New Bill Mocks Florida Superintendent Who Let Threatening Trans Teacher Back in Classroom
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA — A Florida lawmaker is mocking his local school district superintendent by naming a new bill after him.
Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill) filed SB 394 last week, a proposal he is calling “Stratton’s Law.” Rep. John Temple (R-Wildwood) also filed a companion bill in the House.
Ingolia says he named the bill after Hernando County Schools Superintendent John Stratton. In March, the district boss made national news for his handling of an incident that took place at Fox Chapel Middle School in which a gender-confused teacher was allowed back into the classroom after reportedly telling a colleague he wanted to shoot some of his poorly-performing students.
The district did not notify parents – in fact, they initially denied the incident ever occurred. Instead, parents learned of the teachers’ threats from a local news reporter two weeks later. The teacher remained in the classroom during this time.
READ MORE: Florida Transgender Teacher Who Talked About Shooting Students Allowed Back in Classroom
Ingoglia told The Florida Standard that the Fox Chapel incident was the “main driver for the bill.”
“We named it after the superintendent who foolishly let that teacher back in the classroom,” he said.
Stratton’s Law would require a school district to be notified if one of their employees had a risk protection order issued against them. A risk protection order temporarily removes firearms and ammunition from those who are a “danger to themselves or others.”
The bill would also require teachers to notify the school district of any prior arrests or criminal records, even if they have been expunged.
“POSTER CHILD FOR BAD GOVERNANCE”
Ingoglia called Stratton the “poster child for bad governance” and said he expects the bill to receive bipartisan support as it is “a common sense bill.” The lawmaker pointed out that the Fox Chapel incident is not the only blemish on the superintendent's record.
In 2021, Stratton came under fire after an elementary school teacher was charged with “multiple counts of sexual assault on a minor.” Numerous parents said they were not notified of the arrest or whether the perpetrator had come into routine contact with students.
In May, Stratton narrowly survived a school board vote as to whether he should retain his post. Ingolia and Temple issued a public statement at the time calling for Stratton’s removal.
When asked about the naming choice of Ingolia’s bill, Stratton’s office opted against a provocative response.
“As it is written, SB 394 will require law enforcement and courts to share information contained within a risk protection order involving school district staff,” a Hernando County Schools spokesperson told The Florida Standard. “This proposal will ensure district leaders have timely access to relevant information that may impact campus safety, and that is vital.”
FLORIDA’S RED FLAG LAWS
Florida’s risk protection orders (RPOs) – often referred to as red flag laws – were passed in response to the 2018 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. They enable citizens to contact law enforcement with concerns that an individual may be a threat to himself or others. If deemed legitimate, law enforcement then pursues a court order for the RPO.
Second Amendment advocacy groups like the National Rifle Association and Gun Owners of America have opposed red flag laws on the grounds that they jeopardize Constitutional due process.
Although he opposed the 2018 red flag legislation as a member of the House, Ingolia said he supports using the RPOs already on the books to protect students from unstable teachers like the one at Fox Chapel.
“While it’s there and it's being used, it just makes sense.”