Teacher's Lawsuit: Unsafe Workplace Claims

Working in a school where students assault you, and you feel no one's got your back. That's what Lauren Eriksen, a teaching assistant at West Salem High School, claims in her lawsuit against the Salem-Keizer School District. She says students bit her so hard it caused nerve damage and gave her a concussion by hitting her in the face. Eriksen believes the district didn't keep the workplace safe or respect her rights. She even says an assistant principal stopped her from calling 911 when a student got violent. After Eriksen was injured, the district reassigned her to another school with fewer hours, cutting her pay. She left her job because she found the environment too tough. Eriksen wants the district to follow safety rules and stop putting staff in danger. The district says it's always looking to improve safety, but it asked for the case to be dismissed. Student behavior problems in the district have been on the rise, with more incidents reported each year. Oregon OSHA found safety issues and suggested improvements.