Family of girl, 5, whose fingertip had to be partially amputated after incident suing Hamilton school board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is being sued after a bullying incident reportedly caused a severe injury to the finger of a five-year-old girl, with the youth’s family accusing the board of doing nothing to stop it.

In a press conference Tuesday, the girl’s mother, Sjanita-Marie Harrison, said her daughter had to have part of her fingertip amputated following an incident in a school washroom in November of 2022.

Harrison alleges a student at Prince of Wales Elementary slammed the door on then-four-year-old Autymn-Rose’s hand, crushing one of her fingers. She also claims her daughter was put in an ambulance and was not accompanied by school personnel.

“She had [also] hit her head and was in obvious distress, both physically and emotionally and mentally. Throughout this entire process of my child being in this condition. I was left in the dark,” Harrison claimed.

The lawsuit alleges the board did not act in a reasonable manner to prevent the incident and was negligent regarding bullying and student safety.

“Had the school board followed proper protocols and procedures to keep my daughter safe and invest time and commitment into strategizing better emergency protocols, in which Hamilton Wentworth District School Board doesn’t seem to have, all of this could have been prevented,” said Harrison.

Harrison is calling for the resignation of executive members and trustees who “who failed to uphold the safety of [her] child” and for the school board to provide mental health supports and compensation for the trauma experienced by her family.

The Hamilton school board said they are unable to validate the claims that are being presented but are currently conducting their own investigation and will be working through the legal process that is before them.

“We are sorry the injury took place, and we wish the child well in her recovery. Everyone deserves a safe and healthy environment,” read a statement from HWDSB to CityNews.

“There is an immediate response for care and support when any child is injured. There is a statement of claim that has been brought to the board and we are unable to comment on the details,” continued the statement.

Harrison said her daughter hasn’t attended school since the incident, and their family has since moved away.

“I relocated my family because of this trauma, because of being afraid for their future and mental health and their education and well-being would be further jeopardized like many other Black students and families. This is how much harm the school board has caused my children and myself,” said Harrison.

“I’d like my daughter’s finger back. I would like to be able to take her to play basketball and do the things she used to be able to do. I’d like her to go back to school.”