NewsChannel 5.com - Nashville, Tennessee - Metro Schools May Face Lawsuit Over School Bus Assault

Metro Schools May Face Lawsuit Over School Bus Assault

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - A Nashville mother is considering legal action against Metro Schools after her daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted by another student on a school bus.

The 12-year old is afraid and will not go to class. Her mother spoke exclusively with NewsChannel 5 reporter Mark Bellinger.

If you're a parent, and your child rides the school bus, this has to be one of your worst fears. In this case, the victim will not return to school because she is afraid of the suspect.

Police said the attack happened on a school bus around 4 p.m. on August 31. Students were on their way home from Dupont Hadley Middle School.

"A 12-year-old girl was sitting behind a 13-year-old boy. She alleges that he turned around and forcibly fondled her. In fact, her jeans were even ripped. They were ripped from her hips, almost to her knee," said Kristin Mumford, spokesperson for the Metro Nashville Police Department.

"He was reaching in there saying he wanted to see her panties. ‘Let me see your panties,' and he was rubbing her," said the mother, who asked to remain anonymous to protect the identity of her daughter.

Police charged the boy with aggravated sexual battery. The victim's mother said the school suspended him for ten calendar days. Since he has returned, her daughter is afraid to go back.

"She's scared of him, more than anything. She doesn't even want to have to see him again," said the woman.

Mikki Rucker also has a twelve year old girl attending the school.

"My daughter came home yesterday and told me he was back," she said.

Rucker and other parents were upset with school officials for not telling them about the attack.

"I think every parent that has a child going to this school should have known about this incident," said Rucker.

"Nobody is taking this seriously. The school is not taking it seriously," said the victim's mother.

She said she had no choice but to keep her child at home.

"I'm home schooling her to keep her out of that school, because I'm not able to [transfer her to another school]. I don't have transportation for her to and from school," she said.

The woman said Metro Schools has backed her into a corner, and she is trying to decide if she should sue the school district.

All she wants, she says, is for her daughter to feel safe at school and on the school bus.

Metro officials won't comment on the case citing child privacy issues. They would only say the incident was under investigation.

Some Metro School buses have cameras and monitors. District officials would not say if the school bus in question was equipped.

The 13 year old boy was scheduled to appear in juvenile court on September 16.