A Dinwiddie County parent urged the school board to take stronger, systemwide action after describing repeated, serious bullying incidents affecting her elementary-school child.

Wanda Woody, who identified herself as a parent from Dabney Mill Road with a fifth-grade daughter at Southside Elementary School, told the board she was "not here to attack a school" but said her daughter and other students have been subjected to name-calling with explicit slurs, threats and messages that peers should kill themselves. "When kids would rather be homeschooled than go to school and feel scared or feel less," Woody said, she asked the board to help start a program or station someone consistently at schools to support both targets and those who bully.

Board members thanked Woody for speaking and acknowledged bullying remains a problem in the division. Ms. Pittman said she had campaigned on bullying and described working with the chair on a proposal to create an anti-bullying task force; she urged parents to engage. Board members described ongoing efforts, including DARE programming and other school-based supports, and invited Woody to join the district’s parent team working on the issue. "We need advocates like you," the chair said, promising continued outreach and follow-up.

Superintendent Dr. Weston and other staff said some officers had been reassigned and new officers require training; the administration invited parents to be part of the work group and said it would continue to refine supports and communications.

What happens next: Board members said they will continue conversations with parents and administrators and pursue the proposed anti-bullying task force. Parents and community members interested in participating were asked to contact the board and principals.