CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — School starts Tuesday for Clay County. However, its top educator is on the defensive as he is accused of ethic’s violations.
Superintendent Charlie Van Zant is accused of falsely classifying struggling students as having learning disabilities to inflate graduation rates.
Van Zant wrote a letter to the state’s commission of ethics for them to step in and investigate, which looks into allegations made against an elected official.
The letter was dated Monday. Van Zant said the accusations were brought about by a disgruntled employee. He said they’re politically motivated, since he’s running for re-election and the primary is in two weeks.
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“I am confident that all of these allegations are baseless and completely untrue,” Van Zant wrote in the letter. “I strongly urge your office to come investigate me in an effort to clear my name and protect the good name and outstanding reputation of the school district of clay county. I have nothing to hide.”
Action News Jax reported that former principal Dr. Susan Sailor recently made the accusations in a letter to the school board. She claims Van Zant instructed her and another district employee to write research papers for him when he was getting his online master’s degree.
Sailor sent a statement that said she was encouraged by Van Zant's response and that the district's humane resources department has been instructed to investigate.
Action News Jax is reaching out to Van Zant, school board members as well as the State’s Commission on Ethics to see if it will give any indication it is looking into the superintendent’s claims.
The Florida Commission on Ethics saud the letter does not serve an official purpose to begin an investigation. The office is checking to see if Van Zant filed an official petition to have an investigation.