“I rescind my vote today, and we’re going to fix this today,” said board member Marcia Andrews.

By Josh Plank, World Israel News

The school board of Palm Beach County, Florida, voted unanimously Monday to rescind an October 7 vote to rehire William Latson, a high school principal who was fired last year after telling a parent, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event.”

Board members Marcia Andrews, Chuck Shaw, Barbara McQuinn, and Debra Robinson reversed their previous positions and voted not to approve an administrative law judge’s recommended order to reinstate Latson.

Board members Frank Barbieri, Karen Brill, and Erica Whitfield voted against Latson’s reinstatement for the second time.

“As a school board, we missed the point a long time ago in getting this right,” Andrews said.

“I rescind my vote today, and we’re going to fix this today,” she said.

McQuinn said, “What Dr. Latson did was open the door for the students whose parents are Holocaust deniers to, for generations to come, deny the atrocity of the Holocaust.”

Brill said, “The actions of this school board today will become our legacy. Worldwide attention is focused on us. I implore all of you to vote your conscience and do the right thing.”

Barbieri quoted Latson’s 2018 email which said, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event because I’m not in a position to do so as a school district employee.”

Barbieri said, “I find it repugnant and absolutely unacceptable that a principal in one of our schools would use his employment with the Palm Beach County school district as an excuse for this absurd statement.”

He said that after Latson made the statement, “He not only doubled down on it, but he tripled down on it.”

Latson was not present for the meeting, but a recorded message from him was played.

Latson said in part, “I am not a Holocaust denier. I have never been a Holocaust denier. I am sorry that my comments caused people to think that.”

Several members of the public were present and allowed to address the board prior to the vote.

Wayne Posner, a former Jupiter Town Council member, said, “This is a moral issue, not a money issue, not a rules issue. This is a moral issue.”

Anne Hirsch, a child of Holocaust survivors, said, “This hearing is not about Dr. Latson. He’s already outed himself. We know he’s anti-Semitic just by the fact that he questioned the Holocaust.”

“This is really a hearing about you people, what you are going to do, your responsibility in this. That’s what this is about,” Hirsch said.

Yael Hamaoui, a senior at Olympic Heights High School, told the board that she was missing calculus class to stand as a representative for her peers.

“If you decide to rehire him, you send a dangerous message that Holocaust denial and equivocation is a viable position,” she said.

“Will you validate the anti-Semitism directed towards me and my peers? I can’t believe you’re even considering it. Please don’t let this happen. Don’t let us down,” Hamaoui said.

Rabbi Leib Ezagui said, “The decision here will go down in history and will always be remembered. The names of this board will be remembered in history as either those that turned to the right or as those that turned a blind eye.”

Meir Rapaport, a Holocaust survivor, pulled back his sleeve to show the board the numbers tattooed on his forearm, 184482.

“You should remember you are the judges, and the Almighty stands in front of you here right now, and he wants to see how you will judge,” Rapaport said.

Following the vote which rescinded Latson’s reinstatement, the board discussed modifications to a final order.

The board is scheduled to vote on November 10 on the approval of a final order which is expected to include suspension without pay and termination of Latson’s employment. In the interest of time, the board will not allow public comment during this meeting due to the November 11 deadline for completion of the order.

The post Re-fired: Florida board reverses decision on Holocaust-denying principal, sacks him again appeared first on World Israel News.

“We have never had the number of email messages and speakers for any issue in the past,” said board member Karen Brill.

By Josh Plank, World Israel News

Due to an overwhelming level of public feedback, the school board of Palm Beach County, Florida, was forced to delay a vote Wednesday night to reverse the rehiring of William Latson, a high school principal who was fired last year after telling a parent that he couldn’t say the Holocaust was a factual event.

Board chair Frank Barbieri laid out the unusual dilemma that the board found itself in Wednesday night.

Barbieri said that the board had received almost 1,300 recorded messages, all of which must be heard before a vote can take place.

Approximately 900 recorded messages were still awaiting processing at the time of the meeting. The 362 messages that had been processed amounted to 7 hours and 21 minutes of required listening.

“Tonight’s meeting is really unprecedented,” said board member Karen Brill.

“We have never had the number of email messages and speakers for any issue in the past,” she said.

The vast majority of public comments were urging the board to take back an October 7 vote to rehire Latson, who had been fired in October 2019.

After consulting with counsel, the board decided it had no choice but to continue the meeting to November 2 to allow board members to hear all public comments.

Several members of the public came to the meeting and were allowed to address the board in person.

Senator Kevin Rader told the board, “There’s a stain, not only in this county, in this state, but it’s nationally and internationally. And we need to fix it.”

“I hope that when this comes back up for a revote that you will do the thing that is obvious, which is not to allow [people] who believe[] that the Holocaust is not a factual event to be principals in our schools or be educators in our district. It’s a very simple understanding,” said Rader.

Rabbi Barry Silver of Congregation L’Dor Va-Dor said, “Holocaust denial is anti-Semitism unmasked, and it is a superspreader of hate and prejudice and arrogance and ignorance.”

Rabbi Dovid Vigler of Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens said, “To the members of the school board, the world is watching us here tonight. On behalf of the Jewish community, I urge you to set an example and to vote to cancel the employment of Mr. Latson.”

Menachem Warshawski said, “I am a survivor of Auschwitz. I didn’t think that in my 90s I’ll have to educate an educator.”

Angela Van Der Pluym said, “To deny or to say you cannot confirm a historical fact puts these Jewish communities in danger, not just here in West Palm Beach but across the world. World Jewry is watching you right now.”

Richard Cravatts, member of the Florida board of the Zionist Organization of America, said his organization opposes Latson’s rehiring because it “sends students and their families a wrong and dangerous message that Holocaust denial and other forms of anti-Semitism will be excused and tolerated.”

Accusations of Jewish ‘power’ and ‘racism’

Some members of the black community questioned whether Latson was being treated fairly.

Chuck Ridley, chairman of Unify Palm Beach County, said, “We find Mr. Latson’s comments to be disturbing. However, we are aware of many instances in which white principals made choices that are disturbing and in some cases criminal and they were treated with greater respect, care, and great favor.”

“The reason that you are doing this has very little to do with anti-Semitism and much more to do with the power of the group that is doing the advocacy,” Ridley said.

Charmain Postel said, “Are we now backtracking on an earlier decision to bring an educator back because certain politicians wish to disqualify him?”

Steve White said, “As I observe this unwarranted persecution of Mr. Latson, a black man, I wonder if the actions of those who are persecuting him are motivated by racism and if the individuals are racists.”

Maxwell Adelstein, associate director of StandWithUs Southeast, disagreed with these assertions.

“What you’re hearing from the Jewish community isn’t about power dynamics. It’s not about politics. It’s about pain. It’s about anguish. It’s about intergenerational trauma that we still experience to this very day,” Adelstein said.

If the board votes not to rescind the rehiring of Latson on November 2, they are set to vote on an addendum that would transfer Latson from his position as principal of Spanish River High to “Principal on Special Assignment, Transportation Services.”

In an April 2018 email, Latson told a parent, “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.”

The post After 1,300 messages about Holocaust-denying principal, Florida board delays rehiring vote appeared first on World Israel News.

“We cannot allow anti-Semitism and discrimination to take hold in the school system,” the petition said.

By Josh Plank, World Israel News

Nearly 23,000 people have so far signed an online petition urging the school district of Palm Beach County, Florida, not to rehire William Latson, a high school principal who was fired last year after telling a parent, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event.”

“This is a slap in the face to all Holocaust victims,” the petition said. “We cannot allow anti-Semitism and discrimination to take hold in the school system.”

The petition was started by Ben Szlamkowicz, a resident of Boca Raton and the grandson of a Holocaust survivor.

The school board approved the reinstatement of Latson on October 7 in a 4-3 vote.

The petition also stated that board members Chuck Shaw, Barbara McQuinn, Marcia Andrews, and Debra Robinson, who all voted for Latson’s reinstatement, should not win re-election.

Shaw has already announced that he is retiring this year at the end of his term.

Andrews and Robinson will be up for re-election in 2022, while the recently re-elected McQuinn will not face another election until 2024.

Board members Frank Barbieri, Karen Brill, and Erica Whitfield voted against Latson’s reinstatement.

“I remain outraged,” Brill said in a Facebook post on October 10. “It was a sad day beyond words for me as a School Board Member.”

The school board is scheduled to vote on a new position for Latson on October 21.

According to the board’s decision, the former high school principal is to be transferred to a position within the district commensurate with his qualifications.

The positions of “custodian” and “bus driver” have been suggested by residents on social media.

“Even if he is reinstated to a position, he will not be reinstated to that position,” Whitfield said at the October 7 meeting, adding, “I do not think he will be in a position where he will have access to our children.”

The school board voted 5-2 to fire Latson on October 30, 2019, but he appealed the decision.

Robert Cohen, an administrative law judge, recommended that the board rescind Latson’s termination on August 13.

Latson was principal at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton when he told a parent that students could opt out of Holocaust lessons because “not everyone believes the Holocaust happened.”

In an April 2018 email, Latson said, “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.”

The post Thousands sign petition against rehiring Florida principal who refused to say Holocaust is fact appeared first on World Israel News.

“If we rehire Dr. Latson, it is going to be a stain on this school district that will never go away,” said board member Karen Brill.

By Josh Plank, World Israel News

The school board of Palm Beach County, Florida, voted Wednesday to rescind the termination of William Latson, a high school principal who was fired last year after telling a parent, “I can’t say the Holocaust is a factual, historical event.”

In a 4-3 vote, the board approved a recommended order to reinstate Latson, transfer him to a position within the district commensurate with his qualifications, and award him over $152,000 in lost wages.

Prior to the Wednesday’s meeting, the board provided a phone number by which the public could leave brief recorded comments.

Board members sat in silence for over an hour and 40 minutes as the messages were played. Caller after caller condemned Holocaust denial and urged the board not to reinstate Latson.

Many callers expressed horror at the thought that a Holocaust denier would be given the opportunity to impact young minds.

Many callers spoke of how the reality of the Holocaust had personally impacted their lives, robbing them of the opportunity to grow up with grandparents, aunts, and uncles.

Superintendent Donald Fennoy recommended that the board approve the reinstatement of Latson.

Board member Karen Brill, who voted against the reinstatement, told Latson, “You have already been tried and convicted in the eyes of the public, and that is something you will carry with you for the remainder of your career.”

“If we rehire Dr. Latson, it is going to be a stain on this school district that will never go away. And it’s not just a local stain in Palm Beach County; it’s a national stain,” she said.

Board chair Frank Barbieri, who voted against the reinstatement, said, “Dr. Latson should have known that his statement would cause local, national, and international anger and condemnation, ridicule of the Palm Beach County school district in general and Spanish River High School in particular, which in fact it did.”

Board Member Erica Whitfield, who voted against the reinstatement, said, “I do think we need, as a community, to realize that this is a stain on our community, and it does not represent us as a whole.”

Board member Marcia Andrews, who voted in favor of the reinstatement, said, “When we look at this whole totality of all of this confusion here, I think the district could have handled this better.”

Board member Debra Robinson, who voted in favor of the reinstatement and was one of two board members to vote against Latson’s termination last October, said that the situation was handled “very poorly” once it hit the press.

“After it hit the press, it blew out of control,” she said.

Robinson called Latson’s comments “stupid and inappropriate,” but said, “I don’t think his statements represent the body of his work.”

Board Vice-Chair Chuck Shaw, who voted in favor of the reinstatement, said that his decision was based in part on a “practicality issue.”

Shaw said that if the board doesn’t accept the recommended order, “we’re likely going to have it appealed and end up in court, and six or seven or eight months from now, we’ll be right back here with a new settlement issue.”

Board member Barbara McQuinn did not comment at the meeting, but was one of two board members to vote against Latson’s termination last October.

Laura Loomer, a candidate for congress in Palm Beach County, issued a statement Tuesday calling the situation “a scandal.”

“I urge local residents to join me in expressing their disgust. I further urge the school board, which is set to meet tomorrow, to reject the reinstatement of this odious man,” she said.

“You cannot be a taxpayer-funded educator and express ahistorical, counterfactual claims that are better suited to a Louis Farrakhan sermon than a public classroom,” said Loomer.

The school board voted 5-2 to fire Latson on October 30, 2019.

Latson was principal at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton when he told a parent that students could opt out of Holocaust lessons because “not everyone believes the Holocaust happened.”

In an April 2018 email, Latson said, “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.”

The post Holocaust-denying Florida principal reinstated: ‘A stain that will never go away’ appeared first on World Israel News.

Palm Beach County superintendent recommends board not renew principal’s contract after he could not say that the Holocaust was a “historical event.”

By World Israel News Staff

Palm Beach County Superintendent Donald Fennoy said in videotaped message Wednesday that he is recommending that the school board not renew the contract of the principal of Spanish River High School, William Latson.

This development follows the news this week that Latson had been reassigned after writing an email in which he stated that he could not say that the Holocaust was a historical fact.

Fennoy said in his video that the email exchanges between a parent and the principal caused “real distress” and were “deeply concerning.”

In the email in question, Latson said that he needed to remain “politically neutral” about the Holocaust. He wrote, “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.”

The superintendent, seeking to be “absolutely clear,” said that schools cannot be “fact neutral environments.” He also said that teaching historical facts does not infringe on free speech.

Fennoy shared that he removed Latson as principal of Spanish River High since he “lost confidence” in his leadership over the incident and is requesting that Latson’s contract not be renewed next year.

School Board Chairman Frank Barbieri said in a statement that he would support Fennoy’s recommendation.

The Palm Beach Post published an apology by Latson last week. However, on Monday, Latson gave a farewell message to the high school’s staff, blaming the mother for his reassignment.

“I have been reassigned to the district office due to a statement that was not accurately relayed to the newspaper by one of our parents,” Latson wrote in the message that was obtained by the Post. “It is unfortunate that someone can make a false statement and do so anonymously and it holds credibility but that is the world we live in.”

As part of the breaking story last week, the Post included images of the correspondences. The emails were obtained through a public records request and not from the mother.

Latson was reassigned to an office job in the Boca Raton school district after the story became public knowledge. However, the email exchanges started a year ago.

The post Florida principal who refused to acknowledge Holocaust to be fired appeared first on World Israel News.