If the intent of Superintendent Malcolm Thomas was to quell criticism, his March 24 report appears to be a dismal failure. Parents and community officials aren’t buying the report as being independent.
I spoke with a pastor today who is upset that the school officials didn’t turn the allegations of sexual assault immediately over to Escambia County Sheriff’s Office on March 1. The school administration knew the identities of both the possible victim and her alleged assailant before school was out on March 1. Valuable evidence may have been lost by waiting until the next morning for the dean to begin his investigation.
This is an excerpt from a email from a Tate High parent:
I read the report and was dumbfounded. My first thought was: “Whose hat was THIS pulled out of?” The findings are clearly ludicrous and purely public eye candy served on a silver platter with bells and whistles!
Even this report contradicts itself. [With both hands raised high] “All is well folks, no need for concern, everyone at the School cooperated appropriately and timely. However, we need to create a few procedures to help assist in future incidents.” Why? If there wasn’t anything wrong, why do they need to create procedures to help assist future incidents?
This is clearly a waste of our tax dollars and is nothing more than a ration of Eye Candy to keep the General Public calm.
Others are making jokes about how Superintendent Thomas investigated himself and found himself perfect. SRO Small not only got run by Thomas, but the bus backed up and hit him again.
Got a text message that paraphrased a line from SNL’s Stuart Smalley: “I think this is the best report I’ve ever done. And you know what? I deserve it! [ turns to his mirror ] Because I’m good enough, I’m smart enough, and, doggonit, people like me!”