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Student and family urge Sodus board to address alleged bullying and discipline handling
Summary
A student and a family member told the Sodus Central School District board that bullying and discipline processes have failed their child, alleging a staff member provoked incidents, suspensions were issued then reversed, and that parents were excluded from fair discussions; the board later approved an executive-session vote to discuss a personnel matter.
A Sodus Central School District student identified as Kylie told the board she and other students sometimes feel judged or accused without a fair chance to explain and urged the district to ensure students have reliable support from administrators.
"Students should feel safe going to the administration for help, but sometimes it feels like we're being judged or accused of things without clear proof or a fair chance to explain," Kylie said during public comment. She said some students do not feel supported and called for the district to provide fair treatment and better opportunities for students to move forward after mistakes.
A family member who spoke afterward described what they characterized as a pattern of bullying and inconsistent discipline. The family member named a staff member they identified as Mr. Dysinger and said that, after reports of bullying in unsupervised hallways, school officials repeatedly asked for proof before taking action.
The family member said the student was suspended after an incident the speaker described as provoked and that the suspension was later reversed. The speaker said that, later the same day, the family "got a call" that a parent was suspended; the transcript does not provide official district documentation for those events.
"When I spoke with [a] faculty member about the situation, I was told that he cares about his students, but words alone are not enough. Actions must reflect care," the family member said, and requested the board explain existing policies on protecting students, outline staff training on de-escalation and communication, and describe what steps the district will take so other students do not face similar experiences.
Board members did not announce an immediate investigatory action during the public-comment period recorded in the transcript excerpt. Later in the meeting the board approved a motion to enter executive session "to talk about the position of a particular person" (moved by Eric, seconded by Brian; voice vote carried). The board did not indicate on the public record in this excerpt whether the executive-session item was related to the complaint.
The public speakers praised some staff by name for positive leadership (one speaker cited Mr. Keist as an example) and urged clearer application of complaint procedures. The speakers asked the board to clarify what policies guide investigations of alleged bullying, how evidence is weighed, what steps parents may expect when raising concerns, and what staff training is provided on de-escalation and student support.
The board did not give an immediate public response in the excerpt; no formal findings or next-step assignments were recorded in the public portion of the transcript provided here.
