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Parents, students urge Neshaminy board to act after alleged bullying, lack of counseling and parent notification
Summary
Three public commenters described repeated bullying, a student report of being told he was "worthless" and told to "kill himself," and gaps in the district’s mental-health response. A resident speaker cited counselor and nurse staffing shortfalls; the superintendent apologized and pledged follow-up and a meeting with district staff.
The Neshaminy School Board heard emotional public comments Monday night alleging failures in the district’s response to student bullying and mental-health crises.
Casey Pearson, who said she is a Neshaminy graduate and a college freshman, told the board her younger brother, an eighth-grader at Carl Sandburg Middle School, had been repeatedly verbally and physically bullied and that after he returned from suspension on Oct. 15 classmates told him he was, "and I quote, worthless and that he should go home and kill himself." Pearson said her brother reported that exchange to Vice Principal Kelly but was returned to class and was not sent to a guidance counselor, and that the family was not notified.
The comments matter, parents and residents said, because they describe students not receiving immediate counseling or parental notification after threats of self-harm.
Sandy Buecher, the student’s mother, said she had made repeated requests to teachers and guidance staff without results and described her son’s depression and a recent collapse at home. "Something needs to change," she said, adding that adults in the building should call parents and check on students. "I don't wanna ever have to say that," she said, referring to receiving a call that a child had harmed himself.
David Debelius, a resident and former combat medic who identified himself as a trained crisis responder, urged the board to address what he described as insufficient counselor and nurse staffing. He said the high school’s counselor-to-student ratio is 349-to-1, compared with a national average he cited as 250-to-1, that the high school has two nurses and "we need at least four," and that counselors’ starting pay is significantly below state and national averages. He urged the board to "start with your budget" and reallocate funds toward student supports.
Superintendent Bowman apologized to the family and the public commenters. "I am greatly sorry, and I sincerely apologize that you had to come here this evening, and speak to the board, directly, myself directly," he said, and asked that the family speak to Dr. Haines after the meeting. "I will also be in touch with you tomorrow, to get some more information for you," he added, and said, "We will do better."
No formal motion or vote was recorded on the complaints; board members said they would follow up and asked the speakers to provide additional information to district staff. The board did not provide, during the meeting, a timetable or specific next steps beyond the superintendent’s pledge to contact the family and speak with Dr. Haines.
