School District Stands by Action Against Student

School District Stands by Action Against Student


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Sandra Yi ReportingThe Jordan School District says it handled reports of sexual harassment and assault involving students at Oquirrh Hills Middle School appropriately. The district's compliance director says it appears the school did everything quote 'by the book'.

School District Stands by Action Against Student

Cal Evans says every sexual harassment and assault report against the 14-year old was logged. Evans says a female student first reported the 14-year was pulling belt loops and hugging her. This was back in September.

Evans says the incidents escalated in February, when he was allegedly flipping girls' bra straps and grabbing them when they didn't want to be. The school was not required to report harassment to law enforcement and handled the situation internally, which included suspending the boy.

Then in April, the district says the student's actions went from sexual harassment in nature to sexual assault and that's when the school's resource officer was notified.

Cal Evans, Exec. Dir. of Compliance and Sp. Programs: "All the issues were reported and were acted on and acted on appropriately. And the law enforcement agencies were contacted in an appropriate manner."

Evans says about five girls reported incidents involving the 14-year old boy to the school. Prosecutors say as many as 13 girls were involved. They also allege the principal and vice principal never reported the allegations to the authorities.

The Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office is investigating whether the district handled the situation appropriately and the District Attorney's office will then determine if any district employees violated the law.

As for the student, he has been suspended from school and is in custody.

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