SEX ABUSE

Millions of dollars that should be spent on school building maintenance, teacher salaries and educational resources are instead being blown on jury verdicts and legal settlements because Miami-Dade County Public Schools can’t seem to keep their male teachers in check.

Last year, M-DCPS paid $9 million to five victims who had been raped by former Brownsville Middle School physical education teacher Wendell Nibbs. Today, he’s behind bars serving an eight-year prison sentence.

Now, a federal jury has ordered M-DCPS to pay $6 million to a former student of an ex-Miami Palmetto Senior High School teacher accused of harassing and sexually abusing a string of female students.

How many more millions must we lose because of this disgusting behavior that principals should be putting to a stop instead of turning a blind eye? The sexual harassment, abuse and rape of students is unlawful and unacceptable, and there is no room for romantic relationships between teachers and underage students, either. Period. Full stop.

Meyer is now awaiting trial on three felony counts of engaging in sex with a minor while M-DCPS is reportedly trying to figure out if it will appeal the $9 million order.

The Miami Times suggests a better use of school officials’ time would be to develop, communicate and enforce a better policy that penalizes teachers if there is even a whiff of impropriety. Further, principals who know what’s going on right under their noses and fail to act should lose their jobs.

Teachers and students who see something should say something. Whistleblowers must be welcomed, not silenced. Let’s not repeat the mistakes of the Catholic Church.