The Los Angeles Times reported today that the 4th District Court of Appeals overturned a prior decision in the case of Frank Lampedusa, a teacher and dean of students at Farb Middle School in San Diego who was fired for placing an explicit “men seeking men” ad on Craigslist.
The Commission on Professional Competence ruled that the San Diego Unified School District did not have sufficient grounds to fire Lampedusa for posting the ad, which did not include Lampedusa’s name or affiliation with the school in conjunction with the explicit pictures and explanations of sexual preference that prompted Lampedusa’s dismissal.
However, the appeals court sided with the school district, agreeing that Lampedusa’s behavior was classifiable under the Education Code definition of “immoral conduct.”
Lampedusa was a tenured teacher who had served Farb Middle School since 1999. He was dismissed in 2009 after the questionable personal ad reached the attention of school officials.
We have to defend this teacher. He did not do anything illegal. He didnt give his name, profession or employer. He solicitied adults to share in legal activities in his personal life!. What’s next for teachers (or anyone else), firing for soliciting a party or dating?
Does anyone know if there is a defense fund?