WARNING: SOME OF THE MATERIAL IN THE LAWSUIT MAY BE OFFENSIVE.GRANT COUNTY, Ky. -- Melissa Altman says her three children have been treated unfairly by both students and school officials in Grant County for years.
Altman is now suing the Grant County School District, its superintendent and the principal at Mason Corinth Elementary School.
"You can't deny these children an education. It's the only way that your children are going to make it is by going off to college and getting an education,” Altman said. “And they're denying my children this because of skin tone."
Altman went on to say she's contacted her children's principal and superintendent because of a list of things from racial slurs by other students and teachers, to her children's clothes being ripped while riding the school bus.
Altman gave one example in detail.
"He was in the first grade. Students on the bus took a black permanent marker to his face, colored it in, dragged him to the back of the bus. High school kids. The high school and elementary ride the same bus," Altman said.
Altman's attorney, Eric Deters, says they want the school district to recognize there's a problem – implement change – and then give compensation for her children.
"When we read the narrative that she put together of what happened, just heart broken. I immediately placed myself in her shoes," Deters said.
Altman says the lawsuit may make her family a bigger target, but it's something she had to do.
"That's my job as their mother,” she said.
“That's my job is to protect them. Make sure they get an education. Prepare them for the world when they become 18," Altman said.
Officials at the Grant County School District say they have not been officially served the complaint. Therefore, they have no comment.
