Virginia man and former math teacher Daniel Board was convicted in January for forcibly writing “focus” on a student’s forehead. Now he and the school district had been sued $3 million by the kid’s parents. In their lawsuit, filed Tuesday, they said the defendant picked on their son during class at Landstown Middle School in Virginia Beach on Sept. 16, 2016.
“Plaintiff became hyperactive during class, talking to other students, asking Defendant Board, as well as other students, questions, and not focusing on his worksheet,” the complaint said. “Suddenly Defendant Board grabbed the back of Plaintiff’s head, took a marker and wrote the word ‘FOCUS’ on Plaintiff’s forehead in bold black letters.”
According to the lawsuit, the boy wasn’t allowed to wipe off his forehead until his work was done. Board told another student to hit the teen every time the boy said something Board didn’t like. “Plaintiff was struck two or three times by the student at Defendants Board’s direction,” said the complaint.
They are seeking $3 million in compensatory damages.
The school’s principal John Parkman is also being named as a defendant for allegedly failing to report any child abuse. Law Newz reached out to him and the school board for comment.
“As a matter of practice, the school division does not comment on on-going litigation,” wrote Eileen M. Cox, Chief Media and Communications Officer for Virginia Beach City Public Schools, in a statement to Law Newz on Wednesday afternoon. “However, I will confirm that Mr. Daniel Board was employed as a teacher for Virginia Beach City Public Schools from August 22, 2016 until his resignation on October 6, 2016.”
Board could not be reached for comment.
Update – Sept. 20, 7:38 p.m.: Added the statement from a Virginia Beach City Public Schools spokeswoman.
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