A preschool student who allegedly suffered abuse by a teacher trying to correct her disabilities received an $85,000 settlement from the Evesham Board of Education.
According to legal documents obtained by open records advocated John Paff, a woman identified as Jennifer O. filed a suit on her young daughter's behalf in Burlington County Superior Court, alleging that her then 3-year-old daughter's teacher had physically abused the girl during the 2012-2013 school year.
The settlement, reached last month, is not an admission of guilt on part of the school board or teacher regarding the allegations.
The suit states that the girl, identified as O.O., attended Rice Elementary School for a three-year-old inclusion preschool.
O.O. has Type 1 diabetes, and is also very quiet, rarely speaking to people outside of her family, according to the suit. Her "select muteness" and diabetic diagnosis qualify her for special education services and protections.
The girl's mother first became concerned during a parent-teacher conference, in which the teacher allegedly said she believed O.O. suffered from obsessive compulsive disorder, and was "taking the longest to break." The teacher also said she didn't understand the girl's disability, and that her pretty looks would have to "get her by," according to the suit.
The teacher allegedly told Jennifer O. that her daughter also used the bathroom too often, which Jennifer O. explained was a symptom of the girl's diabetes. Still, The teacher said she planned to potty train the girl, which Jennifer O. objected to, according to the suit.
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Not long after, a nurse assigned to O.O. stated that the teacher had grabbed the girl when she refused to speak and "forcefully shook" her, according to the claim. The nurse also said the girl's teacher had continued attempts to potty train O.O. and said she "uses her disease as an excuse and chooses to be stubborn," the suit states.
Jennifer O. reported the allegations to school officials, including then school board president Sandy Student, according to the suit. When officials allegedly denied any wrongdoing on the part of the teacher, Jennifer O. removed her daughter from the school.
The suit alleges that the teacher's actions and negligence on part of the school board constituted discrimination, inflicted emotional distress on O.O. and resulted in assault and battery of the young girl.
At the time of the suit, O.O. continued to have difficulty trusting adults or speaking to those outside of her family, the claim states. She suffered from anxiety and stress.
On December 11, the board reached the $85,000 settlement with Jennifer O. on behalf of her daughter.
A clause in the settlement noted that the board of education "vigorously and wholly denies each and every allegation made by plaintiffs, and enter into this settlement for reasons other than the merits of plantiffs' claims, including to avoid the cost of litigation."
The teacher is no longer listed on the Rice Elementary School online directory. A student handbook from as recent as the 2014-2015 school year lists her as a teacher.
Attempts to reach the teacher by phone Tuesday morning were not successful. JoAnne Harmon, president of the school board, said she could not comment on litigation matters.