Key West School Violates Parental Rights
- Staff Writer
- Nov 23, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Dec 29, 2025
Key West School Violates Parental Rights
By: Staff Writer November 23, 2025 At the October 7, 2025 Monroe County School Board meeting, Key West parent Roy Telfer delivered a forceful statement about what he described as repeated violations of parental rights at Horace O’Bryant Middle School, led by Principal Brian Desilets. His testimony reflected not only his own family’s experience but also concerns shared by multiple parents who reported similar incidents. This complaint comes after another incident at the Key West High School where a social studies teacher is alleged to repeatedly post hateful comments on social media related to some of his students and their families. Parents in Monroe County are demanding respect and safety for their children.
He summed up his position clearly: “We are reporting an egregious violation of legal parental rights and a fundamental misunderstanding of the limits of school authority.” According to Telfer, staff moved his daughter into a cafeteria holding area without notifying the family. When his wife arrived at the usual walker gate to pick her up, school staff refused to release the child.
Watch parent speak at the School Board meeting here. This video will open in a new tab.
A school resource officer even told her she had “no parental right to dictate the process of retrieving our child.”
The principal later reinstated dismissal procedures for Telfer’s daughter so she can walk home, but the family asked the board to go further. They want the problem fixed for all students, because Mr. Tefler claims other parents have dealt with the same issue.
Telfer’s remarks outlined three specific demands. First, he called for immediate, comprehensive training for all school administrators and the school resource officer, emphasizing that staff must understand both their legal obligations and the limits of their authority when transferring custody of a child to a legal parent.
Second, he requested a personal apology from an Assistant Principal, who he said initiated the incident involving his daughter. According to him, her actions caused confusion and emotional distress to his daughter.
Finally, he urged the board to uphold state law and protect the fundamental rights of every parent in the district, framing the issue as not just a local dispute but a matter of legal compliance and community trust.
This testimony comes amid heightened attention to Florida’s parental rights laws, which have been expanded in recent years to give parents more authority over decisions affecting their children in public schools. Supporters argue these laws are necessary to ensure transparency and accountability, while critics warn they can create tension between educators and families, especially in situations involving discipline, custody, or sensitive student issues.
In Monroe County, the debate is particularly charged. Parents are increasingly vocal about ensuring their rights are respected. The incident at Horace O’Bryant Middle School illustrates how quickly misunderstandings can escalate into broader conflicts over authority and law. For families, the stakes are personal: they want assurance that their children are safe, respected, and that their own legal rights are not overlooked.
The School Board now faces pressure to respond decisively. Whether through new training programs, clearer policies, or direct accountability measures, the outcome will signal how Monroe County intends to balance school authority with parental rights going forward. For many parents, this is not just about one incident—it is about setting a precedent that protects families across the district.
Brian Desilets is the current principal of Horace O’Bryant School in Key West, serving since 2022. He comes to Monroe County from New England. The school is one of the largest PK–8 schools in the Florida Keys.
Telfer says the school has a legal problem, citing Florida statutes during his remarks that support parental rights. He urged the board to make sure staff understand the boundaries of their authority when transferring custody to a parent.
The board did not take immediate action at the meeting regarding this complaint. While his daughter’s dismissal procedure was restored, the broader remedies he requested remain unresolved.
Source
Monroe County School Board. School Board Meeting, October 7, 2025. Monroe County School District, 7 Oct. 2025, https://monroe-k12.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=1.
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