News Summary
A distressing event at Rollins Elementary in Zachary, Louisiana, involved a six-year-old girl with a dairy allergy. The assistant principal, Kristy Scott Gilpin, faces charges of cruelty to juveniles after the child was served milk, resulting in a severe allergic reaction. The school district is under scrutiny as parents demand accountability and transparency, while legal action is being pursued by the child’s family against the school and district.
Zachary, Louisiana: A Disturbing Incident at Rollins Elementary School
An unsettling situation has unfolded at Rollins Elementary School that has left parents and the community in shock. Kristy Scott Gilpin, the assistant principal at the school, found herself in a legal bind after an incident involving a six-year-old student and a serious allergy mishap. On March 17, 2025, Gilpin, age 41, turned herself in to authorities, facing charges of cruelty to juveniles.
What Happened?
This troubling story began on February 11, 2025, when Jamisha Augustine, the mother of the affected child, reported that her daughter was served milk at school, despite a known dairy allergy. As many parents understand, food allergies can be life-threatening, and schools have protocols in place to ensure the safety of their students.
Unfortunately, in this instance, Augustine claims that her daughter suffered a serious reaction and soiled herself due to the milk incident. To make matters worse, reports suggest that the child was then forced to clean up her own mess. This situation understandably outraged the mother, prompting her to remove her daughter from the school just a few days later, on February 17. In response to the incident, Augustine has taken legal steps, hiring an attorney to explore her options for pursuing action against both the school and the district.
The School District’s Response
In the wake of this distressing episode, the Zachary Community School District initiated an internal investigation. However, the findings from this investigation, concluded on February 21, have not been made public, citing privacy laws as the reason for the lack of specifics. Yet, the district did confirm that appropriate actions were taken following the investigation’s results, aligning with district policies and legal obligations.
What’s next for Gilpin remains uncertain, as her name has been removed from the school’s website, leaving her employment status ambiguous. The school district promptly dealt with the fallout from the incident, seeking to navigate this turbulent situation with care.
Legal Action and Community Reactions
As Augustine moves forward with her legal action against Rollins Elementary and the Zachary Community School District, her attorney has stated their determination to seek justice for the young girl. Community members have echoed Augustine’s frustration, criticizing the district’s response to the incident, suggesting that it reflects a lack of accountability and concern for student welfare.
Superintendent Ben Necaise of the Zachary School District has acknowledged that the situation was indeed a misstep and unacceptable. However, he refrained from addressing specifically who instructed the child to clean up after herself, leaving many questions unanswered.
In the Eye of the Public
In light of the public uproar surrounding this incident, the school district has issued several statements to clarify their stand, pushing back against some elements of Augustine’s claims, terming circulating information as misinformation. This defensive posture has not sat well with Augustine, who has publicly criticized their responses as being tone-deaf. She has demanded greater transparency and accountability from the district, insisting that her daughter’s plight was largely a result of negligence regarding established medical guidelines for her allergy and that those in power must take steps to prevent such incidents from happening again.
A Community Left to Heal
The incident at Rollins Elementary not only raises important questions about student safety and the adherence to medical guidelines but also reflects the broader conversations regarding how schools handle allergies and the treatment of their students. As Zachary’s community reflects on this shocking story, parents everywhere are left hoping for a swift resolution and changes that ensure the safety and well-being of all children in the school system.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
- Louisiana First News
- Wikipedia: Child cruelty
- WAFB
- Google Search: Zachary Louisiana school incident
- Unfiltered with Kiran
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Child abuse
- Bakersfield Now
- Google News: Rollins Elementary school incident
