Hearing scheduled for Horry County Schools principal charged in alleged abuse case

HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Horry County elementary school principal facing charges related to an alleged child abuse case.

Grace McColgan and Ocean Bay Elementary principal Rebecca Schroyer were arrested in November 2022. McColgan faces six counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, while Schroyer is charged with two counts of failing to report child abuse or neglect.

Schroyer’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for Friday at 8:30 a.m. A hearing has not yet been scheduled for McColgan.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office announced it was taking over the case in early January 2023.

RELATED COVERAGE:

• AG’s Office takes over case of HCS teacher, principal charged in connection to abuse case
• Warrants: HCS teacher hit students, rubbed hand sanitizer in wound; principal failed to report
• S.C. Board of Education temporarily suspends Ocean Bay Elementary teacher’s certificate following arrest

The parent of one of the students connected to an alleged abuse case at Ocean Bay Elementary is suing the school and the district.

The lawsuit was filed last week by John Doe, listed as the parent of Jane Doe, who is described as a non-verbal special needs student who attended Ocean Bay Elementary School from August 2021 – May 2022.

Horry County Schools and Ocean Bay Elementary School are listed as the defendants in the case.

The lawsuit states that the girl was a student in Grace McColgan’s classroom.

The lawsuit claims that on Oct. 20, 2022, the father “was informed by an outside investigator that on or around February 1, 2022, Grace McColgan was caught on video punching Jane Doe.”

John Doe is asking for a jury trial and for the jury to determine how much in damages the plaintiff should receive from the defendants.

Horry County Schools does not comment on pending litigation, according to a district spokesperson.

McColgan and Schroyer have been placed on administrative leave from the school district.

The South Carolina Board of Education has temporarily suspended McColgan’s teaching certificate pending the investigation.

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