Lawsuits filed against Upstate district for alleged sexual assaults in classroom
BOILING SPRINGS, S.C. – Lawsuits have been filed against Spartanburg County School District Two by two mothers alleging their children were sexually assaulted in a classroom. The lawsuits were filed in June 2022 and a member of the district’s board of trustees is now calling for the superintendent to resign.
Allegations of Assault
According to the lawsuits, on Friday, Nov. 5, 2021, one of the mother’s children was sexually assaulted by his classmate while in the computer lab at Shoally Creek Elementary School. On this day, the same classmate sexually assaulted another student in the class. The lawsuits go on to say that the mother sent an email to the school’s principal, guidance counselor, and the student’s second-grade teacher notifying them that the child assaulted her son and another boy.
The students’ teacher responded by stating the boys did inform her of the assault and that he could not keep his hands to himself, but she had no idea he had touched them in private parts. The lawsuit mentioned that the principal and guidance counselor did not respond. It also mentioned that the teacher went on maternity leave on Feb. 2, 2022.
After a substitute teacher took over, the same student accused of the assault and another student held a pencil near their crotches and stroked the pencil in a sexually suggestive manner while looking at the plaintiffs’ sons. The lawsuit states that one mother messaged the substitute teacher and asked for her child to be moved away from the student while the other mother took her son out of school because he was so upset.
Response and Resignations
The parents went on to have a phone conference meeting with the principal where they discussed the sexual assault incidents occurring in the classroom and the behavior of the students demonstrating sexually suggestive and disruptive acts, the lawsuit says. The principal informed the parents that she would take appropriate action to end the sexual assaults and disruptive behavior but nearly a month later on March 1, 2022, the lawsuit said one of the students sexually assaulted one of the plaintiffs’ sons on the playground by grabbing his private parts.
After the incident, the mother reported the incident to the substitute teacher who resigned from her position days later. A new substitute took over on March 14, 2022. The lawsuit said one plaintiff’s son was later sexually assaulted on the playground for a second time.
According to the lawsuit, on March 22, 2022, one of the boys had an appointment with his pediatrician, who recommended that he stop attending Shoally Creek and instead switch to at-home learning until he could be transferred to another elementary school. The mother followed the advice, pulling her child from the school for the semester. The new substitute resigned on March 28.
Call for Superintendent to Resign
Matthew Schubeck, a member of the Spartanburg County School District 2 Board of Trustees, issued a public statement on May 10 calling for the district’s superintendent to step down. Schubeck said the board of trustees received a memo in September 2022 that two separate lawsuits had been filed against the district, but details were not released about the nature of the complaints.
“The events that unfolded, along with the inadequate disciplinary actions taken, were unfortunately kept hidden from the District 2 school board,” Schubeck said in a statement. “I assure you that had I been informed of the circumstances initially, I would have tirelessly addressed the problem to reassure students and families.”
In a follow-up statement, Schubeck said he asked for Governor Henry McMaster to review district leadership.
“In light of recent events, it has come to my attention that there are concerns within District 2 that extend beyond the initial incidents. I have become aware of additional complaints at other schools, leading to more forced resignations and retirements as recent as yesterday,” Schubeck added.
“I understand the challenges in safeguarding children from individual incidents. However, I firmly believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that measures are in place to prevent such events from recurring.” Schubeck concluded.
Conclusion
The district did not respond to the specific allegations in the lawsuits since they are pending legal matters. The lawsuits shed light on the disturbing incidents of alleged sexual assault in the classroom, raising serious concerns among parents and the community. The call for the superintendent to resign reflects the growing need for accountability and transparency in addressing such matters.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and its implications on the Spartanburg County School District Two.