Osseo Schools To Pay $61,500 After Assistant Principal’s Alleged Sexual Harassment of 9-Year-Old

After an assistant principal working in the Osseo Area School District was accused of sexually harassing a 9-year-old girl, the district has agreed to pay the child’s family $61,500 as part of a settlement.

According to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights, the district will send a written apology letter to the student and her parents, as well as make changes to its policies or procedures to prevent future sexual harassment or discrimination.

“An assistant principal used his position of power – both as a school leader and an adult – to sexually harass a 9-year-old student,” read a statement from the Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR). “He told the fourth grader that he could not stop looking at her, went out of his way to interact with her, and inappropriately touched her.”

Officials with both the district and the state declined to identify the school where the incident occurred. 

Likewise, neither the district nor the state has named the assistant principal who was accused of harassing the child. 

“What happened was wrong and unjust. School districts should continue to be held accountable when discrimination, harassment, or any misconduct occurs,” said the student’s parents in a press release. “We are grateful to have received some form of justice in this situation.” 

What Happened?

State authorities said the alleged harassment and inappropriate touching occurred during the 2021-22 school year.

A district spokesperson said that the assistant principal “rested his head on [the] minor’s shoulder.”

According to state officials, the assistant principal resigned from his position with the district in August 2022. 

“The investigation found that Osseo Area Schools knew or should have known that the assistant principal was harassing the student,” read the MDHR press release. “The district had credible reports of the sexual harassment from other students, teachers, and the student’s parents. Despite this, the district took no meaningful action to stop or prevent the assistant principal from sexually harassing the 9-year-old. The school’s failure to stop the sexual harassment had a significant impact on the 9-year-old. Her parents ultimately withdrew her from the district.”

Meanwhile, the school district said no criminal charges were filed in the case.

After an assistant principal working in Osseo Area Schools allegedly sexually harassed a 9-year-old girl, the district will pay her family $61,500 as part of a settlement.

Settlement

State officials note that the stipulation that Osseo Area Schools write an apology to the student is a term that is “rarely” included in settlement agreements.

Along with the financial compensation for the student, “the settlement agreement also requires Osseo Area Schools to take action to prevent and stop future discrimination and harassment,” the MDHR press release read. “For example, the district must have and enforce anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and procedures and train staff, leadership, and teachers on those policies and procedures.”

The state said it will monitor the district’s compliance withe the settlement for the next five years.

“As always, our foremost priority is a safe and welcoming learning environment for all our students,” said a spokesperson for Osseo Area Schools. “Since this case in 2021-22, staff trainings and student education have substantially increased. Additionally, our schools have encouraged students, parents/caregivers and staff to reach out with any concerns.”

Cases of discrimination and harassment can be reported to the Minnesota Department of Human Rights online.

“As demonstrated here, when a Minnesota school knows or should have known about discrimination and harassment, and fails to take meaningful action to prevent it, it not only causes tremendous harm to the student and their family, but it also violates the Minnesota Human Rights Act,” said Minnesota Department of Human Rights Commissioner Rebecca Lucero. “Despite a rapidly shifting civil rights enforcement landscape at the federal level, this case demonstrates that Minnesota is not backing down from its civil rights laws.”

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