PINEVILLE — A mother is suing the Wyoming County Board of Education alleging it is responsible for harassment her child has suffered.
P.H., a minor, through her parent, Brenda Gibson, filed the lawsuit against the school board claiming she was bullied and teased by other students at West Side High School because of her anxiety, autism, depression and other mental health conditions, according to a complaint filed in Wyoming Circuit Court.
Gibson claims P.H. was falsely accused by students, teachers and Principal Keith Stewart on Sept. 25, 2019, of threatening other students during Drama Club when she was playing with a paper clip and pretending it was a gun. P.H. claims she was being playful and her intent was misinterpreted.
"Other students referred to P.H. as 'retarded' and spread false rumors that she was going to 'shoot up the school,'" the complaint states. "Throughout her years in the WSHS and within the Wyoming County school system, P.H. has been subjected to mocking
Gibson claims her daughter wasn't even allowed to participate in the theater class prior to this incident and instead was given a broom and told to sweep the floors. She claims her daughter was suspended and then expelled because of the incident and she had to be homeschooled until August of last year, when she returned.
When P.H. returned, her Individualized Education Program (IEP) was not followed and she was bullied and harassed by students, according to the suit.
Gibson is seeking compensatory damages. She is represented by Scott H. Kaminski of Ray Winton & Kelley in Charleston.
The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Warren McGraw.
Wyoming Circuit Court Case number: 21-C-23