The Cedar Falls Community School District and its insurer has agreed to pay $195,000 to the family of a fifth grader that was allegedly sexually abused and bullied by a classmate, according to the Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier. A couple, that has not been named to protect the alleged victim, accused the school district of not adequately protecting their son during a series of events in the 2018-19 school year. In the fall of 2018 the child was allegedly severely sexually assaulted in his home by a classmate from North Cedar Elementary School. The parents reported the event to police and principal Katie Johnston because their son felt unsafe at school. The school opted for a plan to keep the children separate at school despite the fact they were in the same class. The parents say the school refused to move one of the children to another class because the alleged victim was “not a good fit” in the other class and the alleged perpetrator had previously been the subject of complaints from parents of children in the other class as well. The parents contend the alleged perpetrator continued to bully their child on the bus and at school and in at least one email. Finally, the couple moved their child to another school but the district refused to provide transportation. The district has denied all allegations of wrongdoing, saying they implemented unspecified “prompt, effective, and appropriate action.”
