Parent tells Winslow Board six bullying incidents remain unresolved at School 6

At the public-comment portion of the Nov. 12 Winslow Township Board of Education meeting, parent Jay Poehill described repeated bullying incidents involving his child at School 6 and criticized what he called a lack of clear response from building administrators.

Poehill said he followed superintendent direction by contacting the school secretary but that a subsequent incident occurred and, when he and his child's father met with school administrators, "we were not given a clear ... plan or preventative measures from the administration." He said much of the administrators' explanation focused on whether specific incidents qualified as HIB (harassment, intimidation or bullying) rather than on a plan to stop the behavior.

Poehill said the family has reported six incidents so far and that the building principal responded to a parental request by saying "the church doors are always open," a remark Poehill said he did not understand in a school context. "I will continue to come back ... because my child's safety, emotional well-being, and right to learn without fear are nonnegotiable," Poehill told the board.

Board officials did not offer a substantive public reply during the comments section; the board clerk indicated there were no additional speakers registered. Poehill asked for "accountability, transparency, and meaningful preventative action moving forward." The board subsequently moved to adjourn public comments and enter executive session later in the agenda to consider personnel matters and grievances.

The board did not record a public decision on Poehill's request during the meeting; no follow-up steps were announced on the record at Nov. 12.