Lawsuit claims Idaho school failed to protect child

BOISE – A recently filed lawsuit claims a former staffer at a southwestern Idaho school sexually assaulted a child while other office employees did nothing to stop the behavior.

The Idaho Statesman reported the lawsuit was filed on behalf of a minor on Jan. 5. The lawsuit comes after former Kuna School District office manager Melissa Whiteley was fired and was the focus of police investigation for inappropriate conduct with a minor. No charges have been filed against Whiteley and the investigation is still ongoing.

The lawsuit claims Whiteley “groomed” a child –who attorney say has a learning disorder – in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. The lawsuit goes on to allege that district staffers failed to protect the victim.

The child’s lawyer seeks $2 million in damages.

School district spokesman David Reinhart declined to comment due to the active lawsuit.