UPDATE: In a surprise move, The Palm Beach County School Board on Monday voted unanimously to rescind its decision to rehire the former Boca Raton principal at Spanish River Community High School after he sent an email to a parent denying the Holocaust was an actual historical event.
Dr. William Latson was fired last year following an investigation into controversial comments he made about the Holocaust.
Last month, the school board took a judge’s recommendation and voted 4-3 to reinstate Latson within the School District of Palm Beach County.
But on Monday, following weeks of outrage from the community, school board members voted 7-0 to rescind last month’s decision to reinstate Latson, meaning he won’t work for the school district after all.
Before the official vote at Monday’s meeting, school board members Barbara McQuinn and Chuck Shaw said they were planning to rescind their votes.
“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,” McQuinn said.
ORIGINAL STORY:
The Palm Beach County School Board will begin hearing from the one thousand people who wanted to say something at the meeting to re-instate the former Spanish River High School Principal William Latson. Last year’s revelation that Latson, while at Spanish River in 2018, had refused to acknowledge the reality of the Holocaust made international news.
The meeting begins at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning.
Laurie Cordoza Moore, Pres of Proclaiming Justice to the nations. is organizing a rally to permanently remove principal William Latson who was formally at Spanish River high school. Latson was fired for perceived anti-Semitic comments in an email to a parent in which he declined to acknowledge that the holocaust was an historical fact. He now says he was wrong. Watch Dr. Latson’s apology here.
THE FLORIDA “HOLOCAUST DENYING PRINCIPAL” Removal rally is scheduled for November 2nd at the School Board Meeting in West Palm Beach.
Cordoza Moore says, “If you would be available this coming Monday at 9:00 AM ET and would like to reserve 1 minute of podium time before the Board to express your support of William Latson’s dismissal –please email me at info@pjtn.org before 1:00 PM ET this Friday, October 30th . PJTN is compiling a list of “Watchman” who will come in person and speak to the Board. We will submit our list of committed PJTN participants through the official channels to reserve your time and will confirm this back to you on return email.”
· LEAVE A VOICE MESSAGE FOR THE BOARD –to be played at the Monday morning meeting. Limit your comments to 1 minute, state your name, and your concerns over William Latson’s future ability to influence the education of Florida children! Deadline for recorded comments is this Friday, Oct. 30th at 5:00 PM ET. Your message will be played at the Monday meeting. Number to call: (561) 684-5103. Remember to state your name and that you are a concerned PJTN Watchman!
· EMAIL THE BOARD: You can send an advance email that will reach all seven members of the Palm Beach County School Board. Email: boardoffce@palmbeachschools.org Please have your email sent by 5:00 PM ET this Friday October 30th.
· SHOW UP TO SHOW YOUR SUPPORT—WITH SIGNS! Those who don’t pre-register to attend the actual Board Meeting can bring a sign and show your support to local media and citizens with a street rally! The meeting is being held at the Fulton Holland Educational Center, 3300 Forest Hills, West Palm Beach.
According to Cordoza Moore, “This is our last public forum meeting in which PJTN can add our voice of concern and outrage over the reinstatement of William Latson, who incurred international scorn from his position as principal at Spanish River High School in Boca Raton for his refusal to acknowledge the Holocaust as a historical event.”
Cordoza Moore’s exact quote at the time for media: “This anti-Semite should not be allowed anywhere near a school—PJTN is calling for his immediate removal, not reassignment!” He was officially terminated by school system officials last October. He has since been reinstated by the school board and will receive $152.000 in back pay.