JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The recommendation is printed clearly in black and white. According to a 2009 investigation completed by an investigator for DCF, Christopher Bacca should have been assigned to a "less vulnerable student population."
"That certainly is sufficient to set off any bells and whistles to really question whether or not this teacher should be put back in any school and certainly not an elementary school," said board member W.C. Gentry.
But Bacca was put back in the school system. After being removed from one grade school classroom at Long Branch Elementary, three months later he was placed back in front of younger children at Windy Hill Elementary. So why didn't the school system follow investigators' recommendations?
According to Human Resources, Bacca was not qualified to teach at a higher grade level, and they were in no legal position to fire the fourth grade teacher since no charges were brought against him.
Still, Gentry is outraged. He says Bacca had no place in any classroom after an investigator for DCF showed concern.
"To me that means all our student population is vulnerable," he said. "I wouldn't let this person in middle school or high school."
Gentry is also frustrated that this is the first time he's seeing these accusations for himself. The issue was never brought to the board in 2009.
"Why wasn't this moved up the system because apparently it was handled, looks like by a staff person," he said.
To make sure that never happens again, new HR heads are looking over the school's policies and procedures and will make recommendations for changes in three weeks.
