6 months after alleged sexual assault, child victim still has to face abuser

BOSTON — A local mother says her son was sexually assaulted on the school bus by another student, and she claims the school has done more to protect the perpetrator than the victims.

Boston 25 News first told you about the allegations at the Boston Renaissance Charter School in November.

The mother of one of those victims turned to Boston 25 Investigative Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh because she says her son continues to come face to face with his abuser and relive his trauma.

"My son was able to tell me what happened and as a parent, it broke my heart,” she said. “You don’t want to go through something like this."

This mother says her 7-year-old son suffered serial sexual abuse on the school bus.

The perpetrator was another student, a 6-year-old-boy.

“I just want other kids to feel safe going to school. I don’t want what happened to my son to happen to anybody else's kid,” she said.

We aren’t identifying this mother to protect her son.

This mom says there were other victims, and that her son was assaulted at least 10 times and threatened with violence if he reported what happened.

"The school said they weren't able to take the child out of the school which is initially what I wanted,” she said.

Boston Renaissance told Boston 25 News the same thing: "A number of laws and regulations dictate when and how students can be disciplined and/or removed from public schools. We have acted in compliance with those laws and regulations." Read the fill statement below

The mom says the school made assurances; the perpetrator would have an adult monitor at all times and they provide her son with special transportation.

But she says, despite promises her son is reliving his trauma.

"About two weeks ago, my son started again to feel anxious,” she said. "He mentioned that he had seen the other child, that he was seeing him, lately."

Attorney Tyler Fox says the school is simply falling short.

"No victim of sexual assault, especially a 7-year-old child, should have to face his perpetrator every day in school,” he told Boston 25 News.

Boston Renaissance said it “immediately put in place strict safeguards to ensure the safety of not only the students involved, but all students who attend our school."

The school also said it is in constant contact with the affected families and address concerns as they arise.

But this mom says she can't take any more chances, her son is leaving the school he loves at the end of the year.

"I feel like he's being protected more than my son is being protected. I feel the school advocates for him more than they advocate for my son,” she said.

As we first reported in November, because of the ages of the students involved the District Attorney referred the case to the Children's Advocacy Center.

The mom says her son has been diagnosed with PTSD and the center helped them find a counselor who he regularly sees. But beyond that, the mother says she doesn't seen anyone advocating for her son.

Full Statement from Boston Renaissance Charter School:

Since the incidents that took place on the bus in November, we have worked closely with the families of all the children who were affected. We immediately put in place strict safeguards to ensure the safety of not only the students involved, but all students who attend our school.
We have been in constant contact with the families involved and, whenever a concern has been raised, we have responded immediately to take any action needed to ensure the continued safety of our students.
A number of laws and regulations dictate when and how students can be disciplined and/or removed from public schools. We have acted in compliance with those laws and regulations.
We will continue to work with those families involved to address any and all concerns, and will continue to act in the best interests of all our students.

Cox Media Group