South Florida principal who made controversial comments about the Holocaust is fired

The South Florida principal who stirred national controversy after refusing to say the Holocaust was a “factual, historical event” was fired Wednesday during a school board meeting at the recommendation of the district’s superintendent.

With no discussion, the school board for the School District of Palm Beach County voted 5-2 to end William Latson’s more than 20-year-employment with the district.

Latson, who was the principal of Spanish River Community High School in Boca Raton for 11 years, was reassigned in July after emails he wrote to a mother’s inquiry in April 2018 surfaced. A day after his reassignment, Superintendent Donald Fennoy asked the School Board not to renew Latson’s contract. Allison Castellano, a Spanish River alumna and parent, was later appointed as the school’s new principal.