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Parents and advocates press board for action on bullying, mental health after student deaths
Summary
Two speakers told trustees they have repeatedly raised bullying and teen‑suicide concerns and said district responses have been insufficient; one speaker, Jason Brockert, connected his remarks to the death of his son and asked for more direct engagement and follow‑up.
Multiple public commenters raised concerns about student bullying and teen suicide during the public comment portion of the Dorchester County School District 2 meeting on April 14.
Kim Sweeney, a parent, recounted her daughter’s repeated assaults on a school bus in middle school and said school staff did not document conversations or contact the family as she expected. “I requested the full file. There's no conversations documented,” Sweeney said, and asked for follow‑up because “kids can't learn in school if they don't feel safe.”
Jason Brockert delivered an emotional statement, saying he has repeatedly sought the board’s attention since the death of his son, whom he linked to bullying. Brockert said he felt ignored by board members and questioned whether trustees would allow him more than the limited public‑comment time to present his concerns. “I have been up here repeatedly… I have been respectful,” he said. Brockert criticized the board’s response and urged trustees to take substantive steps on mental‑health and bullying prevention.
Board members reminded speakers that the public‑comment format does not permit back‑and‑forth response from trustees during the meeting, and that some issues raised may be addressed later through the appropriate administrative or executive processes. No immediate board action or vote was taken in response to the remarks; the board encouraged those with safety concerns to pursue established reporting channels so staff can follow up.
The speakers asked for clearer documentation, better incident reporting and visible follow‑up when students raise safety concerns. Trustees did not offer a public, immediate reply but said they would take the comments under advisement and that staff would be asked to follow up where appropriate.
