Jonathan “Dr. G” Gueverra, the former president of the College of the Florida Keys (CFK), is formally contesting his termination, which occurred on July 20. Gueverra has requested an administrative hearing where a judge will examine the circumstances surrounding his dismissal and the actions taken by the college's board of trustees.

Grounds for Termination Cited

The termination notice, dated July 24 and issued by attorney Brande Smith representing the college board, outlined several grounds for Gueverra's dismissal. These included a stated lack of confidence from the newly appointed board members, insubordination related to discussions about his contract renewal, alleged misconduct in office, breach of contract for failing to secure state funding that was ultimately vetoed, and incompetence over the purported failure to remove Key deer from a college property on Big Pine Key.

Gueverra denies all these allegations. His attorney, Wayne Larue Smith, stated in a petition for a hearing that the board's asserted lack of confidence was not genuine but rather a pretext for the termination. The petition further questions the actions of the board chair, Alexandria Suarez, suggesting she may have predetermined the outcome, attempted to disable Gueverra's system access before the board's vote, and potentially acted outside her authority.

Procedural Concerns Raised

The petition highlights concerns about the process leading to the termination. According to the filing, the special meeting where the termination vote occurred was called with very short notice. The agenda for the meeting did not explicitly mention potential termination or discussion of it. The notice was posted less than seven days before the meeting, which the petition argues did not provide adequate warning or fair notice that Gueverra’s termination would be considered.

Gueverra's legal team disputes the asserted grounds for termination, the facts and inferences supporting them, the procedures used for the meeting, the fairness of the decision-making process, and the overall validity of the termination. They are asking for a final order that determines the grounds for termination were not proven and that the termination be set aside.

The petition also seeks to restore Gueverra to his previous position, salary, benefits, and contractual status. Importantly, Gueverra reserves all rights to pursue claims in circuit court or other forums, including those related to potential violations of the Sunshine Law, as reported by Keys Weekly.

Mediation Underway

Following Gueverra's petition, a mediation session was scheduled for October 7. Both parties have jointly requested that the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings (DOAH) pause the case for 60 days, until November 3, to allow for mediation efforts. Administrative law judge Robert S. Cohen granted this pause. If mediation is unsuccessful, an evidentiary hearing will be scheduled.

Given the ongoing legal proceedings, both Gueverra and the board trustees have declined to comment on the matter. The College of the Florida Keys is a part of the Florida Keys Community College district, which serves Monroe County. Information about Florida's community college system can be found on the Florida Realtors website.