University Place School District employee reported her son was attacked. Then she sued

The University Place School District failed to protect a student who was attacked and targeted based on his gender and perceived sexual orientation during a sixth-grade camp, prompting him to leave the school, according to a lawsuit.

The boy and his mother, who is a district employee, sued the district this month in Pierce County Superior Court, alleging that UPSD was negligent in not preventing the assault and harassment from other students, court records show.

“The district has an obligation to protect students under their care and control,” attorney Thad Martin, who is representing the plaintiffs, told The News Tribune. “And they failed in this case.”

In a statement, UPSD superintendent Jeff Chamberlin said the district had yet to be formally served with the suit but, after reviewing the complaint, the district “strongly dispute(d)“ all of its claims.

“Because student safety is our first priority and greatest responsibility, we take all allegations of threats and harassment seriously, including the allegations set forth in this lawsuit,” Chamberlin said. “School administrators were notified of these allegations shortly after the conclusion of camp and responded promptly. Appropriate action was taken in alignment with school district policy, the ages of the students involved and our findings of fact.”

During the week of April 10, the student, who went to Narrows View Intermediate School, was physically attacked while attending camp under the district’s supervision at Camp Seymour in Gig Harbor, according to the lawsuit.

The suit, which was filed July 12, claimed that the student was subjected to “repeated and constant” discriminatory treatment, teasing and retaliation after he was assaulted.

Martin said the student withdrew from the school for the remainder of the school year, and it is uncertain whether he’d return in the fall. Martin also claimed that the district made false allegations against the boy’s mother after she reported the purported discriminatory conduct against her son.

The suit, which alleged that the district unlawfully endangered the student and didn’t follow proper protocol, is seeking unspecified damages to be proven at trial, legal fees and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

“As the litigation process moves forward, we remain committed to ensuring that all students, parents and staff members feel safe and respected in our school community,” Chamberlin said.