JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- When Christopher Bacca was found "sleeping in the same bed" as a child in 2009, parents say it should have been a warning sign to Duval County Public Schools. But since sharing a bed with a child is not a crime, no charges were ever filed. Bacca was simply given a warning and transferred to another school.
But if Bacca was allowed back to teach after a questionable incident, it's kind of frightening to think that other teachers could have been too? Action News brought that concern to the board.
"There is a concern people like Bacca exist all over Jacksonville, Florida," said Board Chair Betty Burney.
That includes, in the classroom. For parents who send their kids to school in Duval County, that's a major concern. So what is the school board doing to make sure others aren't slipping under the radar?
"Our early intervention is screening," said Tommy Hazouri. "It's having a very tight screening process. What we're doing now and seeing are there any loopholes is there anything that we missed in our screening?"
That's what the school board worked to figure out in a work session Tuesday. They analyzed their policies concerning incidents like Bacca's to make sure they're on point. Board members seem to agree; improved communication between agencies like DCF, JSO and the district could help prevent a future incident.
"One of the things that they're going to make sure they do is look at the very careful alignment," said Burney. "We've always had a good alignment with the sheriff's department and with DCF but just to make sure that there's maybe some follow through. "
