Royall Elementary School's principal and vice principal have resigned following backlash from a set of photos posted on the school's Facebook page which showed teachers and staff dressed as U.S. Border Patrol agents and in Mexican-inspired clothing during a school event with an Olympics theme. The school is located in Florence, South Carolina.
The resignations of Julie Smith and Marci Gatewood come three days after Superintendent Richard O'Malley announced disciplinary actions in an email to Royall parents, stating that several employees were no longer employed by the district or had been placed on leave. Specific details about the number of staff affected were not disclosed. Newsweek reports that O'Malley also included the following statement in his email:
