A former student of Springfield’s Academy of Arts and Academics who was sexually abused by its late principal is suing the school district. KLCC’s Brian Bull reports.
The victim has shared a decade-long history of grooming, stalking, and sexual abuse to police investigators. A3 Principal Mike Fisher was put on administrative leave January 31st when the allegations surfaced. He killed himself and was found dead in his garage the next day.
In a tort claim notice sent to Springfield Schools, attorney Barbara Long of Portland says employees knew of inappropriate contact between Fisher and the girl as early as 2007.
“The school and school district knew everything that they needed to know to stop the abuse by Mr. Fisher and they didn’t do anything, and completely dropped the ball," Long tells KLCC. "And so she’s seeking some justice.”
The victim has said until police contacted her this year, she kept Fisher’s abuse to herself. Long says her client wants to sue for the maximum damage allowed under Oregon law.
The Springfield School District did not respond to a request for comment in time for this story.
Copyright 2018, KLCC.
