The parent of a student in the Fayette County Schools system has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education claiming her son his friends were repeatedly harassed during the 2013-14 school year.
During this week’s school board meeting, Nicole Jenkins told the members that her son and his friends were called the n-word on at least two separate occasions and that her son was also called a baboon by classmates at Meadowthorpe Elementary School. “The harassment that my son experienced occurred when he 7 and 8 years old. Sadly his experience is not unique. There is evidence of both gender and ethnic harassment as early as kindergarten in the district”
Jenkins said when school leaders failed to act, she took action. “I filed a grievance with the United States Department of Education. To avoid a formal investigation the district entered into a resolution agreement with the United States Department of Education. Among other things, the district agreed to revise and communicate their policy on harassment and retaliation and develop a plan to systematically address the affirmed environment of harassment. To date, the district has not met the deadlines, nor have they fully performed under the agreement”
Shelley Chatfield, and attorney for Fayette County Schools told the Lexington Herald Leader that the district is looking at their policies and is complying with the agreement. She agreed to meet with Jenkins who is asking the school board to investigate alongside the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights.