A former student of the Cambria Heights School District has filed a federal civil rights complaint contending that district personnel knew about a romantic relationship she was having with a high school math teacher, but showed “deliberate indifference” to the affair that ultimately had a severe impact on her life.

The lawsuit was filed this week in the District Court in Johns­town by Cambria County attorneys Ronald P. Carnevali Jr., Michael J. Parish Jr. and Toby D. Mcllwain.

It stated that the legal action arises from the “unlawful and outrageous sexual assault” of the student during her high school years by math teacher Isaac B. Vescovi, 30, and the District’s “acquiescence, cover-up and subsequent acts of self preservation.”

Both the school district and Vescovi are the named defendants.

Vescovi, who for a time was the student’s homeroom teacher and a coach of the girl’s basketball team, initially flirted with the girl when she was a sophomore and, when she became 16 years old, started to send her messages on social media.

They began exchanging emails and text messages, explicit pictures and videos through Snapchat.

The plaintiff in the case, referred to by the pseudonym Jane Doe, would visit Vescovi in his classroom, but then the two began to meet in Altoona.

When she became 17 years of age, the young girl started to go to his home in Patton.

The affair continued until last October, when Vescovi was arrested.

He was charged with having unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of a minor, criminal use of a communications facility and illegal contact with a student.

In January, he entered a plea to one of the charges, a felony count of having contact with a student.

Vescovi was sentenced to a prison term of eight months to 23 months and 29 days by Cambria County Judge Tamara R. Bernstein.

Upon his release, he will be on probation for five years.

The judge granted Vescovi work release.

He must also register as a sex offender for 25 years.

Vescovi, who is an inmate of the Cambria County Prison, during his sentencing hearing stated, “Your honor, please know I am deeply sorry.”

The young victim, however, stated she was “severely impacted” by the affair with the teacher.

“I have frequent night terrors and sleep paralysis. Most of my time is now spent fully immobilized. All of these things made me feel helpless,” she told the judge.

The lawsuit outlines in greater detail the effects of the relationship on the student that included loss of enjoyment of life’s pleasures, loss of self-esteem, loss of reputation and monetary losses.

Focusing on the school district, the lawsuit charges that personnel had ample evidence that something was occurring between Vescovi and the student.

“The relationship between Vescovi and (the student) was well-known throughout the Cambria Heights school buildings, with students, staff and faculty conversing openly about the illicit relationship,” it stated.

“The relationship was so well-known at Cambria Heights that the student body submitted and voted for (the plaintiff) and Vescovi as the ‘cutest couple’ for the yearbook.”

It charges that “at least one teacher and a principal in the district were aware of the illicit relationship between Vescovi and (the student).”

The district knew through its faculty, staff, administration and board of school directors of the affair, it is charged.

“Despite the actual knowledge of the sexual assault, the district made the affirmative decision not to report the sexual assault,” according to the lawsuit.

Superintendent Ken J. Kerchenske indicated Wednesday he could not comment on the charges.

“The district is aware (of the filing of the petition) but we don’t comment on pending litigation,” he said.

The petition seeks monetary damages for violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1983, charging the district was deliberately indifferent as to Vescovi’s misconduct.

It charged that the district lacked a resource officer who could have provided an outlet for students to prevent what occurred in this case.

The district failed to monitor Vescovi’s actions, despite what it knew, the lawsuit continued.

It also contended Title IX has been violated by subjecting the student to a “hostile educational environment.”

Damages are being sought from the former teacher on civil charges of assault and battery.

The case has been assigned to District Judge Stephanie L. Haines, who referred it for placement in the federal court’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program.