Location: Indiana

I’m the parent of a 13-year-old student at a public middle school in Greenwood, Indiana. I’m looking for advice on legal steps I can take regarding what I believe are multiple civil rights and safety violations.

Background

• My daughter was involved in a school disciplinary matter involving a vape.
• Another student asked her to hide the vape and lie to staff.
• That student’s parent, who is employed as a bus driver for the school district, then began messaging my daughter directly with hostile and inappropriate messages.
• This parent then offered two other students $50 each to physically assault my daughter.
• Both students admitted to the school that the offer was made.

School Response

• The school gave the bus driver a two-day suspension but allowed them to remain employed.
• No law enforcement referral was made by the school.
• My daughter was instead subjected to repeated searches, interrogated without parental access, and denied the right to call me when she asked.
• When she requested to call me, a staff member told her: “No. Shut up and sit down. You can deal with this alone.”
• Administration has refused to meet with me despite multiple attempts.

Law Enforcement Response

• I contacted the local police department.
• After explaining that a school employee had solicited violence against a minor, the detective told me: “There isn’t much I can do because of policy.”
• When I asked directly if school policy supersedes state law, the detective responded: “In some cases, yes.”
• A few days later, the detective called me back and informed me that they were closing the case because of text messages exchanged between myself and the bus driver. These messages were not hostile — the only thing I said was to tell her to stop contacting my child.
• No further investigation or action was taken.

Potential Violations

From my research, I believe the following may apply:

• Harassment of a minor by a school employee
• Solicitation of assault
• Retaliation against a student for reporting threats
• Denial of parental access during disciplinary proceedings
• Failure to protect a student from credible threats
• Negligent retention of an employee who poses a known threat

On the federal side:

• Title IX (retaliation, hostile environment)
• Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (failure to provide protections under school policy)
• Fourteenth Amendment (denial of due process and equal protection)

Supporting Documentation

I have:

• Screenshots of messages sent to my daughter
• Notes and call logs from conversations with administrators
• Confirmation that two students admitted the bus driver’s solicitation
• Copies of my texts to the bus driver (showing no hostility)
• Police contact information and notes from the call

My Questions

1. What legal avenues exist here — civil, criminal, or federal — given the school’s inaction?
2. Should I file complaints with the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights and/or the Indiana Department of Education?
3. Does this rise to the level of needing to consult an attorney for civil litigation against the school district and/or the individual employee?
4. Can law enforcement really refuse to investigate solicitation of assault on the grounds of “policy”?
5. Does the fact that they closed the case based on me sending a non-hostile “stop contacting my child” message have any legal significance?

I want to make sure my daughter is protected and that this situation is addressed properly. Any guidance on legal next steps would be greatly appreciated.