Travis Dorman

USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee

A family is seeking $4.5 million in damages from Roane County Schools and a contractor after a female janitor allegedly raped a then-16-year-old male student at Midway High School during school hours.

Jessica E. Galyon, 29, of Philadelphia, Tenn., was arrested Feb. 23 on charges of sexual battery by an authority figure, aggravated statutory rape and statutory rape by an authority figure, according to the Roane County Sheriff's Office. She was released on $15,000 bond.

The victim's parents are suing Roane County Schools and Compass One Services of Tennessee, the contractor that employed Galyon, for negligence in allowing the alleged rape to occur, according to a copy of the lawsuit filed Monday.

Galyon first began talking to the teen in August before allegedly attempting to escalate the relationship by insisting he give her his phone number and become her friend on Facebook.

Galyon allegedly began sending "flirtatious and sexual messages" to the boy, who told Galyon her advances were "unsolicited, unwanted and unwelcome," the lawsuit reads.

On Sept. 16, Galyon allegedly invited the boy to visit her in a hotel room so they could have sex. The boy rejected the offer and said he didn't want "any further contact" with Galyon, according to the lawsuit.

When the boy ultimately confronted Galyon about her unwanted sexual advances, she allegedly took him into a room and raped him at the school during school hours.

"This was the first ever sexual encounter of any kind that (the boy) had ever had in his life," the lawsuit reads.

Galyon allegedly told the teen not to tell anyone as it would cause her to lose her job, her husband and her children.

Galyon's harassment of the boy was publicly known, according to the lawsuit. Students and faculty members teased and bullied the boy, calling Galyon his "girlfriend."

One faculty member even told the boy he was "jealous" of him "because he wanted to have sex with Galyon," according to the lawsuit.

The alleged rape and subsequent harassment prompted the boy to drop out of Midway High, enroll in home school and begin attending weekly counseling sessions.

A month after the alleged rape, a school faculty member told the school's administration about what had happened, which led to Galyon's arrest.

The lawsuit accuses Roane County Schools and Compass One of acting "intentionally, willfully, wantonly and/or with gross negligence in failing to recognize and/or stop the sexual misconduct of Galyon."

The boy's parents are seeking $3.5 million in damages from Roane County Schools and Compass One, as well as an additional $1 million in punitive damages. The family is being represented by Tarpy, Cox, Fleishman & Leveille PLLC, a Knoxville-based firm.

Roane County Schools and Compass One Services could not immediately be reached for comment Wednesday evening.