Rick Scott wants those allegedly involved in Palm Beach schools sex assault case fired

WELLINGTON, Fla. (FLV) – Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., called on Palm Beach County Superintendent Mike Burke to immediately remove five school administrators for allegedly failing to report a sexual assault of a 15-year old student in 2021.

All five suspects, including former principal Darren Edgecomb, have been charged with felonies in the matter.

In the letter, Scott expressed “grave alarm” at the accusations and called it “particularly alarming” that the administrators remain employed and paid by the district.

Florida’s Voice reached out to the school district for a response to Scott’s letter.

“If the reports prove true, these individuals repeatedly failed the child for nearly two years as they did nothing to report the alleged sexual assault while the traumatized girl apparently engaged in known acts of self-harm,” Scott said in a release.

Scott went on to request Burke fire the administrators as they “failed to fulfill one of the most fundamental duties” of their jobs as educators and administrators.

“While the criminal defendants await a felony trial to be decided by a jury of their peers, these individuals do not deserve to remain employed by the school district they so clearly failed by refusing to protect the child from being re-victimized by their negligent decisions not to report the claims they received two years ago,” Scott said.

Along with Edgecomb, the four other suspects charged in the matter include former behavioral health professional Priscilla Carter, assistant principals Daniel Snider, Nereyda De Garcia and chorus teacher Scott Houchins.

Edgecomb was being held on $10,000 bond, which he has since posted.

The alleged incident occurred in 2021, but no charges were filed at the time. The victim’s father later reportedly contacted police to pursue charges against the alleged staff members at the school.

Under Florida statute, school employees are directed to notify any incident to the Department of Children and Families.

The Palm Beach County School Board has since officially approved Reggie Myers as its next school principal.

Scott urged Burke to “do the right thing” in the matter.