really need help here and I'm offering it to you. Be al little appreciative!
Let me guess, all these negative comments are coming from teachers who 'choose' not to do their job and are called down by a good supervisor (AKA Principal). Or a parent whose child was disciplined for doing something unacceptable. People, this is what we are coming to...be afraid...you sow what you reap.
IMHO, this guy is a good guy.
If he or she is better qualified what does it matter!
He's got you fooled. Unless of course this is nutzio commenting.
Having previously worked in the Wicomico County School division I can offer the following insight regarding this situation:
1. Despite the fact that the court of public opinion is in session, the BOE regards this matter as a personnel matter. Hence, to those seeking their pound of flesh they will not receive it.
2. Do not expect that Dr. Fredricksen will succumb to pressure from the comments posted here, or for that matter anywhere else. While I know for a fact that he routinely reads this post, he recognizes that this is a serious legal matter. Others have correctly noted that other school employees from this division have had similar issues occur, and remain gainfully employed. Simply, Nunzio was most likely reprimanded privately, and that will be the extend of action taken.
3. In reference to point #2, Dr. Fredricksen can request of the state board the revocation of Nunzio's license. Because he may make this request, by no means does it may he will. Nunzio was hand picked by him, and I would not be surprised if during his 'counseling' by his superiors he is 'encouraged' to request of the EAP (Employee Assistance Program) assistance for treatment for alcoholism. While this may seem like fodder, it serves the purpose of the case at hand; Nunzio provides a written request for treatment under the EAP for alcoholism (being that it is a treatable disease) and the board is obliged to provide assistance for such treatment.
4. So long as the written request is made by Nunzio, he will remain employed as his treatment is covered by the EAP.
5. No further action is required so long as Nunzio complies with the above provisions. This was most likely written into his letter of reprimand as a condition of continued employment.
In short, Nunzio will remain employed provided that he requests help from the BOE so that he can be treated. For those hungering for more drastic action, they will not receive it no matter the number of posts written. While it can be fair to say Dr. Fredricksen is not cared for by many, he will adhere to the contract settled upon by the BOE. This document is legally enforceable, and should the BOE violate it (say by terminating Nunzio) they could face serious legal repercussions. Given the number of well documented cases already being acted upon (I.e. Stephanie Moses et al), the BOE will not be interested in another despite public opinion.
Respectfully,
1:05 AM-- I agree with with your assessment. You seem to be very keyed into the politics/legal aspects of this situation.
One other response to 4/5 7:30 pm-- Teachers, good ones and some only fair even, respect an administrator that monitors his faculty/staff and keeps the 'ship' running with quality education to the students. To attain this goal, administrators should be fair and professional towards the teachers. This is the quality Mr. Nunzio has lacked for decades and is now being so publicly noted for his actions. The comments are not from a few disgruntled that are not doing their job. Too many stories exist of his abuse of power. I've worked for numerous administrators in Wicomico County for over 20 years and NONE would garner the comment load that Chris Nunzio has. Why? Because he has earned them and as you stated "you sow what you reap"...but I won't get my red pen out and correct you. We understand....
Not everyone who resents being bullied is a slacker or a malcontent. Not everyone who insists on high standards is an arrogant tyrant. There are enough in each group, however, to justify any argument you care to make.
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