The U.S. Department of Education launched an investigation into possible discrimination in Owasso Public Schools after Nex Benedict's death.
Benedict, a 16-year-old non-binary Owasso High School student, died in February the day after he got into a fight with three girls in the school bathroom. Police say Benedict's cause of death was not due to trauma, but his final autopsy report has not yet been released.
Education Department officials said in a letter to the Human Rights Campaign that the federal agency's Office of Civil Rights has begun investigating whether the district responded to student harassment complaints in accordance with federal law prohibiting discrimination against students. We informed LGBTQ+ advocacy groups. Fundamentals of gender and disability.
The investigation is in response to HRC's filing of a complaint with the Department of Education alleging that the school district discriminated against students by failing to adequately respond to sexual harassment.
HRC President Kelly Robinson filed the complaint after Benedict's death.
“We are grateful that the Department of Education responded to our complaint and opened an investigation. We hope that Nex will receive justice and that all students at Owasso High School and all Oklahoma schools will be protected from bullying. “The Department of Education needs to take immediate action. This is harassment and discrimination,” Robinson said in a prepared statement.
An OPS spokesperson said Friday that the district will cooperate with federal authorities, but believes the HRC's allegations are “not supported by fact and without merit.”
Owasso School Resource Officer Caleb Thompson confirmed that the fight involving Benedict involved “criminal activity” and said the district is supposed to report such cases to OPD. Stated.
Thompson said the district “dropped the ball.”
OPS spokesperson Jordan Kolfage said students involved in the fight have been told they may call police. You may then meet with a school resource officer.