INDIANAPOLIS — Some parents of Indianapolis Public Schools students told 13News they want more accountability after a lawsuit against the district alleges a former teacher encouraged other children to attack a 7-year-old with special needs.
"In my eyes and my husband's eyes, this was a complete and utter failure on the administration," said Kelly Mosesso, whose child goes to the same school.
Mosesso said her son is a kindergartener at George Washington Carver Montessori IPS School 87.
"What I have learned over the past few days in talking with other parents is Pax's wonderful experience has been in spite of current administration, and not because of current administration," Mosesso said.
The victim's family filed a lawsuit, alleging that a teacher encouraged other children to attack the young boy and filmed it. In a statement sent to 13News earlier this week, the district wrote:
"IPS does not tolerate the type of behavior alleged in the complaint and takes reports of potential abuse and neglect seriously. When IPS learned of the teacher’s conduct, the Department of Child Services (DCS) was immediately notified, and the teacher was removed from the classroom and suspended. The teacher had no further contact with students and is no longer employed by IPS. "
IPS says the teacher resigned before he could be fired, but Mosesso says she and other parents still have questions.
"I think it's important that we should be able to express our outrage, our concerns and for them to take us seriously and listen to our demands," Mosesso said.
She said her and multiple parents have started a petition to bring to the district, and hundreds of parents have signed it.
Mosesso wants to talk with school administrators about mental health services for the students who were in that classroom and get an extension on the lottery deadline if parents do not want to send their kids to the school next year.
She also hopes both parents and teachers pay attention to this incident and become better advocates for students.