Family Of Montana Lance Suing Lewisville ISD
THE COLONY (CBSDFW.COM) - The family of a 9-year-old who killed himself at a school in The Colony one year ago is now suing Lewisville ISD.
The student, Montana Lance, hanged himself inside the nurse's bathroom at Stewart Creek Elementary School in January, 2010.
His mother Debbie Lance says the last year has been extremely difficult. "It's been horrible. Everyday reminded he's no longer with us and this could have all been prevented. I'm angry, sad. Every emotion you can think of I've been through it."
The family filed the lawsuit Friday, accusing officials of ignoring warning signs of bullying that led to their 9-year-old son committing suicide.
On Friday the family also set up a tent across the street from the school, passing out balloons to Montana's classmates. Many friends and fellow students wrote words of sorrow onto small cars, attaching them to the balloons and launching them into the air.
"We all miss Montana. So for them to be able to write something on a note and send it up to him meant something to me," said Debbie.
The school had grief counselors on hand, but there was no acknowledgment of the anniversary of his death. That didn't sit well with Debbie Lance. "I'm angry at the school and the fact that they didn't do anything and yet they still continue to go on record saying that bullying was not an issue. I had been up here prior to his death saying that he had been bullied."
The lawsuit alleges that Montana was bullied as early as second grade, and was called 'gay.' According to the suit, students who sat with him were told they were sitting at the 'gay table.'
The lawsuit also claims that the district ignored Montana's suicidal thoughts and that during an assessment by the school psychologist, Montana answered 'almost always' when questioned if he wanted to die.
Montana's father Jason Lance hopes change can come from the lawsuit. "There's got to be a change. The change starts with Texas schools and accountability and responsibility."
District spokeswoman Karen Permetti said the school system does not comment on pending litigation, but that an internal investigation found that bullying was not connected to the suicide.
