District failed to conduct background check of schoolteacher with criminal past, lawsuit states
MORRIS — A lawsuit against Morris Public Schools and a former district employee continues to work its way through District Court in Okmulgee County.
The lawsuit, filed by former student Natalie Parker, seeks actual and punitive damages “in excess of the jurisdictional minimums of this court, costs, interest and any and all additional amounts pursuant to law.”
Parker’s lawsuit said the school district failed to protect her from Clayton Swen, a teacher in the district. Parker’s lawsuit said the school district failed to conduct a background search of Swem and that Swem and previously pled guilty to a charge of indecent exposure and had previously been arrested for first-degree sexual assault, soliciting a juvenile for prostitution and robbery.
Parker’s lawsuit said Swem sexually harassed her and attempted to initiate an inappropriate conversation with her. Parker’s lawsuit said the school’s lack of action against Swem were negligent and that the school and Swem violated her civil rights.
Stories published by Mvskoke Media show that the school district had received complains about Swem as far back as 2019.
Parker, the media outlet said, filed a formal complaint about Swem on April 29, 2021.
“The complaint was to be forwarded to the Title IX coordinator who would appoint a complaint Investigator and Decision Maker to investigate the complaint,” Mvskoke Media’s story said. “Dr. (Chris) Karch was appointed Title IX Coordinator. Morris Middle School Principal Heather Adams, who had previously failed to report the Swem “herpes” complaint, was named Investigator and Elementary School Principal Becky Alexander, who was principal at the time of the investigation into the physical assault of Sam, was appointed Decision Maker.”
The school’s official investigation began on May 5, 2021, the story said. Yet just two weeks later, the school determined that Parker’s complain didn’t meet the definition of sexual harassment as defined by the U.S. Department of Education.
“The report did state that a recommendation would be made to Superintendent Dr. Karch that the situation be handled as a personnel matter that may warrant disciplinary action, continuing the practice of handling issues such as these in-house,” Mvskoke Media reported.
Parker appealed the ruling to the district’s in-hose attorney, Doug Mann, who dismissed it on Sept. 7, 2021. In addition to the lawsuit filed in district court, reports indicate the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights has opened an investigation into the school district.
Records from the school district’s website indicate that Swem is no longer employed by the district.