HARRIS COUNTY, Texas – A Cypress-Fairbanks ISD parent is speaking out after her seventh-grade daughter was allegedly sexually assaulted by another student at Bleyl Middle School, and the family is now questioning how the incident was handled.
KPRC 2 News reporter Corley Peel spoke with the mother, about the family’s experience and their push for accountability. KPRC 2 News is not naming the mother due to the sensitive nature of the case.
“Right now, I have zero faith in the public school system,” the mother said.
The mother says her daughter was allegedly touched inappropriately by another student in multiple locations on campus. She says the family first learned about the incident from her daughter’s therapist, who notified the parents.
The family says the father went to school administrators Friday morning and requested a school resource officer. He spoke with an administrator who issued a no-contact order between the students, but the family says they never spoke with a CFISD police officer. By Monday evening, the family decided to take matters into their own hands and called district police directly.
“Police told us that they should have been called right away, that our daughter and evidence should have been collected right away. Her clothing should have been collected for evidence, and she should have been sent for a victim’s exam at the hospital,” the mother said.
CFISD says administrators began investigating immediately after receiving the complaint and put safety measures in place. The district also says it follows state law and works with law enforcement when required.
When KPRC 2 News asked the district whether administrators are required to report crimes to district police, a spokesperson pointed to Texas Education Code §37.015. That law requires principals to notify police about certain serious offenses, including weapons, drugs and terroristic threats. It also includes crimes that can lead to a student being expelled under Texas Education Code §37.007, a list that includes sexual assault, indecency with a child and some lewd conduct.
The mother says the situation exposed a gray area in how the case was handled and is calling for change.
“When you ask for a school resource officer, one should automatically be called,” she said.
She also expressed hope that the district can still make things right for her daughter and others.
“We can still make up for it and we can make sure that other young girls are safe and we make sure that you’re safe for the rest of your education,” she said.
CFISD says the investigation is ongoing and that any disciplinary action will follow the student code of conduct and school board policy. The family says they are pursuing criminal charges against the student.
FULL STATEMENT’S FROM CFISD:
The incident is still under investigation. The campus received the complaint on Friday before Memorial Day and began investigating. Safety measures were implemented and an update provided at the conclusion of the day.
Prior to school resuming, the family chose to also file a police report. Campus officials continue to investigate and have cooperated fully with police investigators. At the conclusion of the investigation, consequences will be applied in accordance with the Code of Conduct and school board policy
Under Texas Education Code (TEC) §37.015, principals are required to report certain offenses to the CFISD Police Department, including serious criminal conduct such as deadly conduct, terroristic threats, controlled substance violations, weapons possession, organized criminal activity, and offenses eligible for expulsion under TEC §37.007.
CFISD follows all applicable laws and coordinates with law enforcement as required. The matter remains under investigation, and the district will take appropriate action in accordance with policy.