LEBANON -
Emily Longnecker/Eyewitness News
Lebanon - The parents of a 10-year-old boy are threatening legal action after they say their son was burned at school, but they were never notified.
The couple says their son was burned during lunch Monday from food that was too hot. The school had no comment for Eyewitness News on the claims.
"They have my phone number. They have my email address. They could send a note home with my son, anything. Just let me know when something goes wrong with my son at school," said the boy's father, Rex Morell.
Morell says his son came home and showed his wife his left forearm and a burn on it that he said he got at school that day.
"He was saying it hurt. I got burned at school," Morell explained.
According to Morell, his son told him he was burned by some hot corn served in the school cafeteria at Central Elementary in Lebanon.
"He says he was carrying his tray and [corn juice] spilled on his arm," said Morell.
The boy told his parents no one made him go to the nurse's office until later that day.
"He said he went down to the clinic and they argued with him, told him it wasn't a burn, its just a rash. Put some aloe on it and told him to get back to class," added Morell.
Morell's wife took their son to the emergency room Monday night.
"He said its a second degree burn," Morell said of the doctor's diagnosis. "They gave him medication and a bandage. He has to wear for 5-7 days."
Morell's said his wife exchanged emails with the school's principal, trying to get answers.
"At the bottom, she says "Let me know if you feel there was anything more we could have done.' Like providing medical treatment or calling his parents? You mean something like that? That would be a real good idea," said Morell, showing Eyewitness News a copy of the email exchange between the principal and his wife.
Eyewitness News called Central Elementary to get their side of the story. The principal said the superintendent wasn't available so there would be no comment.
Morell thinks the school should pay for his son's emergency room visit.
"First of all, nobody should hand a child anything hot enough to give him a second degree burn," said Morell. "He needs to get medical treatment and his parents need to be notified."
That's what Morell believes should have happened from the beginning. The family plans to hire a lawyer.
