Charter Schools Superintendent Working From Home After Grievances Filed

Lake Wales Charter Schools Superintendent Dr. Wayne Rodolfich has spent more than two weeks "working from home" after anonymous grievances were filed, apparently by employees who had worked with him in the school district's home office on Central Avenue in Lake Wales.

The charter school's human resources officer, LaQuanda Burroughs, reported to the at a special meeting on March 28 that three different grievances had been filed. After hearing of the grievances, charter school board members voted to hire a law firm from outside Polk County to investigate and report on the accusations, according to an official who also asked to remain anonymous.

News file photo

Dr. Wayne Rodolfich is in his second year leading the seven-school Lake Wales Charter School system.

Among the grievance complaints were that Rodolfich addressed employees in a loud voice and pounded the table during a morning meeting on March 18. The complaint was filed the next day. A statement prepared by Burroughs said the anonymous complainant described Rodolfich's actions as "demoralizing and embarrassing."

Rodolfich attended the board's March 28 meeting and told the members that it was his first time hearing of the complaints against him. He voluntarily chose to remain outside the office, working from his home while the investigation is conducted by the Tampa law firm of Barbas Cremer, which specializes in employment and business law.

Rodolfich has a reputation of working on weekends and has often spent days off reaching out to parents as part of his "Read 20" program. He told the board members that he expects staff to show up on time and expects them to share his passion for education and put students first.

Rodolfich has led the seven-school charter district since July 2022 after a year-long hunt ended in his hiring in March of that year. He came to Lake Wales after leading a school system at Pascagoula, in coastal Mississippi, where he earned honors as the Superintendent of the Year.

The charter school system consists of Lake Wales High School, Bok Academy North and South middle schools, and four area elementary schools.