MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — Amber Pack, mother of six year old Adri, has filed a lawsuit against the Berkeley County Board of Education and others.
The filing, submitted to MetroNews by Charleston Attorney Ben Salango, lists Berkeley County Schools employees Christina Lester, June Yurish, Kristin Douty and Amber Boeckmann. The suit alleges Lester, Yurish and Douty verbally and physically abused Adri and other students on the day of October 4, 2018. Boeckmann is the principal of Berkeley Heights Elementary School.
That was the day when Amber Pack placed a recording device in Adri’s hair. Adri is a student with special needs and is non-verbal.
The Berkeley County Board of Education accepted the resignations of Douty and Yurish on February 14. Lester has also resigned.
“Defendants Lester, Yurish and Douty made numerous inappropriate, abusive and threatening comments to then six year-old Adrianna Pack that included, among other things:
- Threatening to punch Adri in her face
- Threatening to pull Adri’s hair until she starts crying
- Threatening to backhand Adri “right in her teeth” and afterwards asking her “how’s that for anxiety?”
- Calling Adri and other students words such as animal, wench and pygmy
- Requesting that Adri massage the teacher and/or aide’s feet”
– Amber Pack v. Berkeley County Board of Education; others
This comes the day before a special Berkeley County Board of Education meeting considering and possibly accepting Superintendent Manny Arvon’s retirement.
The suit also indicated Adri Pack has since transferred to another school.“Plaintiff prays for the following relief: Damages for permanent psychological injuries, and past and future damages including – but not limited to – pain and suffering; emotional and mental anguish; loss of enjoyment of life; indignity, embarrassment, humiliation, annoyance, shame inconvenience and other past and future consequently damages for which Adrianna Pack deserves to be compensated in an amount to be determined by the jury.”
– Amber Pack v. Berkeley County Board of Education; others
The lawsuit comes one day before the Berkeley County Board of Education is scheduled to consider, and possibly accept, the retirement of county Superintendent Manny Arvon.