A North Texas teen who suffered a head injury after four other girls beat her on a school bus has been in the same classroom with one of her attackers for a month, despite objections from the teen’s mother.
Ashley Duarte told The Epoch Times she met with a counselor at Denton Independent School District before the academic year started to ensure the school didn’t place any of the alleged attackers in classes with her daughter.
The incident, which occurred at the end of last school year, was captured on cell phone video and shared on social media. It resulted in aggravated assault charges filed against two attackers, Ms. Duarte said.
But once the accused attacker was released from alternative school the week of Sept. 13, she was inexplicably placed in the same class as her daughter, Ms. Duarte said.
“I was upset because it was a very small request that I made to the counselor,” she said.
The 88th Texas Legislature began its third special session on Oct. 9, with Governor Greg Abbott calling lawmakers back into Austin to consider the issue of legislation that will permit the diversion of some public funds to private schools and other issues.
In April, the Senate passed a measure permitting up to $8,000 per student to be given back to families to help pay for private school tuition, tutoring services, and other education-related expenses, but the process stalled in the House.
“I have learned that our school system really does not care for the well-being and safety of our children,” Ms. Duarte said.
She added her daughter felt “a lot of fear” when the student charged with her assault was assigned to the same classroom, worrying the girl may attempt to hurt her again.
Ms. Duarte said the assistant principal called her on Oct. 10, after The Epoch Times contacted the school for comment, to say they would work on removing the other student.
She was not in class on Oct. 11.
Ms. Duarte, who is Hispanic, said she tried to change schools for her younger children because one of the attackers, still in middle school, was using racial slurs against her son.
But Denton ISD declined the request, and Ms. Duarte said she could not afford to home-school her children.
She said the unprovoked attack happened on May 16, 2023, when her daughter was in 8th grade at middle school.
Cell phone recordings of the bus incident posted on social media showed students gathered around as the attackers held her daughter’s head down and repeatedly pummeled her while some cheered and used profanity.
The bus driver took no action to stop the incident, Ms. Duarte said.
She took her daughter to the emergency room after the incident. Her daughter suffered scratches on her arms and neck, bruises, and was diagnosed with a mild concussion.
The mother said she contacted Citizens Defending Freedom (CDF) after the school placed the accused attacker in her daughter’s class because she no longer trusted the school.
The conservative watchdog group champions parental rights, transparency in local government, and Constitutional rights.
“I just don’t want to think that it was done purposely,” Ms. Duarte said.
“But I did all the precautionary steps that I thought I needed to do to avoid this from happening,” she added. “And she still ended up in the same class.”
Julie Zwahr, Denton ISD’s chief communications officer, told The Epoch Times the district could not comment on specifics involving students due to privacy laws but that “safety and security” is a priority.
“It is our practice that when a student enrolls at a new school, we honor separating students when there is direct communication from a parent regarding their student, especially concerning previous peer conflict,” she wrote in an email.
“We will continue to work daily with our community, including students, parents, and staff, to ensure the expectations of appropriate behavior and the support of one another remains our focus,” she stated.
Jonathan Hullihan, general counsel and director of legal operations for CDF in Texas, said Ms. Duarte contacted him to help get the situation resolved.
Mr. Hullihan emailed Denton ISD’s attorney Deron Robinson on Sept. 26, asking that the accused assailant be removed from the daughter’s classroom to protect her from “further violence, bullying or aggressive behavior.”
The school attorney responded that neither Ms. Duarte nor her daughter had expressed concerns since the accused attacker returned to class.
Mr. Robinson’s email stated if the mother wanted to remove her daughter from the class, she should contact the counselor.
“Having parents and students work directly with campus staff is always the best and most efficient method for solving any concerns,” he wrote.
Slow to Act
But even with CDF’s demand letter on Oct. 4, the school did not act, Mr. Hullihan told The Epoch Times.
“Mrs. Duarte has lost trust and confidence that asserting her parental rights and the rights of her daughter as a victim of a crime will be protected or taken seriously by working directly with Denton ISD campus staff,” Mr. Hullihan stated in the demand letter.
Ms. Duarte said her daughter was traumatized by the incident and is still recovering.
Over the summer, she didn’t want to go out of the house because she was afraid of running into the girls who assaulted her.
“She’s still kind of hesitant when she goes out anywhere,” she said. “It just sucks.”
Ms. Duarte said the schools care more about funding and meeting attendance quotas than the “safety of our children.”
Mr. Hullihan said placing a student facing criminal charges for previous violent behavior in the same classroom as the victim was inexcusable.
“I am happy that this matter seems to be resolved,” he said. “However, it is unfortunate it seems to have only been resolved after public awareness through social and news media.”
