COCONUT CREEK, Fla. – The principal and multiple staff members at a Broward County high school have been reassigned amid an investigation into “allegations of improper student participation in sports,” a district spokesperson said Monday morning.
Various sources with knowledge of the situation tell Local 10 News that the investigation involves a transgender student who plays girls’ volleyball at Monarch High School at 5050 Wiles Road in Coconut Creek. The student, who was born a male, now identifies as a female.
The spokesperson didn’t provide any specifics about the allegations, but said the principal and staffers were sent to work at “non-school sites” pending the outcome of the investigation.
“Although we cannot comment further, we will continue to follow state law and will take appropriate action based on the outcome of the investigation,” Broward County Public Schools spokesperson John Sullivan said. “We are committed to providing all our students with a safe and inclusive learning environment.”
In addition to Principal James Cecil, the district announced it reassigned three other employees: Kenneth May, an assistant principal; Dione Hester, the school’s athletic director and Jessica Norton, an information management technician.
“Additionally, Alex Burgess, who is a temporary athletic coach, has been advised his services are paused while the investigation is ongoing,” a district spokesperson said Monday afternoon.
In 2021, the Florida State Legislature passed the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, which specifies athletic teams or sports designated for females, women, or girls may not be open to students of the male sex. Gov. Ron DeSantis later signed the bill into law.
Parents had mixed reactions to Monday’s news that a transgender athlete was playing on the girls’ volleyball team.
“No, no no. That’s not a girl. That’s a boy,” parent Constance Martin said.
But parent Donovan Mundle said “everybody’s human.”
“You know, everybody chooses their own life so you can’t just neglect no one,” he said.
One student said a transgender athlete shouldn’t be allowed on the team.
“It’s not fair, because he, in his birth certificate, it doesn’t say ‘trans,’ it either says a male or a female,” that student said. “And if he can’t play on the team, that means he can’t play on the team.”
Anna Fusco, who heads Broward’s teacher’s union, questioned whether reassignments were necessary.
“We understand that there’s a law but, you know, to remove three people that are in need to run a school and run a sports program. I think the allegation investigation could go forward without removing any of the above,” she said.