Wichita ? A federal inquiry has found that the Wichita County school district did not take appropriate action against a former high school principal who reportedly pinched a female student.

The report from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights showed that a Leoti USD 467 investigator found “inappropriate touching” took place about 18 months ago between a freshman girl at Wichita County High School and then-Principal Duane Custer.

“However, the district failed to take appropriate action in response to this investigation, including taking disciplinary action against the principal,” the report said.

The report, released earlier this month, also said Custer was accused of making inappropriate remarks about other female students’ bodies.

As a result of the federal inquiry, USD 467 agreed to settle the matter by reviewing and amending the district’s sexual harassment policy. The district also must educate faculty, staff and students on the policy in training and orientation sessions.

Mark and Barbie Wilbur accused Custer of sexually harassing their daughter and sought the federal inquiry after they were told of the pinching incident. They said the report’s conclusions gave them some relief.

Custer denied the incident and maintained his innocence.

In October 2004, the USD 467 school board decided against imposing any disciplinary action in the Aug. 27, 2004, incident.

But Custer stepped down as Wichita County High School principal at the end of the 2004-05 school year and now heads the Salina Area Technical School.