Delaware Valley HS students, parents allege district improperly handling cases of student sexual misconduct

District Superintendent Dr. Brian Blaum told News 12 that the student involved in the most recent allegations is facing disciplinary action and that they are working to help a student impacted.

Blaise Gomez

Nov 4, 2024, 10:12 PM

Updated 28 days ago

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Delaware Valley High School administrators are facing criticism from some parents and students after several alleged instances of sexual misconduct by at least two male students.
A handful of district teens held a walkout last week in Milford, Pennsylvania to protest alleged lenient district policies after an 18-year-old male student was accused of sexually harassing younger female students in class. Young protesters held signs that read, “Honk 4 school safety,” and “Fix your rules. We don’t feel safe.”
The group and several parents claim student concerns are being improperly handled by the district and allege it's not the first-time similar instances of student misconduct have been reported with minimal consequence or support for student victims.
Last year, district parent Nicole Vouchik accused school administrators of turning a blind eye to allegations of intimate partner abuse and sexual assault against her 14-year-old daughter by an older male student, which she says resulted in her daughter attempting suicide.
“This is not an isolated incident. They don’t listen to young ladies that come forward and disclose what’s happening, and they’re not properly investigating,” says Vouchik. “I also feel like they have access to a lot of different support services that they could offer when students do come to them, but they’re not.”
Vouchik says child protective services was involved in her daughter’s case. It’s not clear if the other alleged instances were reported to agencies outside of the school.
District Superintendent Dr. Brian Blaum told News 12 that the student involved in the most recent allegations is facing disciplinary action and that they are working to help a student impacted.
An online petition is calling for the student to be expelled.
Blaum says three out of five district high school administrators are female, and that the district takes all student concerns, especially ones of a sensitive nature, seriously.
“If an issue occurs in or out of school, the circumstances should be reported so the school can respond to it immediately," Blaum says. "If anyone feels the district isn’t responding appropriately, they can reach out to the central office for continued assistance and investigation into any matter."