Richmond County schools called federal sex assault probe a ‘review’

RICHMOND COUNTY, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - When the Richmond County School System announced it was under federal scrutiny for its handling of sexual harassment and sexual assault allegations, district leaders called it a review. Records obtained by 12 On Your Side Investigates show the U.S. Department of Education called it something else entirely.

The July 10 letter delivered to Superintendent Malinda Cobb opened a directed investigation — not a routine review — into how Richmond County handles allegations of sexual assault and harassment by its own employees. A directed investigation means no parent filed a complaint and no student came forward. Federal investigators identified the issue on their own, buried in civil rights data Richmond County was required to report accurately. That data involved rape and sexual assault allegations against school staff. Federal officials say the data was wrong.

Part of a broader federal action

Richmond County is one of 20 school districts in Georgia and across the country to receive a letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights related to the 2023–2024 Civil Rights Data Collection submission.

The Office for Civil Rights is examining whether the district’s policies, procedures, and responses to allegations involving sexual harassment and sexual assault are consistent with Title IX requirements, the district said. This month, the U.S. Secretary of Education sent a warning letter to school districts nationwide directing them to protect students from sexual misconduct or risk losing federal funding.

The Civil Rights Data Collection is a federal reporting system that measures school district performance across areas including teacher qualifications, discipline, and civil rights compliance. The data flagged in Richmond County’s submission has not been made public.

What federal investigators demanded

Three days after the July 10 letter, federal investigators sent the district a sweeping data request demanding records on every formal and informal complaint of sexual harassment or assault by district employees going back three school years.

The request included interview notes, witness statements and internal communications. It also asked whether accused staff members were reassigned — or allowed to keep working with students — while complaints were pending.

What the district told the public

When the district and school board addressed the public, the words “directed investigation” and “inaccurate data” never appeared.

Superintendent Cobb’s letter to families used the word “review” six times. Cobb said the review “is not evidence of a violation of federal civil rights laws or regulations,” citing the OCR’s letter, and said the agency will conduct a neutral review. She said student safety and well-being remain the district’s top priority and that it takes all reports involving student safety and employee misconduct seriously.

The Board of Education’s statement, released the following day, also used the word “review” and never once mentioned the words investigation, directed investigation, or inaccurate data.

“The Richmond County Board of Education remains steadfast in its commitment to the safety, well-being, and success of every student,” said Board President Shawnda Stovall. “We are confident in the Richmond County School System’s commitment to following established policies, procedures, and all applicable state and federal laws as it cooperates with the U.S. Department of Education’s review.”

Prior Title IX findings

This is not the first time Richmond County School District has faced questions about Title IX compliance. A prior investigation found that Butler High School suspended a student who reported being sexually assaulted rather than providing assistance.

The U.S. Department of Education does not comment on open investigations.

Superintendent Cobb declined an on-camera interview. The district has until Aug. 3 to hand over records to federal investigators.