Hundreds of protestors outside a Texas school district have been demanding leadership change after the way officials handled an alleged sexual misconduct incident that occurred last month inside a first-grade classroom involving a group of 6-year-olds.
“We want to make sure that they don’t sweep this under the rug,” Heather Gonzales told The Plainview Herald.
Last month, two first-grade students were recorded by another on a school-issued iPad performing sexual acts at South Elementary School in Plainview, Texas. Local media reported the girl student claimed that a boy classmate forced her to perform a sex act on him under a desk while another boy recorded it on an iPad that teachers allow students to use during class.
Gonzales, an older cousin of the young girl involved, told a local news station her cousin tried to escape the situation by hitting the boy with a book until the two other students eventually let her free.
Following the incident, Gonzalez said the family noticed a change in her behavior, showing signs of distress and physical pain in her stomach. The girl then told her family that a boy allegedly exposed himself to her in the lunch line at school a week after the other sexual misconduct occurred inside the classroom.
Plainview Independent School District told local media that the student’s teacher was in the classroom at the time of the incident but did not witness it. The teacher discovered the video the next day after seeing students watch the recorded incident before locking the iPad and returning it to the teacher, who had to have the school’s IT department unlock the device.
District officials said they immediately reported it to police and child protective services and informed the parents and guardians of the two students directly involved in the recording. However, the other family did not hear of the incident until three days because officials claimed they couldn’t be reached.
Plainview ISD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez said a state investigator working with local law enforcement asked district officials “hold confidentiality” until he hears the full story from the students involved.
“All of the steps that we’re required to take, we took,” Sanchez said. “We hope to find a direction with them forward,” Sanchez said. “Definitely for the young people and how we can help them heal and move forward.”
District officials placed the teacher on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.
According to the reports, the district addressed it publicly a week later, but residents began finding out about the incident through social media within two days.
Protestors outside the school district administration building said the officials downplayed the incident, lacked transparency with the families, and demanded that the district fire the teacher, the superintendent, and the South Elementary School principal Jennifer Hughey.
“Everything was ‘no comment. I cannot tell you. No comment,’” Gonzales said. “So, you mean to tell me abuse has been happening for a week and a half, and these kids are still at the same desk? My cousin is still at a desk with all boys, having to see her abusers every day.”
Gonzales said the children deserve more protection from the district.
“Are you letting these other parents know their kids could possibly be a victim next?” she said. “I feel like, as a parent, you should know.”
Plainview ISD announced on its website classes were canceled on Monday and Tuesday after the administration received violent threats “regarding a matter under investigation,” and due to the mass shooting in Allen, Texas, that claimed the lives of eight people over the weekend.
The school board meets next on May 18.