The principal resigned, a settlement was paid, and two teachers tied to one minor student left the classroom—yet the most important question still hangs in the air: did the system protect the kids or itself?
Story Snapshot
- A third-party investigator substantiated misconduct allegations against the principal; the district moved to terminate before settling the appeal. [1]
- District leaders say they settled to spare students and staff adversarial testimony and to conserve resources. [1]
- Two teachers connected to one alleged victim were removed; one surrendered certificates, the other was fired by the board. [2]
- Key gaps remain on reporting timelines and disclosures, keeping public trust uncertain. [2]
Documented Actions And The District’s Rationale
A neutral investigator hired by the district substantiated allegations of misconduct against Principal Fey, leading the district to move toward termination and then settle his appeal for $254,000 while referring the matter to the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing. The board president framed the settlement as student- and staff-centered, citing a desire to avoid the stress of adversarial testimony and to preserve district resources otherwise consumed by litigation. These are clear, documented reasons, not rumor. [1]
Public institutions often face a tradeoff: air every fact in a public hearing or prevent further harm to minors and personnel by concluding matters quickly. The board’s explanation tracks with that common calculus. From a conservative perspective that values accountability and fiscal prudence, the settlement’s stated aim—protecting students from retraumatization while limiting legal fees—aligns with responsible stewardship. Yet settlements can also look like damage control, which is why the supporting documents matter. [1]
Teacher Discipline That Signals Seriousness
Administrative steps began months earlier. After allegations of sexual conduct with a student surfaced, the district placed two educators on administrative leave. One, identified in coverage as Berlaca, voluntarily surrendered her Arizona teaching certificates—an unambiguous administrative consequence that indicates the gravity of the case. The other, Beck, was unanimously fired by the Peoria Unified School District governing board, with the option to request a hearing to dispute the termination. These are concrete actions, not optics. [2]
Criminal matters evolved separately, with prosecutors reportedly returning cases for additional investigation. That procedural reality explains why the administrative actions may appear to “move faster” than criminal charges. School systems have a different burden and duty: remove risk, secure campuses, and maintain order as facts develop. Conservative common sense supports that sequencing—protect the child first, adjudicate complexity later—so long as mandatory reporting laws are followed promptly and verifiably. [2]
The Principal’s Exit And The Unanswered Compliance Questions
The principal resigned amid the controversy and, according to reporting, cast his departure as support for a smoother transition. That statement lowers the temperature without closing the file. Resignation rarely equals exoneration; it just moves the story to the paperwork. KTVU’s account emphasized that a neutral investigator substantiated misconduct allegations and that district leaders intended termination before settling. Those points bolster the district’s claim it acted rather than ignored. Still, the public has not seen the full report. [1][2]
Peoria High School Principal Resigns Amid Teacher-Student Sex Scandal
The principal at Centennial High School, where two teachers are accused of sexual conduct with the same teenage boy, resigned Friday. Scott Hollabaugh had been the principal at the school for eight years before… pic.twitter.com/n89zm2RmiU— American Crime Stories (@AmericanCrime01) May 24, 2026
The holes in the record are specific and fixable. The reporting package does not include the district’s internal timeline showing who knew what and when, whether and when law enforcement and child protective services were notified, and how leadership weighed each step. Absent that chronology and the third-party report, the district invites suspicion even if it complied with every rule. Release of the full investigative file, redacted for student privacy, would convert assertions into verifiable facts and settle the compliance debate. [1][2]
What Accountability Should Look Like Now
Parents deserve documentation, not slogans. The district should publish a precise chronology of allegations, administrative leaves, notifications to police and child services, and board actions; confirm mandated-reporting timestamps; and reconcile any public statements with board minutes and settlement records. If the investigator’s findings drove each step, show the chain of custody and recommendations. A system that did the right things at the right times has nothing to fear from sunlight. If gaps exist, own them, fix them, and train relentlessly. [1][2]
Sources:
[1] Web – Principal resigns after investigator finds Grindr app used to pursue …
[2] YouTube – Two former Peoria teachers accused of abusing one boy
