The Clark County School District has now been named in a civil lawsuit alleging that administrators failed to remove an abusive teacher even after the abuse was officially reported by those who witnessed it first-hand in the classroom.
They all share the same fear that their children have suffered emotional scars that may never go away.
The criminal case against former Clark County special ed teacher Mamie Hubbard-Washington is already scheduled to go to trial this summer — she faces five felony counts of child abuse.
But the families of these five students say the school district should also be held accountable for turning a blind eye to the abuse for more than a year — while their autistic children who couldn't speak up for themselves suffered in silence.
For the first time, we're finally seeing the smiling faces of the children at the center of this felony case — in pictures taken before the alleged physical abuse happened.
“These children are scarred for life,” said Joanie Ferguson, one victim's grandmother.
The alleged abuser is their former special education teacher — Mamie Hubbard-Washington — who faces a criminal trial in August.
Areva Martin, the group's attorney said, “We know how much these children have suffered and how you as families have suffered.”
Now, the parents have filed a federal civil lawsuit against Washington and the Clark County School District for failing to take action to protect their disabled children sooner.
“This isn't a situation that occurred on one day. It happened over an extended period of time and there were numerous witnesses – school personnel and parents who came forward and complained and even after that, they left the teacher in the classroom,” said Martin.
“Just to see my baby with those bruises,” said Marshell Mitchell. She says she voiced serious concerns about the teacher early last year — after her son Matthew came home with bruises and even a chipped tooth one day.
“They didn't do what they were supposed to — protect the children,” said Mitchell.
The families of all five alleged victims say they sought answers and help from school and district adminstrators but that their concerns and complaints about the teacher fell on deaf ears.
“Joanna was beaten with a hairbrush, and she was choked,” said Ferguson.
Grandparent and legal guardian Joanie Ferguson says it wasn't until her granddaughter Joanna's doctor urged her to report the suspected abuse to the police that the school district launched its own investigation last May.
“These children were not safe in that school,” said Martin.
Los Angeles attorney Areva Martin knows how vulnerable non-verbal autistic children are — she's the parent of a special needs child herself, and she says this case is as much about raising awareness as it is about changing the way the school district operates.
“So that when someone speaks up for our children, someone listens,” said Robert Kauffman, a parent.
So why didn't the Clark County School District take action sooner? We'll have to wait until trial for that answer, because the school district won't comment on any pending litigation.
Meanwhile — the families of these children report that the kids are doing better — but they say there are still deep emotional wounds they're dealing with in the aftermath of all this.
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