School Board to Vote on Approval of Giving Gagnon Back Pay

BRADENTON - At the next Manatee School Board meeting on Tuesday, board members will vote on whether to approve giving more than $116,000 in back pay to former assistant Superintendent and ex-Manatee High Principal Robert Gagnon. The move has been recommended by Superintendent Rick Mills.

The recommendation comes after Gagnon's acquittal of charges that he failed to report sexual abuse against MHS students by assistant football coach and parent liaison Rod Frazier, who resigned last year after charges were brought against him. 

Gagnon was charged with failing to report by the State Attorney's office last fall, after the Bradenton Police Department recommended the action. The board voted to suspend Gagnon without pay in October.

His acquittal was given last month, the day before two other high-level Manatee High administrators, Matthew Kane and Gregg Faller, also had their fates decided by Judge Peter Dubensky. (Kane was also acquitted; Faller was convicted of a misdemeanor charge. Felony and misdemeanor charges of failing to report abuse had been brought against all three men.)