JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A new principal at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School is off the job after a loaded firearm was found inside his vehicle on campus Tuesday.
Michael Smith was reassigned to his home as both a criminal and district investigation continue.
Community reacts
District officials opened the doors for parents and community members to share their thoughts and concerns on Tuesday, including input on the search for an interim or permanent principal.
“Not very well, not at all,” one parent said when asked how the situation made them feel about their student’s safety.
“They need to check their backgrounds more than they’ve been doing,” another said.
Officials say the situation did not appear to involve an intent to cause harm, but firearms are prohibited on school campuses.
Smith was issued a criminal citation for weapons on school property, a misdemeanor charge that requires a court appearance. He was released at the scene.
A school already shaken
The issue involving Smith comes just months after a scandal involving the previous principal rocked the school.
Principal Michael Townsend was arrested in June and accused of failing to report child abuse.
Townsend’s arrest was linked to the arrest of teacher James Mulvey, who was accused of a felony charge involving a student.
According to reporting from News4JAX’s news partners at Jacksonville Today, Smith previously faced multiple complaints alleging inappropriate conduct toward students dating back to 2016 when he was an assistant principal at Atlantic Coast High.
District reviews hiring process
In a news conference Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier said the district is now reviewing its hiring process, including how hiring managers work with human resources and the professional standards department.
“I think there’s some healing that has to happen around the entire hiring process with today’s outcome and we expect to do that work over the next several days and into next week,” Bernier said.
In the meantime, Bernier says three people will be operating the school himself, the Deputy Superintendent and the Regional Superintendent.
News4JAX reached out to the school district by email with several questions including how the district plans to change its hiring process moving forward and what information officials heard from parents.
The district responded, saying it does not have any additional information to share at this time.
While on campus speaking to families, News4JAX spotted Dr. Bernier outside and attempted to get a comment, but he eventually turned and walked back inside without responding.
Officials say both investigations remain active and that some information cannot be released at this time.
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