Parents, alumna urge Whitehall‑Coplay School District to adopt ‘zero‑tolerance’ approach after bus incidents

Two speakers at the Whitehall‑Coplay School District board meeting on June 9 urged the board and district administrators to adopt a stricter, clearly enforced policy on bullying after repeated incidents on school buses.

The speakers, a parent identified in the meeting as Mrs. Aguila and Whitehall High School alumna Brianna Quila, described a pattern of bullying affecting both of Aguila’s children and recounted steps the family has taken to get help. "I have opened a police report down at the police station," Aguila said, and described unsuccessful efforts to schedule an in‑person meeting with district administrators. She said a suggestion to move her older son to the front of the bus and keep the alleged bully in the back "was not fair" and that she refused to punish her son for wrongdoing he did not commit.

Quila told the board she experienced sustained bullying as a child and described a more recent incident involving her younger sister, a first grader: "He made her kiss up his leg. We took it to the school and security for both kids." Quila said her family was originally told the bully's parents would be contacted, but that did not happen. "Why did my sister get punished by a change of bus, but the bully remains unpunished?" she asked.

Both speakers called for clearer, stronger district policy. Aguila asked the board to "rewrite to include that there's gonna be 0 tolerance and come up with what that's gonna mean as a school district." Quila cited research she said links bullying to later violence and urged the board to treat reports seriously to prevent escalation.

Meeting attendees and administrators named in comments included district staff members the speakers said they contacted: Superintendent Mr. Shiffert and an employee identified as Mr. Chrisman, who Aguila credited for meeting with students to attempt a resolution. Aguila said the older alleged bully has reportedly been an issue since kindergarten and will move to middle school next year, raising concern about continued contact with her daughter, who is in first grade.

The board did not take formal action on the speakers' requests during the special meeting; both comments came during the public comment period. Aguila and Quila urged clearer reporting pathways, more timely communication from district staff and a spelled‑out definition of "zero tolerance" in district policy.

District officials present did not announce any immediate policy changes at the meeting. The board's next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 23, when fellow board members will consider committee recommendations and agenda items brought forward from the committee meetings held after the special session.