ACPS administrators suspended following SFHS lawsuit
BY JENNIFER CABRERA
ALACHUA, Fla. – Following last week’s lawsuit alleging that administrators at Santa Fe High School (SFHS) failed to report or investigate a student’s complaints of sexual harassment, two administrators have now been placed on administrative leave.
Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS) spokeswoman Jackie Johnson confirmed that SFHS Athletic Director Michele Faulk and former SFHS Assistant Principal Mac Rendek (now at Buchholz High School) have been placed on administrative leave pending resolution of the complaints included in the lawsuit.
Although Attorney Bobi Frank notified ACPS in July of the pending lawsuit, specifically naming now-retired SFHS Principal Tim Wright, former Assistant Principal for Curriculum Mac Rendek, Athletic Director Michele Faulk, and former baseball coach Travis Yeckring as individuals who may be implicated in the lawsuit, Rendek and Faulk continued working in their respective schools until the actual lawsuit was filed.
The lawsuit seeks damages against ACPS for failing to protect a female student from unwanted sexual harassment from Yeckring; according to the lawsuit, the student’s mother claims that the student reported multiple incidents to Wright, Rendek, and Faulk, but no reports were sent to the Department of Children and Families, no complaints were documented against Yeckring on behalf of the student, and there were no investigations into the incidents although all three administrators are mandatory reporters under the law.
This is tragic all around.
I’m surprised the Johnson formerly know as Kurtz actually confirmed it.
I just hope a complete and fair investigation is performed. No conclusions without factual evidence and no “he said, she said.”
There’s likely to be major impacts to all involved, both directly and indirectly.
Appears someone is ready with their pitchfork.
The problem is that the only evidence that exists might very well be “he said/she said.” If the student reported what Yeckring did to these three mandatory reporters, but the three of them wrote nothing down and launched no investigation, then what records exist?
Last week a story came out about a Florida woman who was sexually assaulted by her adoptive father when she was a young teenager. When she reported it, the police didn’t believe her and charged her with filing a false report.
When he did it again, she took pictures and collected other evidence. And had the nerve to report it again. (Link below)
This is the reality of sexual assault and predatory, grooming behaviors. The perpetrators hide and the victims all too often are not believed.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/florida-teen-forced-to-collect-her-own-evidence-to-prove-she-was-sexually-abused
Why did it take five months and a lawsuit for ACPS to act? UNACCEPTABLE!
Right? There’s zero doubt that ACPS knew about the allegations that the three school admins were told by the student about “Pedo Yeck” and did nothing.
Yet the school board waited until a lawsuit went public to put these people on admin leave and investigate.
BTW – whichever athlete called him “Pedo Yeck” before all this came out? Bravo to her! Love seeing these kids standing up for themselves and calling people out for bad behavior.
The criminal investigation is still going on, and by the looks of the lead investigator from FDLE “liking” the lawsuit being filed article on FB last Friday, it tells me that there is not just smoke. There is fire.
If this is accurate, perhaps the lead investigator could stay off of social media and get this going on 8 month investigation wrapped up. If “there is fire” then the whole dang town has burned down by now, yet no arrests have been made.
I highly doubt a lead investigator from FDLE is on social media engaging anyone about the investigation. Where is your proof?
A little off topic, but . . . what exactly does an “Assistant Principal for Curriculum” do, except collect copious amounts of unearned income from ACPS taxpayers?
His position is necessary to ensure that the administrators at Howard Bishop M.S. do nothing useful. Except pay union dues.
Collects a big salary to do Nothing
In larger secondary schools you have the AP responsibilities split between the administrative (APA) and curricular (APC) areas. This allows you to be targeted with from a professional development and management standpoint, and clearly defines the roles in sporting the principal. They are also very different skill sets.
Is this paid leave?
Very likely, yes.
Which I can’t disagree with? Because it IS possible that the allegations are unsubstantiated.
What makes me nuts is that it will take months for the investigation to conclude and we’re all paying for it.
When the school board launched an investigation into Shawn Barat’s grooming of a band student at Buchholz, he was on paid admin leave for a little over three months. The screenshots, alone, of the conversations between him and a student should have been enough to warrant firing him but it took months?
To Travis, Mac, Michele, and Tim. This is all so very wrong, I’m sorry you are going through this. As a former colleague of yours, I know the truth. I know that a report was done in fall of 2022, and all was handled completely appropriately. The student remained on campus the rest of the year and then her junior year with no problem. When an opportunity arose to try and ruin someone because of school politics, a complaint was made again that was 18 months old. I caution every teacher on campus in every country to be careful. All you need is one person to say something happened and everyone jumps on the bandwagon to condemn. I’ve read all of the articles since March, the lawsuit etc… and there is never any substance. This is a money chasing scheme. Why not wait until after the criminal investigation is complete? Because, the attorney for the girl received word in early May from FDLE that there would not be any criminal charges. In fact, sources I have tell me the investigation has been over since mid August.
There is mud in the water and it smells fishy. There have man too many stories to count written about this young man and no arrest. I feel for him and I pray he has peace. I’m all good with prosecuting to the fullest extent of the law, but I’m also against libel, slander, and defamation.
You are wrong. The fact that there is no complaints or reports in his file refutes your ridiculous lie. Clear cover up, as is the 15+ years of known molestation of student athletes by a former city official also known by this same administration. They are going down. Matter of when not if.
😂😂😂. Yes an also the lady down at the pawn shop was involved in the molestations. The milk man as well.
Should have happened on day 1. Get it together Alachua County!
Didn’t happen on day 1 because the entire tale is a work of fiction. Doyeeee! File complaint with school board and let them investigate or hold off until you can try to sue and collect some money. No complaint filed with school board because it never even happened.
Headline states suspended, but administrative leave is something different and is referenced in your first paragraph. Alachua Chronicle, don’t be like the fake new media and sensationalize your headline when it misrepresents what is happening. Your better than that.