CLEARWATER — A mother is suing the Pinellas County school board, alleging insufficient measures were taken to prevent injuries to her child.
Katheryn L. Bolden, individually and as natural parent and guardian of C.B., a minor child, filed a complaint March 15 in Pinellas Circuit Court against The School Board of Pinellas County, alleging failure to provide a safe environment, to anticipate, potential and foreseeable dangers, to take precautions to protect students from dangers, to supervise the activities of students at the school and to ensure the precautions were taken to avoid harm to students.
According to the complaint, on April 28, 2016, Bolden's minor child was being supervised with other students by Ola Morris at Campbell Park Elementary School, a special needs school in St. Petersburg. The suit says Bolden's child was seen with the school's plant operator, Ira Boyd, in the boiler room on the school's premises.
Bolden says Boyd had his hands on C.B.'s hips and pressed the front of his torso firmly against her body. The suit says Boyd also heavily kissed C.B. on the lips and gave C.B. $3..
Since the incident, the suit says, C.B. has exhibited a preference to being alone. She allegedly has developed hoarding behaviors.
The plaintiff alleges the defendant failed to adequately supervise and monitor students and failed to remedy the dangerous condition by keeping Boyd on its staff, and not securing the boiler room from entry by unauthorized personnel and students during school hours.
Bolden seeks trial by jury, damages of more than $15,000, plus prejudgment interest on medical expenses, court costs and all other relief the court deems proper. She is represented by attorneys Michael J. Trentalange and Craig M. Harris of Trentalange & Kelley PA in Tampa and Robin L. Allweiss of Tampa.
Pinellas Circuit Court case number 18CA001664