Parent tells Centennial board her fourth-grader is being bullied on bus 87; district staff to follow up

Samantha Price, a parent, told the Centennial School District Committee of the Whole on April 22 that her fourth-grade son has been bullied repeatedly on bus 87 and that she was dissatisfied with the district’s response.

Price said the district’s timeline began when she reported the incident on April 16 and received a return call from a school staff member later that day. She told the board that during a speaker-phone conversation the staff member had her son in the office and asked him questions he would not answer. “My son didn't want to tell her the truth about the situation,” Price said, and the staff member told her “there was nothing that she could do by what Mason said.” Price said her son has an IEP and is being tested for autism, and that being called “gay” has been happening “for 2 years now.”

Why it matters: Price said the boy’s teacher and other witnesses have flagged the behavior, but the parent said seating requests on the bus were denied and that the child continues to be targeted. She warned that, if district leaders did not act, she would escalate the complaint to local media.

The district response and next steps

Board President (identified in roll call) acknowledged the comment and asked staff to follow up. Doctor Wilson, identified in the meeting as district staff, said he would follow up with schools and principals. The exchange during the public-comment period ended with Wilson saying he would pursue further contact with the family.

What speakers said (selected quotes)

“Your administration and staff, even down to the bus driver, is failing my son,” Samantha Price said during public comment, adding, “This situation needs to stop immediately.”

Doctor Wilson responded in the meeting that he would follow up with schools and principals.

Context and unresolved details

Price said the student is a fourth-grader who rides bus 87, has an IEP and is being tested for autism, and that the family had previously reported similar bullying about two years earlier. She named a classroom teacher (Mrs. Richie) and said earlier attempts to raise the issue in the school were not resolved. The transcript shows the family asked for a seat change on bus 87; the parent said that request had been denied. The record does not show any formal disciplinary action taken at the meeting or any written summary of the district’s follow-up; Doctor Wilson said he would follow up with the family.

Ending

The parent left contact information with the district during public comment. The board did not take formal action on the complaint at the meeting; a district staff member said they would follow up with the family and school staff after the meeting.