DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A former elementary student in the small western Iowa community of Anita has filed a lawsuit in federal court claiming the school’s principal and superintendent knew a former teacher abused girls and failed to report it. The girl and her mother, who are not named, claim she also was abused. The girl was a student until 2011 at Anita Elementary, one of the schools in the consolidated CAM School District. Last October, 66-year-old former teacher William Foulkes pleaded guilty to sexual exploitation of a minor. He received a suspended prison sentence and probation.

The lawsuit filed Monday claims Principal Larry Hunt and Superintendent Steve Pelzer knew about Foulkes’ behavior but allowed him to resign in 2010. Foulkes wasn’t charged until last March. School district attorney Rick Franck,of Denison, said he hadn’t seen the lawsuit Monday afternoon, and therefore couldn’t comment until he reviewed it. Pelzer, Hunt, and Foulkes did not return calls seeking comment.