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Resident raises school bullying and an alleged assault; sheriff says investigation ongoing and cautions against spreading unverified claims
Summary
A resident told the commission about alleged repeated bullying and an attempted assault on an 11-year-old; the county sheriff responded that criminal and Title IX investigations are being handled and warned against posting unverified information on social media.
A Hardy County resident addressed the commission to raise concerns about repeated bullying and an alleged attempted assault involving an 11-year-old student. The speaker said parents are frustrated with what they view as a lack of resolution and described community efforts to raise awareness.
“I met the kid. He's only 11 years old,” the resident said, describing reports that the child was repeatedly targeted and alleging that the group later cornered the child and committed an attempted sexual assault. The resident said parents feel ignored when they raise concerns with the school and that some families are opting to homeschool because of bullying.
The county sheriff responded during public comment that law enforcement investigates alleged criminal matters and refers prosecutorial decisions to the prosecutor’s office. The sheriff also said schools conduct Title IX investigations for relevant allegations and cautioned that public social-media posts can contain faulty information. “We investigate everything that goes on in that school…We refer to the prosecutor’s office. They do the prosecution,” the sheriff said.
The commission did not take formal action during the public-comment period. Commissioners acknowledged the concern and suggested parents pursue appropriate investigative and administrative channels; the sheriff reiterated that ongoing investigations limit what officials can discuss publicly.
The meeting transcript does not provide results of any investigation or disciplinary action; any allegations referenced during public comment remained claims at the time of the meeting.
