Escambia School Board member Jeff Bergosh and, according to him, the School District attorney Donna Waters believe Tate High School officials were not legally obligated to report to Florida Department of Children and Families the alleged sexual assault at Tate High School.
This is what Bergosh posted on his website:
An assault by one child upon another is not normally a child abuse situation which must be reported to DCF. Reporting would be mandatory only if the perpetrator is a babysitter or older relative who has been left in charge of the victim’s welfare.
If you are a parent, does this make you feel better or worse about your child’s safety in the public school system?
Who is better equipped to interview the possible rape or sexual assault victim? A high school dean or Gulf Coast Kids’ House professional?
I can’t believe the School Board is endorsing not bringing abuse investigators into handling these type of accusations. They endorse drug dogs, but not professionals who can independently determine what really happened.
BTW: Not every attorney agrees with Ms. Waters’ interpretation of the law. The children were under the care of a teacher who was in charge of the victim’s welfare.