Students, parents urge board action on bullying and school violence after survey and incident reports

Lincoln Lutke, a former Bell/Phillips Middle School student and Oshkosh resident, told the school board on May 14 that a three-day, 47‑response survey he and his mother collected documents ongoing bullying and, in several responses, alleged physical attacks and threats that led some students to seek mental‑health help.

"I myself was a victim of bullying, throughout school ... it was so bad I tried to take my own life," Lutke read from one respondent, and he quoted others saying school staff took "minimum action to none." He asked why, given an approximate district budget of $200,000,000, at least $1,000,000 could not be used to improve student supports and safety.

The account was followed by Laurel Ludke, a parent, who described what she called "daily threats" and repeated fights at Philip Phillips (Bell/Phillips) that she said produced severe injuries and left her family feeling unsafe. She told the board she had reported incidents to school staff and police and described what she said was insufficient documentation and follow‑up by school officials. She urged the board to consider a third‑party investigation, transparent anti‑violence policies with clear consequences, strengthened school‑law‑enforcement coordination and additional on‑campus supervision.

Why it matters: Parents and students asked the board to treat recurring reports of assault and pervasive bullying as a districtwide safety issue rather than isolated incidents. Several board members responded that the concerns merit formal review: at the meeting a board member asked that Policy 555‑1701 (the district’s bullying policy) be placed on the Policy and Governance committee agenda for review, and another requested a report to the education committee detailing how often such incidents occur and how they are being handled.

Board response and next steps: Board members thanked the speakers for coming forward. A board member said, "I would definitely like to see a report coming to the education committee kind of delineating how often this is happening," and asked administration to supply the underlying data. The board did not take a formal vote on remedies during the meeting; a review of Policy 555‑1701 was requested as a future agenda item. No formal discipline outcomes, investigative findings or policy changes were announced at the meeting.

Clarifying details and context: Lutke and his mother collected 47 survey responses in three days; several responses included allegations that school staff took minimal or no action after reports. The transcript records the speakers' characterizations and requests but does not include a district response describing completed investigations, specific disciplinary outcomes, or an existing complaint log. A board member referenced Policy 555‑1701 by number for committee review; the transcript does not include the current text of that policy.

What to watch: The board asked administration to put policy 555‑1701 on a future Policy and Governance agenda and one member requested that the education committee receive a report on incident frequency and handling. The public forum speakers urged the board to consider third‑party review and increased school security and supports.