DELBARTON, W.Va. — After alleged sexual assaults involving students at Burch Middle School, a circuit judge ordered an outside professional to serve as administrative supervisor for the rest of the school year.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed a civil rights complaint against administrators and other school personnel for allegedly covering up the repeated assaults by boys against two girls.
A preliminary injunction from Judge John Cummings reassigns certain administrators at the school and mandates oversight by an external administrative supervisor.
The order also says nondisciplinary action has been taken against certain employees on leave during the investigation by the Mingo County School Board. Other employees have already left the school for “non-related reasons.”
Morrisey said the order also “requires one of the female victims who was forced to switch classes be returned to her normal classes, and that the victims will be protected from having to face those who are accused of abusing them at school.”
“Our office is pleased that our Civil Rights Division has been able to step in and protect these girls and bring light to a very troubling situation,” Morrisey said in a release. “Our office will continue its investigation into this situation.”
A criminal investigation continues into the allegations.