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Parent urges Urbandale board to address bullying after student suicide
Summary
Parent Murphy Woodson told the board the district’s public communications after the death of a student named Miles did not address bullying; he urged the board to use the event as a teachable moment and described online harassment and property damage experienced by students.
Murphy Woodson, a parent with three children in the Urbandale schools, used the public‑comment period to press the board to take broader, explicit action on bullying after the suicide of a student referred to in comments as Miles.
Woodson said district communications in early November focused on counseling availability but did not mention bullying or the reasons surrounding Miles’ death. "Not a single time have they mentioned bullying," Woodson said. He described students encountering online videos targeting them, destruction of property shared on social media and students’ journals being read and circulated online.
Woodson said some students staged a walkout after school communications that felt "tone deaf," and he urged district leadership to treat the situation as a "massive learning experience" and to incorporate district‑wide assemblies and instruction. "Why aren't we using this as a teachable moment? Why aren't we doing something?" he asked.
Woodson said he had spoken with Principal Carver but wanted the board to take a clearer, district‑wide approach to prevention, support and accountability for online and social‑media harassment.
The board did not offer extended response during the public comment period; board policy limiting discussion of specific personnel or student matters was read before comments began.
