PORT HARDY—An RCMP investigation resulting from an allegation of sexual assault among students at Eagle View Elementary School was completed last week and School District 85 has taken "appropriate" measures, the School District announced.
"Due to Federal and Provincial legislation, the identities of the student(s) involved, the specific nature of the allegations, and information that could lead to a breach of these laws, cannot be commented on or disclosed in any manner by the District," it said in a written release. "The law requires that the privacy rights of the child(ren) outweigh the public interest in knowing their identities."
The release did not indicate the result of findings from the RCMP investigation, nor any specific action taken by the District as a result. It did note, "There have not been any findings of major sexual offences involving any of our students while on school grounds this year."
"Our response has been appropriate," said Katherine McIntosh, assistant superintendent. "That response was determined by the result of the investigation."
Similarly, the RCMP, citing the ages of the alleged offenders, said it would issue no further release on the incident. No arrests have been indicated.
The incident in question took place in late April on school grounds, according to the mother of the alleged victim, a five-year-old kindergarten student. The student did not report the incident to school officials, but waited until returning home to inform the mother. The mother, whose name is withheld to protect the identity of the student, said she went directly to the RCMP, which has acknowledged launching an investigation at that time.
The School District's written release acknowledged an RCMP investigation of allegations involving minor students but said no information could be released "regarding the investigation, the individual(s) involved, or collateral information that could possibly lead to disclosure of student identities."
"We were waiting for the investigation to be completed to determine what the School District response was," McIntosh said. "I can tell you we took the investigation seriously and cooperated fully with the RCMP."
According to the School District release, its response to the investigation will be taken in accordance with the School Act, and further requests the "media and public assist the School District in respecting the privacy and legal rights of our students and their families."
The mother of the alleged victim has since indicated she is in the process of moving to enroll her student in a different school for the 2013-14 school year.