Families sue Celina ISD, alleging the district covered up coach Caleb Elliott’s misconduct, including illegally recording students, to protect its football legacy.
Reportedly, three families from Moore Middle School in Celina, Texas, have filed a lawsuit against the Celina Independent School District (ISD).
They claim the district failed to protect students and tried to hide serious wrongdoing by a coach to preserve the school’s football reputation.
Reportedly, the lawsuit centers on Caleb Elliott, a 26-year-old coach and son of Bill Elliott, the longtime head football coach and athletic director.
The families say Caleb recorded middle school boys in the locker room and showers without their knowledge. Police have identified over 30 victims so far.
Caleb was arrested twice, first for illegally recording students and later for possessing illegal images of children.
According to the lawsuit, school leaders, including Superintendent Tom Maglisceau and Bill Elliott, knew about Caleb’s earlier problems, including an inappropriate relationship with a male student.
Instead of firing him, they moved him from Celina High School to Moore Middle School. The families say this allowed Caleb to continue harming students.
A new Texas law, House Bill 4623, lets families sue schools for failing to report or stop abuse. The families are asking for more than $1 million to cover emotional and physical harm caused to their children.
Parents are angry and have spoken out at school board meetings, demanding that Maglisceau and Bill Elliott be fired and investigated.
They say the district put football above student safety. One mother said, “We can’t let our kids be hurt just because of who the adults are.”
Texas Representative Jeff Leach has also asked the state’s Attorney General to investigate the district’s actions.
Meanwhile, both Bill Elliott and Allison Ginn, the principal of Moore Middle School, have been placed on leave.
The lawsuit claims the district’s negligence caused lasting pain for the students. As a result, many of them are now afraid to use locker rooms or to join sports, and they need counseling.
The families want justice and changes to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Thus far, Celina ISD has not commented publicly on the case.
