Superintendent Malcolm Thomas denies any cover up or delays in reporting the sexual assault at Tate High School. The daily newspaper gave his version of how school officials handled the alleged crime.
Thomas said that a parent made the school aware of the sex assault allegation March 1 after school ended for the day, and a school resource officer was told about it March 2. Sheriff David Morgan says that only a passing remark was made to the SRO and that the deputy was actually told about the assault until March 4.
Who to believe? It may be time for the State Attorney’s Office to step in and investigate, especially in light of the school district’s overall weak record of reporting crime incidents on its campuses to law enforcement. I would like to see a special grand jury into school safety to give teachers some protection from retaliation from the administration for testifying about what is happening at the schools.
Parents have a right to know the truth about what is happening in the classrooms of all the schools in Escambia County. Children have the right to go to school and be safe.