Statement from the St. Joseph School District:

“The concerns that are raised in this lawsuit were investigated and addressed, but we are unable to discuss specific disciplinary action taken against any student,” said Dr. Robert Newhart, SJSD superintendent. “Additionally, with respect to the claims in the lawsuit, we can’t respond without potentially violating the privacy rights of the student involved in this suit or other students. But, if we could provide additional information, you would know that this lawsuit does not provide a full or accurate account of what has transpired between Frances Keitz and the district. The district has already prevailed once on claims brought by Mrs. Keitz, which is a reminder that there are two sides to every story, and that the allegations of a lawsuit are not proof that anything improper actually occurred.”

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ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (AP) — The mother of a St. Joseph public school student says in a lawsuit that the district did not help her daughter when she was being bullied by classmates.

Frances Keitz contends the bullying included death threats and physical and verbal abuse against her daughter, who is suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Kansas City Star reports Keitz alleges students at Skaith Elementary School pulled her daughter’s hair around her throat to choke her, told her to hang herself, threatened to kill her and kicked her in the head.

Keitz says she repeatedly asked district administrators to protect her daughter but they did nothing.

The alleged abuse occurred during the 2015-16 school year.

Superintendent Robert Newhart said the district doesn’t respond to pending litigation.