Spartanburg County School District 2 Faces Federal Lawsuits Alleging Tolerance of Bullying and Harassment
Background
The educational authorities in Spartanburg County are combating legal battles as School District 2 now confronts charges in the federal court. The plaintiffs, who individually sued the district on previous occasions in the state court, allege their children were made objects of harassment. These lawsuits echo the grievances broadcast in earlier cases from 2022.
The Genesis of the Issue
The prelim to these lawsuits trace back to 2022 when two parents, on behalf of their then-second-grade students, charged the district. The litigations asserted that their children were frequently put through sexually improper behavior from at least four other students at Shoally Creek Elementary School during the 2021-22 academic year. Notably, the district was the lone defendant in the two lawsuits.
New Lawsuits in Federal Court
These fresh lawsuits, filed on July 1 encompass four additional defendants together with the school district. Of these newly added, three were employees at Shoally Creek Elementary School during the time of alleged offenses, and one was affiliated with the district, governing elementary and middle school education.
Tyler Rody, the advocate for the voluntary parties, states that the new lawsuits aim to safeguard the constitutional rights of students at school and future students. Rody maintains, “Students have the right to be free from peer-to-peer harassment and they also have the right to be free from deliberate indifference to that harassment by school officials and school employees.”
The lawsuits accost district-wide tolerance of peer-to-peer bullying and harassment due to the district’s policies and practices, especially when the victim is a male. The first incident is said to have occurred in November 2021.
The Ramifications
According to the lawsuits, one parent had to withdraw their child from the school in late March after their pediatrician recommended switching to at-home learning, until a transfer to another school could be made. The same parent met with district staff, seeking a transfer for their child to another school, but the request was denied by the district.
Calls for Change in Leadership
Resonance of the first two lawsuits led school board member Matthew Schubeck to call for the resignation of the district’s superintendent, Lance Radford in May. Alleging that Radford was not upfront with the board and concealed details about the first two lawsuits, Schubeck had initiated the call for a change in leadership.
However, school board chairman Jason Seay counters this move, expressing wholesome support for Radford. Despite Schubeck being the lone board member against the superintendent, he has reportedly spoken to several other families expressing similar grievances about the district.
A Problem Widespread
Rody, the plaintiffs’ attorney, also mentions numerous similar concerns about the district brought up by around four or five other families. Despite no public pronouncements from these families, Rody maintains that bullying is an issue in the district that most people are aware of.
The present lawsuits aim for monetary damages but no specific figure has been outlined. Rody explains the addition of four individual defendants in the current lawsuits are permitted under federal law but not state law.
Potential Fallouts
As the courtroom drama unfolds, the possibility of these cases going to trial in the coming fall season is becoming increasingly prominent. However, no updates about the trial date for the first two lawsuits have been provided.
The Road Ahead
Only time will unveil the verdict on the lawsuits filed against Spartanburg County School District 2. However, the allegations laid out significantly underline the pressing issues of bullying and harassment within educational environments, thus necessitating stricter policies and prompt action.
