Christian Peterson
reporter@riverbendnews.org
Gary Caldwell, an assistant principal at Suwannee High School, is on paid leave pending an investigation into circulating rumors of him being involved in a violent physical altercation with a female student. Reports from multiple high school students have indicated that Caldwell "slammed" the student’s head into the floor. However, the facts of the story have not been confirmed in any way. Reports range from Caldwell stepping in to stop a fight, to him attacking her for arguing with another student. Caldwell has been working for the Suwannee County School District for over 20 years and has also been an administrator at Suwannee Middle School and Suwannee Intermediate School.
"At this time, I will not be able to make any comment due to there being an open inquiry into this matter," Superintendent Ted Roush said. The Suwannee County Sheriff’s Office and the Suwannee County School District also refused to comment.
Although he declined to disclose any information to the Riverbend News, Superintendent Roush did give a statement to the Lake City Reporter. "We haven’t determined that there’s any guilt by anybody at this point," Superintendent Roush said. He also revealed that a third-party investigator from Tallahassee has been hired to conduct an unbiased investigation. "If there’s an issue that needs to be looked at, we’re going to look at it and make sure we get to the bottom of it to greatest extent we can and then make the right decisions."