St. Paul teacher attacked by student says violence should not be tolerated

The St. Paul Central High School teacher who was attacked and injured by a student earlier this month said the lawsuit he's filed against the district is meant to send a message that violence should not be tolerated by school district officials.

Authorities say John Ekblad was attacked by a 16-year-old student while trying to prevent him from joining a fight in the cafeteria. Witnesses told police that the student lifted Ekblad by the neck, slammed him down, then choked and punched him.

Police estimated that Ekblad was unconscious for between 10 and 20 seconds, according to charges filed against the student following the assault. MPR News does not typically name minors charged with a crime unless they're certified to be tried as adults.

Attorney Philip Villaume, who is representing Ekblad, served the lawsuit this week against the school district. He said the school district's leaders have failed to provide a safe environment for staff and students.

"One of the purposes of Mr. Ekblad's actions is to put a stop to students assaulting teachers, administrators, professional staff and other students," Villaume said. "Too many teachers are afraid to come forward for fear of reprisal."

St. Paul Schools Superintendent Valeria Silva has been under fire from the teachers union and others for disciplinary policies designed to reduce racial disparities that critics say are too lax.

In a statement on Tuesday, a spokesperson for St. Paul Public Schools declined to comment on the details of the lawsuit, but said district officials are "saddened" by the situation.

"Saint Paul Public Schools does not and will not tolerate violence against anyone in the district," according to the district's statement. "Our discipline policies have always specified severe consequences for students who jeopardize the safety of others and we do not shy away from enforcing these policies."

In all of Ramsey County, there have been 27 gross misdemeanor charges for assault on a school official so far this year, according to the Ramsey County Attorney's Office. That number has fluctuated county-wide in recent years, although the number of charges this year is higher than any of the previous five years. Fourteen of this year's charges originated in schools in St. Paul.

The Ramsey County Attorney's Office and St. Paul Public Schools announced a task force earlier this month to find solutions to student violence. Union leaders have characterized the task force as more bureaucracy and threatened a strike.

Speaking to reporters in the lower level of a building that houses a Bloomington law office, Ekblad said he has no memory of the attack on Dec. 3. He's said the traumatic brain injury and other injuries he sustained during the attack have led to near-constant headaches.

"I've got numbness in my right arm. I've got numbness going outside my right leg to the top of my foot. I have hearing loss in my right ear. My right eyelid has drooped down," Ekblad said. "It's just all in my right side."

Ekblad taught in St. Paul schools for more than two decades. He's observed growing violent behavior by students in the last five years, but that he'd like to go back to his job at some point.

"I'm kind of broken right now," Ekblad said. "I'd like to get healed — and I'd like to return to my job."