Principal dismissed from North Carolina position under scrutiny for concealing reports of sexual misconduct
In a series of events that have shaken the Franklin County community, the former Principal of Franklinton High School, Russell Holloman, is under investigation for failing to report a sexual assault as required by law.
On May 7, Franklin County Superintendent Rhonda Schuhler recommended that Holloman be fired from his position. The recommendation came following an internal investigation into an incident involving the school's baseball team. The investigation is based on new court records showing the Franklin County Sheriff's Office is investigating Holloman for not following his legal duty to report an alleged sexual assault that occurred on a Franklin County school activity bus.
The sexual assault, involving members of the Franklinton High School's baseball team, occurred on March 4. However, it was not reported to law enforcement by Russell Holloman or any staff of Franklinton High School, according to the internal Franklin County Schools investigation. The District Attorney's Office has launched a criminal investigation into whether Holloman failed to report the sexual assault of a student.
The incident was reported to the Franklin County school district office staff by parents on April 18. Consequently, the district suspended Holloman on April 22 and subsequently made an official notification of the incident to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office on April 22. Before the notification, the Sheriff's Office had no knowledge of the incident and had received no reports of it.
Under North Carolina law, principals are required to notify law enforcement of crimes that occur on school property. State law also requires mandatory reporting by adults of crimes against juveniles. Holloman was the Principal of the Year in 2017 for the district.
The school system will provide the requested records, stating they didn't learn about the incident until being told by parents six weeks after it happened. Boyd Sturges, the attorney for the school board, said the district will cooperate and follow all the rules. Despite requests for comment, Holloman did not return voicemails and an email from The News & Observer.
Holloman appealed the termination to the school board, which upheld the termination on July 21. The removal of Holloman from his position has sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about the school's handling of such sensitive matters and the importance of adhering to reporting requirements.
This incident serves as a reminder of the serious consequences that can arise when school administrators fail to report sexual assaults as required by law. Such incidents would typically be reported through official channels or legal proceedings, and detailed information might not be publicly available without a direct investigation or news coverage. For more information on reporting requirements and consequences, it's recommended to check official reports or news outlets that cover legal and educational issues in the area.
A concerned parent raised the issue of a sexual assault involving members of the Franklinton High School's baseball team on April 18, which led to an investigation and the suspension of Principal Russell Holloman. Despite the school's Legal-and-Justice obligations to report crimes against juveniles, the incident was not reported to law enforcement until it was officially notified to the Franklin County Sheriff's Office on April 22. Moreover, the lack of reporting might have significant implications, as an Education-and-Self-Development professional's failure to adhere to reporting requirements can result in severe consequences, such as the dismissal of Holloman from his position.
