The LaVernia ISD says it is launching an internal investigation to determine if any teachers, coaches, or school staffers allowed or enabled the bullying and sexual harassment scandal which has rocked the high school, News Radio 1200 WOAI reports
.LaVernia ISD Superintendent Jose Moreno says the district has been blocked from conducting an internal probe due to the involvement of the Texas Rangers and other law enforcement agencies in their investigation of the allegations.
13 former La Vernia High School students, including two who were students at the time but were expelled after their arrest, on several charges, including suspicion of sexual assault.
A federal lawsuit filed last month by an anonymous bullying victim claims at least one coach knew about the incidents in the locker room and ordered that it stop but failed to take action to insure it stopped. It also claimed that at least one teacher was told about the bullying and did nothing.
The lawsuit claims students were sodomized with athletic drink bottles and other items as part of a 'ritual' which had been performed on younger athletes by older ones. The lawsuit claims the 'tradition' had been in place for at least two years.