A teacher at a Broward County high school says he was left badly bruised after a student attacked him with a desk during class.
Stephen Lipscomb, a math teacher at Boyd Anderson High School in Lauderdale Lakes, said he was unable to come to work after being assaulted during class.
"He took the desk, raised it over his head, completely over his head and then threw it at me," Lipscomb said in an exclusive interview with NBC 6. "Damaged the ceiling above me, struck me in the leg, in the thigh, caused me to fall down and injure my other leg as well."
Lipscomb said the attack happened last month while he was teaching in his classroom.
"He threw another desk before I was able to go and just restrain him until security came," Lipscomb said.
The 50-year-old teacher said he lives a normally active life but now can't stand for more than 10-15 minutes without severe pain. He also said he's upset with school administrators and the school district for treating his injuries like a papercut.
"They're trying to dismiss this as just a normal act," he said.
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In a statement Friday, the school district said they take all matters involving student and staff safety seriously and that school administration and the school resource officer responded to the incident immediately and followed all proper protocols.
"The student involved was removed from the classroom and taken into custody by law enforcement. The teacher was also immediately relieved from the classroom and advised to seek medical attention," the district's statement read, in part. "The administration reported the incident to the District’s Risk Management Department. The student involved in this incident is receiving the appropriate school disciplinary measures in accordance with the District’s Code Book for Student Conduct."
Since the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Broward Schools has faced criticism from students, parents and teachers. Just last month, schools superintendent Robert Runcie held a school safety forum and got an earful from parents who say schools aren't safe.
"I don't feel safe in the school. I don't feel safe for several reasons. I know students can walk through school and we do not know if they're part of the campus. None of the backpacks are searched," Lipscomb said.
