Discrimination lawsuit against CPS claims student was punched by staff, isolated from class

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A discrimination lawsuit filed on Tuesday by the parent of a Columbia Public Schools student claims the child suffered abuse from district staff.

The lawsuit – filed by Chrystal Blauvelt – accuses CPS of disability discrimination and violating the Missouri Human Rights Act. CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said later on Tuesday that the district was not aware of the lawsuit, but stated the district could not comment on ongoing litigation.

Blauvelt is representing herself in the case. Human Resources Officer Carla London and Special Services Director Alyse Monsees are also named in the lawsuit as defendants. A summons was issued for CPS, Monsees and London on Tuesday, and all three have 30 days to respond, according to court records.

Court documents say Blauvelt filed a charge of discrimination with the Missouri Commission on Human Rights on April 4, 2022, and was issued a right to sue on Nov. 8, 2023. The lawsuit alleges the student – referred to as “C.B.” – has attended Alpha Hart Elementary since January 2021 and was “excluded from attending school or forced into a homebound placement rather than in-set school attendance.”

The lawsuit alleges C.B. transferred into the Columbia school district from an Iowa district, where he had been receiving special education services. Court documents claim C.B. was treated differently from classmates who did not suffer from disabilities and that the district used seclusion, isolation and restraint. Court documents say C.B. is diagnosed with autism, ADHD and other diagnoses.

Court documents accuse CPS of refusing to allow C.B. to stay at Alpha Hart Elementary and transferring him to a “Quest Program” based on Monsees' “perception of his disability without doing anything to evaluate his actual abilities or needs.” The lawsuit then claims Blauvelt complained to London about Monsees’ decision.

The lawsuit states that C.B. suffered bruises and other injuries from CPS employees. One staff member allegedly punched the child in the back twice and another used C.B.’s backpack to pull him down a hallway at Rock Bridge High School during extended school year services, the lawsuit states.

"He would say like they dragged me by my backpack down to the office and I'm like wait what, can I see this?" Blauvelt said.

The petition alleges CPS tried to cover up the staff member punching C.B. by removing 28 seconds of video footage that was allegedly recorded during the incident. The petition claims the altered video was given to the Columbia Police Department.

The lawsuit then alleges that CPS retaliated against the student and his parents by “filing hotline reports and/or assault charges against C.B.” The petition also alleges that C.B. was denied his medications while at school.

After the student returned to school after a “homebound placement,” he was allegedly put in a classroom by himself, the lawsuit claims. The petition states the student’s parents brought concerns to school administration, Monsees and the Columbia Board of Education. The petition states the district claimed it would investigate the complaints, but never did.

Blauvelt said moving forward, she wants CPS to allow each student to have access to general education, regardless of if they have a disability. She also said she hopes her story encourages other parents experiencing something like this to stand up for their children.

"We can't make them responsible for the things that they have done but they need to be held to the same standards as parents," Blauvelt said. "I mean teachers in that moment, they're parents so teachers need to be held responsible to the same standards as parents."