District response and state standards
Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin Jr. said the district reviewed the matter and addressed it under district policy. He described comments in the situation as unacceptable, cited privacy limits on further details, and said the district aims to maintain safe, respectful classrooms, according to WVTM 13.
Separately, Alabama’s educator code lists inappropriate language on school grounds and conduct detrimental to students’ welfare or discipline among unethical conduct. The code provides general standards; the article does not report a separate state-code finding in this case, according to the Alabama Department of Education’s code.
What the family says happened
Austyn Mayes told WVTM 13 that a North Jefferson Middle School employee made a sexually suggestive remark to his 12-year-old son in the library, in front of classmates. Mayes said the boys had been horsing around when the employee spoke to them.
Mayes said his son reported the comment to the principal soon afterward. More than a week later, the boy’s parents met with the principal and the employee; the family recorded a discussion that lasted over an hour, WVTM 13 reported. The employee said he had intended to embarrass the boys, while the boy’s mother objected that the response humiliated her son in front of classmates over behavior issues. The employee later acknowledged that he probably should not have made the remark, according to WVTM 13’s account of the recording.
Parents dispute the proposed response
Mayes told WVTM 13 that the principal proposed having the employee review the school handbook and receive assistance from a classroom behavior specialist. Mayes said that plan was not enough. He is considering a lawsuit to press for changes at the school and said he would not accept a financial settlement, according to WVTM 13.
