LAKEWOOD, Colo. — A mother from Lakewood is outraged after she said school administrators are doing little to help her daughter stay safe from a boy who has sexually harassed and assaulted her.
The mother and daughter, whose names are not being disclosed because of privacy concerns, belong to the Bear Creek High School community. According to the daughter, the harassment started a year ago at Carmody Middle School.
“Last year I was in a classroom,” the daughter said. “And [the boy] tried putting his hand down my shirt. I told him ‘no.'"
Eventually, school officials witnessed the boy touching the girl, according to the mother.
“The vice principal witnessed the same student trying to grab my daughter’s behind,” she said.
Jefferson County Public Schools said the boy was reported to police after the incident. The girl said she tried to put it behind her, but when she joined Bear Creek High School this school year, she noticed the same boy in nearly every one of her classes.
“I just couldn’t be in the same room as him. I started crying,” she said.
Her mother went to the school’s administration to complain.
“I’m told there’s basically nothing more that we can do other than to change my daughter’s schedule,” she said.
Jefferson County Public Schools changed the students' schedules so they didn't cross over. They even changed the boy's lunch time. But even with that, both mother and daughter said the boy wouldn’t back off.
“I told him [the boy] would get in trouble and he said ‘I don’t care, do what you want,'" the daughter said.
Jefferson County Public Schools said it did what needed to be done. It said it reported the latest incident to police but added the boy hasn’t crossed a line where he should be expelled, even though the other side said he physically groped her daughter and continues to sexually harass her.
“If it were out in the real world, there would be no question as to whether or not there’s a restraining order already in place,” the mother said.
“The school isn’t doing anything and he’s not obeying what he should be doing,” the girl added.
Even though police have gotten involved twice, the district said it usually only bans students if they’re arrested and charged.
The mother wonders what else has to happen to her daughter for the district to take the issue more seriously.