ARCHIE, Mo. -
The parents of a seventh grader from Archie, Missouri claim she was harassed and assaulted on school grounds. Now, they want something done and they say the situation has gone on too long and they've gotten nowhere.
It all started August 25 when Sami Sell came home from Archie School with bruises on her arms, legs and back. She says a boy at school caused them.
"He was right next to me and hit me in the arm," Sami said.
Sami's mom, Jerri, says she was horrified when she saw the marks. Not only because of the bruises, but how the school handled the situation.
"Number one, not calling me 'til the end of the day, and not contacting any of the authorities like she was supposed to," Jerri Sell said.
Jerri Sell said she first contacted the principal.
"I knew I was getting nowhere with her, I stood up, said thank you for your time, walked away, went straight to the police department in town. He was livid that nobody called him," Jerri Sell said.
Archie School District Superintendent Sean Smith didn't want to comment on camera.
"Whenever there's an incident, the administration must first investigate to get all the facts, then the case is turned over to law enforcement," he said.
But, state law requires that in assault cases, the principal shall immediately report such incidents to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Ever since the assault, Sami says the principal has been harassing her.
Ms. Martin will follow her around in the hallways, Sami's feeling uneasy when she's around her and this has just been going on and on," Sami's father Mitch Sell said.
The Sells say they just want this to stop.
"It's just really irritating how much we have to go through just to get her to stop harassing me at school," Sami said.
"Maybe somebody can help us get this resolved," Mitch Sell said. "We worry for our daughter in school everyday, for her safety."
The Cass County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident and the case has moved on to the juvenile court and will be heard by a judge in October.
It all started August 25 when Sami Sell came home from Archie School with bruises on her arms, legs and back. She says a boy at school caused them.
"He was right next to me and hit me in the arm," Sami said.
Sami's mom, Jerri, says she was horrified when she saw the marks. Not only because of the bruises, but how the school handled the situation.
"Number one, not calling me 'til the end of the day, and not contacting any of the authorities like she was supposed to," Jerri Sell said.
Jerri Sell said she first contacted the principal.
"I knew I was getting nowhere with her, I stood up, said thank you for your time, walked away, went straight to the police department in town. He was livid that nobody called him," Jerri Sell said.
Archie School District Superintendent Sean Smith didn't want to comment on camera.
"Whenever there's an incident, the administration must first investigate to get all the facts, then the case is turned over to law enforcement," he said.
But, state law requires that in assault cases, the principal shall immediately report such incidents to the appropriate local law enforcement agency. Ever since the assault, Sami says the principal has been harassing her.
Ms. Martin will follow her around in the hallways, Sami's feeling uneasy when she's around her and this has just been going on and on," Sami's father Mitch Sell said.
The Sells say they just want this to stop.
"It's just really irritating how much we have to go through just to get her to stop harassing me at school," Sami said.
"Maybe somebody can help us get this resolved," Mitch Sell said. "We worry for our daughter in school everyday, for her safety."
The Cass County Sheriff's Department investigated the incident and the case has moved on to the juvenile court and will be heard by a judge in October.
