Family of boy in Ragusa sex case plans to sue school board

TAMPA - The family of a middle school student plans to sue the Hillsborough County school board, saying the boy suffered personal and psychological injuries from having a sexual relationship with his teacher, Stephanie Ragusa.

The notice of intent letter is required under Florida law, which gives the school board six months to respond.

The letter was filed April 3. No lawsuit had been filed as of today.

The family's attorney couldn't be reached for comment.

School board officials said they couldn't comment on potential litigation.

Ragusa, a former Davidsen Middle School math teacher, was arrested in March 2008 and accused of having sex with the then-14-year-old three times. She was arrested a month later and charged with having sex with another teenager as many as 20 times.

Ragusa has pleaded not guilty. She has been in jail without bail since her second arrest.

Authorities said Ragusa told the 14-year-old boy he was shy and she would help him. They said the two had sex in Ragusa's apartment and in her car.

The notice of intent letter was among a number of such letters obtained by The Tampa Tribune and News Channel 8.

Among them was one from the mother of a former Middleton High School special education student who had sex with his teacher, Christina Lin Butler.

In December, Butler was placed on probation for five years after pleading guilty to having unlawful sexual activity with a minor. She also was ordered to undergo mental health counseling.

That notice of intent later was withdrawn after the law firm that filed it stopped representing the family.

The attorney and school board officials declined to comment.

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