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Parents press Piedmont Community Charter board over suspensions, bullying; board points them to grievance process
Summary
At the Piedmont Community Charter board meeting, two parents described recent incidents at the middle school—one alleging bullying and another contesting a four-day suspension—and the board advised using the published grievance procedure while offering no immediate reversal of discipline.
Two parents urged the Piedmont Community Charter board on Oct. 10 to address student discipline and bullying at the middle school, and board leaders directed them to the charter's formal grievance process.
Kaye Bolanos, an attorney and Gaston County resident with three children at Piedmont, told the board her sixth-grade son received an in-school day plus a three-day out-of-school suspension after allegedly causing minor drywall damage. "I felt like 4 days was egregious," Bolanos said, adding she had contacted school staff and reviewed the school's disciplinary policy and found it allowed a range of responses.
Another parent, Wanda, described an episode she said began with an unprovoked act against her child and argued that her child was punished after defending himself. "I feel like 3 days is a bit excessive," Wanda said.
The Board President told both parents the meeting was a public-comment forum rather than a back-and-forth discussion and directed them to submit the school's grievance form, which is available on the board section of the school website. "If you go to our website, there is a grievance process," the president said, and encouraged formal submission so the board could communicate in writing and follow up.
Bolanos said she had documented communications from staff and included a photo of the damage in materials provided to the board; she also reported that other parents in a local Facebook group described similar concerns at the middle school. School staff did not announce any immediate reversal of the disciplinary action during the meeting.
The board did not take any on-the-spot disciplinary action or promise a personnel change. The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Oct. 15, when parents may return to report on grievance outcomes or request further action.
