Father upset over questioning of daughter at school - WFXG FOX54 Augusta - Your News One Hour Earlier

"She's trembling and crying. Just beside herself."

That's how Nathan Poole describes his daughter Ashley's reaction, after he says North Augusta Middle School administration and North Augusta Public Safety questioned his daughter at school about an incident that she witnessed off campus.  He's very upset that they didn't notify him first.

It all started with a letter that Nathan emailed to us, detailing his struggles to get any traction over the course of the last month.

"I don't appreciate anyone walking in there and badgering my child," said Poole. "I'm a very protective parent. I'm extremely protective. And I don't appreciate it."

Aiken County Public School District, which has jurisdiction over North Augusta Middle, lists their interrogation policies publicly. In a document FOX54 obtained from the school district website, it says that the principal or their representative will attempt to contact the parent for consent whenever police want to interview a student at school.

Poole says that didn't happen.

"Why do they have policies? They don't follow them," said Poole. "Whenever they get questioned about policies...they're old policies."

I spoke to the school and the superintendent. They directed us to district General Counsel Bill Burkhalter. He wouldn't comment on-camera, saying that federal law prohibits the district from discussing student records. He did say he was "familiar with the complaint" and was adamant that the school had followed "proper procedure."

Poole disagrees.  

"I think everyone involved needs to be relieved of their duties," he said. "Just the simple fact they want to cover things up and not do the right thing. Before, I had no problem, as long as you told me what was going on."

Poole says his daughter is now filled with fear and discontent over what he says happened at a place she once considered welcoming and inviting.