School board to reconsider rehiring principal

Former Bocal Raton staff member made controversial comments about theHolocaust

After voting to rehire the Boca Raton principal whose controversialcommentsabouttheHolocaust generated national headlines, the Palm Beach County School Board mightwalk back that decision.

Last week, the School Board voted 4-3 to rehire former Spanish River principalWilliam Latson after an administrative law judge ruled in August the school district failed to prove he “engaged in misconduct in office, incompetence, or gross insubordination by a preponderance of the evidence.”

But reinstating him may no longer go according to plan. Following local outrage from the decision, the School Board now will vote whether to rescind Latson’s rehiring during its meeting this comingWednesday.

Richard Corcoran, the state’s educationcommissioner, requested the immediate cancellation of Latson’s professional educator certificate.

In a letter he wrote to educationleaders, including Palm Beach County School Superintendent DonaldFennoy, Corcoran said Latson took advantage of his positionof trustand“jeopardized” the safety of Florida students.

“I am committed to minimizingany potential threats toFlorida students,” hewrote in the letter.

The controversy dates to 2018 when, in email conversations with a parent, Latson detailed his efforts to implement the school’sHolocaust curriculum, a state mandate since 1994. He wrote that not every family had been amenable to the lessons.

In 2018, Latson told a parent in an email, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event because I am not in a position to do so as a school district employee.” Superintendent Donald Fennoy didn’t discipline him until it hit the media a year later.

Latson also said that as a school district employee, he couldn’t confirm theHolocaust existed.

“I work to expose students to certain things, but not all parents want their students exposed so they will not be and I can’t force that issue,” Latsonwrote.

The School Board fired Latson, who had led Spanish River since 2011, lastyear for beingunavailable after the comments he made infuriated Spanish River parents and alumni, aswell asHolocaust survivorsandpeopleworking tocombat anti-Semitism.

Latson