Parents and residents press board on student bullying; principals describe district response and invite meetings

Several community members used the board’s public-comment period on April 3 to describe incidents of repeated bullying that they said had harmed their children.

Parent Jacqueline Peterson told the board: “Bullying, poor, fat, poor eyes, retard, gay, or a few of the names students have called my child. My child has been bullied since the first grade.” Another commenter, Daniel Werderbaugh, said his daughter “is now in counseling in these schools due to the bullying and the self harming. She is on medication for anxiety and depression” and criticized school officials for not taking sufficient action when complaints were not documented.

Multiple speakers urged the board to enforce the district’s anti-bullying policy more strictly and asked for a meeting of parents and students to surface the full scope of incidents. A 75‑year‑old resident, Donald Wayne Martin, described his own lifelong trauma from childhood bullying and said he hoped the board would do more to help current students.

District response: Middle- and high‑school principal Mike McManus and K–5 principal Ashley Martin spoke to parents about the district’s response processes. McManus said staff “connect with parents, we investigate and give kids due process and an opportunity to share what's happening with them,” and outlined a range of discipline that can include “verbal warnings all the way up to law enforcement notification depending on the severity.” He described restorative practices, mediation and short-term targeted interventions for repeat offenders: “if we have students who are repeat offenders … we will meet with students who are struggling in our buildings for 4 to 8 weeks at a time.”

Ashley Martin (K–5) described instructional and behavioral supports at the primary grades, and both principals said the district uses a monitoring service that notifies administrators when inappropriate content is posted on school devices.

Staff offered immediate next steps: McManus encouraged parents to contact him directly and said he planned to remain available after the meeting to schedule meetings with concerned families.

Context and limits: Speakers referenced the district bullying policy and asked the board to ensure it is enforced consistently. Administrators described the internal investigatory process and noted that consequences vary by severity and the evidence gathered; no emergency board action or additional policy vote occurred at the meeting.

Ending: The board did not take formal action during the meeting; administrators invited parents to meet with school staff and pursue documented complaints so the district can investigate and apply discipline or supports as appropriate.