NAPLES, Fla. — The parents of two Parkside Elementary students have filed a lawsuit against the Collier County Public School Board claiming the school failed to protect their children, and others, from a teacher charged with molesting and abusing students.
Complaints, filed by Miami attorney Gregg Schwartz, allege that in 2018, the principal and assistant principals were made aware that Hector Manley, a teacher, was molesting several female students. A staff member was told by the students and immediately reported the abuse.
The administration's response was deliberately indifferent, failing to investigate or take action against Mr. Maney, according to complaints. The lawsuits contend that he was simply moved from grade to grade, allowing him unfettered access to more students.
There was an unofficial business decision not to remedy the violations, according to Schwartz.
The lawsuits allege both negligence for failure to supervise Manley and violations of Title IX, a federal law that protects students at public schools from receiving federal financial assistance funds from sexual discrimination.
Manley remains in jail, charged with 20 counts of lewd and lascivious molestation and three counts of sexual battery on minor students.
