Parents, students press Altoona Area School District board to act after repeated bullying and alleged inadequate responses

Parents, students and community members used the public-comment portion of an Altoona Area School District board meeting to describe repeated bullying, including physical assaults, against children with disabilities and to demand changes in how the district responds.

Speakers described several incidents involving one second-grade student identified as Jackson ("Jax") Miller, who they said has autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, including an episode in kindergarten when five students “beat him,” a first-grade incident in which his arm was broken, and more recent confrontations they said went without meaningful consequences. "From kindergarten, we talk about consequences, but from kindergarten, five kids holding him down on the playground and literally beating him," said Delaney Miller, Jackson's mother. "Nobody has heard me over the last 3 years. I've been manipulated and I've been lied to and I've been promised things that have not happened."

Why it matters: commenters said the incidents reflect a broader pattern they see across the district — from elementary through high school — that they say disproportionately affects students with disabilities and drives some families to remove children from in-person schooling. Several speakers called the district's "zero tolerance" approach ineffective and urged the board to revise discipline and supervision practices, bus monitoring, and communications to families.

Parents and students gave examples across grade levels. Bridget Pierce, a seventh-grader who said she is autistic, described ongoing harassment and said some students openly mock autistic students’ behaviors. "They would openly make autistic noises to mock me and my friend," she said. Carrie Pierce, a parent, told the board she recently learned a student brought a screwdriver into the high school and that her son had been a potential target; she said she was not informed by the school. "0 tolerance is not working. There needs to be a new phrase. There needs to be a new system," she said.

Multiple parents said they had raised incidents repeatedly with building principals and other administrators but saw little follow-through. Lisonbee Wilt said she had repeatedly contacted school leaders after her children — three of whom she said are autistic — were physically harmed and that one child had been choked on the playground. "He was choked on the playground and hit in the face twice. Nothing was done," she said. Wilt said she had been advised to remove her child from the bus if issues persisted and that a bus driver who allegedly bullied students remains employed despite submitted video evidence.

Board and district response: Board leaders and Superintendent Hatch acknowledged the comments and described ongoing communication with staff and the family. "We have some folks already working with Jackson's family on coming up with a solution to the concerns and problems," said Superintendent Hatch. The board president noted that board members have public email addresses and encouraged commenters to contact them directly for follow-up; the president said they respond to constituent email and will share messages with fellow board members.

What commenters asked for: parents and students sought clearer consequences for bullies, better supervision on buses and playgrounds, more transparent follow-up to reports, and policies that account for students with disabilities. Several speakers also urged supports for students who bully, saying some come from challenging home situations and need intervention as well as discipline.

Discussion versus decisions: The meeting's public-comment segment produced no board vote or disciplinary action specific to the incidents described. Following public comment, the board proceeded with its published agenda and approved routine consent and business items. The superintendent and other administrators said they were available for follow-up meetings with families and building staff.

Votes at a glance: During the same meeting the board approved several routine agenda items by voice vote. Motions were carried as recorded in the meeting minutes; roll-call tallies were not provided in the transcript. - Approved minutes from 03/17/2025 (motion approved; second provided by Justin; outcome: approved). - Approved finance items, including renewal recommendations and honoraria (items 6 a–e; motion approved; second by Michael; outcome: approved). - Approved education agenda items (items 7 a–n; motion approved; second by Mr. Pappas; outcome: approved). - Approved personnel items including an addendum to a contract with ESS Northeast LLC and rescission of one hiring (items 8 a–b; motion moved by Dave; second by Bobby; outcome: approved; item D3 rescinded). - Approved student services agreements with Blair Family Solutions and Westmoreland Intermediate Unit (items 9 a–b; outcome: approved). - Approved business operations items including insurance renewals, summer food program and bids (items 10 a–i; outcome: approved). - Approved new business items including benefit-administration renewals and third-party administrator proposals (items 11 a–f; outcome: approved).

What happens next: District administrators said they are in contact with the family of Jackson Miller and building principals, counselors and teachers to seek solutions. Board members invited commentators to follow up by email and to request meetings. Parents at the meeting said they will continue to press for policy changes and clearer communication.

The transcript shows the public-comment portion focused on student safety and discipline; the board did not announce a formal policy change at the meeting.