By Victor Skinner
EAGnews.org

WILLIS, Texas – A Texas family has filed a lawsuit against their local school district after they allege school officials ignored a teacher’s inappropriate and sexual relationship with a student.

A student identified only as K.M. alleges in a federal lawsuit that a teacher, who also serves as the assistant girls basketball coach, befriended her during her junior and senior year.

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According to the lawsuit, Bruce Kincaide, 27, befriended the student by calling, texting and emailing her on numerous occasions.

It also alleges that Kincaide repeatedly called the student out of class to meet him during his planning period, the Houston Chronicle reports.

“During summer between (K.M.’s) junior and senior years, Mr. Kincaide became more and more aggressive in his actions towards (K.M.): for example, he was writing suggestive communications, making physical gestures toward (K.M.) and suggesting that he ‘liked’ her in a physical manner and that he was even having sexually suggestive dreams about her,” the lawsuit states according to the Chronicle.

The lawsuit alleges Kincaide groped the girl during class, called her to his class during his planning period for oral sex, and convinced her to come to his home where he had intercourse with the student against her will, the Chronicle reports.

Kincaide is facing charges for the alleged improper relationship, after resigning in February 2012 when questioned by school officials.

The lawsuit names the Willis Independent School District as the defendant because they failed to act on the situation, which was allegedly made obvious when Kincaide became possessive of the victim, and refused to let other basketball coaches work with her, according to the family’s lawsuit.

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The school district sent a message to parents assuring them students are safe in its care, the Chronicle reports.

In a prepared statement, former Superintendent Bret Jimerson said district officials “aggressively” investigated the matter when it was first brought to their attention. He added that officials are continuing to cooperate “with law enforcement authorities during the criminal investigation.”

While we’re certainly not familiar with all of the details in this particular case, we’ve reviewed many in which school officials have turned a blind eye to teachers’ inappropriate behavior with students.

The willful neglect of duty nearly always leads to disastrous consequences, for students, parents, other teachers and the school district.

That’s why we’re encouraged at least one family has decided to send a message that school officials who help perpetuate educator sexual misconduct must be held accountable.

We hope the case resonates with school officials throughout the country who are sitting on information about similar inappropriate relationships between teachers and students, and encourages them to speak up.