URBANDALE, Iowa — During a trial last fall a jury found Urbandale Community School District at fault for failing to protect a female student from bullying and sexual assault at school. The student’s parents are happy about the verdict, but angry that the district is doing nothing in response.

WHO 13’s Erin Kiernan met with the Safris family, who are angry that the employees named in the lawsuit against the Urbandale School District are still working, so they’re pushing for change in other ways.

Beethoven is no ordinary dog, he’s specifically trained to keep an eye on people with PTSD. That’s why he lives with the Safris family.

“And so he’ll make noise if he needs help and he just, he just takes care of her. I trust him with her life,” Jodi Safris, the victim’s mother said.

Jodi is talking about her daughter, who she says was bullied and sexually assaulted at school for years. Something that changed her from a happy, fearless little girl into a young woman who’s afraid to leave the house.

“And the damage that it did to her and what we went through as she succumbed to PTSD and ultimately, you know, made several attempts to end her life,” Jodi said.

Her daughter is 20 years old now, but was only 13 when all of this started. Back then she told her parents a classmate at Urbandale Middle School got angry when she refused to be his girlfriend.

“She told us that he slammed his fist against the locker and she told us that she was fearful that he was going to physically harm her, and he did not physically harm her but what he did do is begin a campaign with his friends and they started in on her,” Jodi explained.

They say the bullying happened every day for months. They say Principal Loren DeKryuf said there was nothing he could do. Their daughter even tried to make it stop by apologizing to her bully.

“She apologized and his response was ‘okay, I’ll call off my boys,’ is what was said to her,” Jodi explained. “And he did. And the bullying stopped and then he put his finger insider of her the next day.”

The incident raised questions for the family, questions that Jodi says they still don’t have the answer to.

“How can that happen in the school is the question we’ve asked numerous times and don’t yet have an answer to,” Jodi said. “Trauma responses. You think of fight, flight and freeze. Our daughter’s a freezer. Yeah, she froze. She shut down.”

She spent two years living at residential treatment facilities while her parents consulted attorneys.

“When you are told, when you are told that somebody has been sexually assaulted in your classroom, in front of your staff repeatedly, and you’re given the name of the assailant, you investigate that and you ensure that he does not have access to do that to other students,” Jodi said. “And they didn’t. They allowed him to continue and didn’t even look into it.”

They decided to sue, now demanding their own apology.

“The two things we wanted was a negligence verdict and an apology. This was never about money, ever,” Jodi explained.

The Board of Educational Examiners investigated the family’s complaints against the district and found probable cause that all four educators violated the code of professional conduct and ethics. The cases are now in the hands of the Attorney General’s Office for prosecution.

However, Jodi says that while the cases have gone to the state’s chief legal officer, those named in the suit are still employed and working.

“They are all working. They are not on leave. It’s our understanding that it’s the responsibility of the Urbandale School Board to place people on leave during an investigation should they deem that appropriate,” Jodi said.

The Urbandale School District is defending its employees and sent a statement to WHO 13’s Erin Kiernan that says:

The District believes the findings lack merit and will work with the BOEE and legal counsel for a fair and expeditious resolution. The District will continue to support employees throughout this legal process and remains dedicated to cultivating a safe, caring, and welcoming learning environment for all students and staff.

Urbandale School District

“It is so disappointing to our family to have this reaction from the district when you have a negligence verdict, you have probable cause with your governing agency. You’re being prosecuted by the attorney genera’s office and you’re not, you’re just continuing to work and not publicly appearing to take any sort of corrective action to ensure that all children are safe,” Jodi said.

Jodi says because the district failed to keep her daughter safe, all of their lives have been changed forever.

“I don’t think people realize what we’ve been through as a family,” Jodi explained. “The hurt, the pain, the suffering, the secondary trauma that her brother and sister suffer from and her mom and dad. And it, it takes a toll. I wouldn’t wish it on anybody. Nobody.”

So, the work in their home continues, with the help of counselors, therapy, and Beethoven.

“He’s the biggest player on her treatment team by far. The biggest player on our treatment team.”

These aren’t the first investigations into leaders and staff at Urbandale Schools. The Petek family filed complaints after they say their disabled son was abused at school. His teacher, Amanda Delzell, reported the abuse and was eventually fired by the district. The Board of Education found probable cause that she violated code of conduct. Her case is being reviewed by the attorney genera’s office.

The Board of Education also found probable cause that four educators violated the code of conduct — Loren DeKruyf, Anna Taggart, Shawna Shanahan, Alice Pewick. DeKruyf is named in both cases. He’s been promoted to the head of human resources.

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