Two sets of parents have filed complaints with the school district against Seven Oak Middle School Principal Ed Sansom for "undue suspension without investigation, creating a hostile and unsafe school environment for both students and parents."

"He has made unfair assumptions and treated both students and parents with an unprofessional attitude and offensive manner," said Dionne and Jeremy Hammond in their complaint.

In a separate complaint, Ursala and Grant Beattie said, "Somebody should conduct a proper investigation of the matter as Mr. Sansom does not follow school policy, protocol or procedure."

The daughters of the Hammonds and Beatties, who are not being named because of their age, were suspended for nine days on June 2, accused of harassing another student.

The parents don't dispute the need for discipline.

But the parents said the school has taken over their job: Punishment.

"Instead of being punished, our children are feeling victimized," Beattie said. "It's our job as parents to punish the behavior; instead we have to go to bat for them."

Because of the suspensions, the Hammond and Beattie girls both lost the privilege of participating in eighth-grade celebrations, marching with the band in the Strawberry Festival and going on the eighth-grade Washington D.C. trip, which they'd paid for and would not be refunded for, said Beattie.

Beattie's daughter will be unable to volunteer with the Linn County Search and Rescue this summer because of the suspension.

The Hammonds provided the Lebanon Express with a referral form written by Sansom about their daughter.

On the form, Sansom said, "After a complete review of evidence obtained …, on-going harassment at school resulted in a planned attack of a student's personal property and home …."

Building principals have the right to suspend a student for one to 10 days for any reason, Sanson said.

The parents said on Monday they had not received an official letter of suspension, as outlined and provided in district policy Administrative Rules.

Sansom said he uses the form letter provided by the district for the most part, but because either he or a secretary calls parents to let them know of disciplinary actions, sometimes the paperwork doesn't get out right away.

Beattie also told the Express her daughter's locker was searched without her or her daughter's knowledge, and two notebooks were seized.

One was a sort of diary between the two girls.

The other notebook was full of apology letters by Beattie's daughter for any offense she may have caused.

"My daughter came to me and said she couldn't find her apology notebook," Beattie said. "No one at the office can find it."

Although he would not comment on this specific case, Sansom said he handles complaints using due process, looking at what occurred and interviewing both victims and suspects.

Sansom said each disciplinary case is based on the severity of the offense and other factors such as repeat occurrences.

Dionne Hammond and Ursala Beattie questioned the allegation of on-going harassment.

"I would understand if I'd been brought in twice already, but this was the first I'd heard of it," Beattie said.

Hammond and Beattie said not enough communication occurred between the principal and themselves.

Beattie said she met with Sansom on the morning of June 2 to see "what was going on" after she learned her daughter's locker had been searched.

"He said he didn't know," Beattie said. "Then two hours later I get a call from the secretary saying I need to come pick up my daughter."

"How can he do a complete investigation in two hours?" she asked.

Sansom said he is not obligated to call a parent if a child is being questioned, but does attempt to contact parents as soon as possible once all the information has been obtained.

In fact, Sansom said, in some cases it can be a day between the time he speaks with a student and when he calls parents.

"I'm not going to stir something up until we know all the facts," he said.

Sansom admitted in some cases the punishment may not fit the crime.

"Are there innocent people in jail?" he said. "If errors were made, the buck stops here. But if errors were made, it was on the side of safety and protection of all students to maintain a safe, orderly learning environment for all kids."

The LCSD complaints procedure follows four steps: Address the person with whom there is a complaint, file with the building principal or immediate supervisor, write an appeal to the superintendent, and lastly, appeal in writing to the school board.

Because the complaint of the parents is with the building principal, they moved to filing with the superintendent.

Although Ursala Beattie said she felt better after speaking with Interim Superintendent George Lanning, he was not proactive enough.

The Hammonds and Beatties have retained John (Tre') Kennedy as their attorney.

More at Seven Oak Middle School

At Seven Oak Middle School, principal Ed Sansom is in charge of 550 students, with about 100 of those in special education, and is the sole administrator at the school.

Seven Oak Middle School has lost an assistant principal, secretary, counselor and a county resource officer.

Sansom said bullying has gotten out of control with today's students.

"With a continual decrease in supportive staff, counseling and healthy activities, you've got a constant challenge to try and mediate the situation, not over-consequence kids, look at what damage can be done, what damage has been done," he said.

Sansom said former Assistant Principal Bo Yates handled discipline issues before he was transferred to principal at Lebanon High School in March.

"Bo (Yates) had a tremendous rapport with these kids," Sansom said. "He had a unique relationship with the kids."

Sansom said after Yates was moved to the high school, he "had to establish a relationship with these kids" himself.

Sansom said he has seen increases in disciplinary behaviors since Yates has been moved.

Interim Superintendent George Lanning announced on April 21 that Sansom will move to Lacomb School next year, but Sansom has filed a request to have the assignment reviewed.

Sansom said incoming Superintendent Rob Hess will re-evaluate the transfers as of July 1.

"I'm good to go where I'm needed, but would like to stay, even though I know it's more work (at Seven Oak)," Sansom said.