A St. Paul high school student accused of sexually harassing several classmates is suing his school, claiming he was unfairly disciplined and his reputation was damaged.

A complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court says the 15-year-old at St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists has been ostracized at school.

“The entire student body, made up primarily of female students, avoids him, points and whispers at him, and refuses to work with him,” the complaint states.

The school suspended the boy for three days Oct. 9 after three girls complained about his behavior. He returned to school with a warning that any further allegations of harassment would result in expulsion.

According to a letter from the school included in the court file, the boy was suspended for “a pattern of harassment that … (included) inappropriate touch: sitting too close, touching without permission, grabbing a student’s leg near the crotch, licking a student’s hand, grabbing a student from behind and groping.”

The letter adds that when the girls tell him to stop, he escalates his behavior.

The court file also contains a letter from a teacher who met with the boy soon after he was told of his suspension. It says the boy felt guilty about making his friends uncomfortable and that he “didn’t fully understand platonic relationships.” Related Articles Mind the gap? Pandemic has students taking a semester or two off before starting college

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A report from another school staffer said the boy “had had contact with several girls but wasn’t aware that it had bothered them” and that “he thought he and the other students had been flirting.”

In the lawsuit, the boy and his parents charge that the school suspended him without giving him the chance to contest the allegations.

They say the school also failed to protect the boy from harassment by peers after the allegations became known. Students and parents have publicly protested outside the school, and he has received electronic messages threatening to hurt him.

School director Callie Jacobs said in a written statement that the school “takes all concerns very seriously” but does not comment on pending litigation.

As many as 10 girls have complained about the boy’s behavior, according to St. Paul police, which took a criminal sexual conduct report at the school Oct. 11.

Police spokesman Steve Linders said they’ve worked with the school and state education department to make sure the behavior was addressed and students are safe. It remains an active case.

St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists is a charter school in downtown St. Paul. It has about 550 students this school year.