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Parents urge Dorchester 02 to revise bullying and grievance policies during public comment
Summary
Multiple residents used the June 15 public-comment period to say recent edits to the district's bullying and grievance policies favor the institution over harmed students, to describe delayed district responses, and to request that the board return the policies for further review.
During public comment at the June 15 Dorchester 02 policy meeting, multiple residents urged the board to revisit recent changes to the district's harassment, intimidation and bullying (HIB) rule and related grievance procedures.
Jason Brockford, who identified himself to the board, said he supported removing the automatic grade-elevation policy but criticized recent bullying-policy edits. He said deleting a separate grievance rule made the administrative path confusing and risked folding grievance procedures into bullying policy in ways that would disadvantage students: “The rule for the student grievances is slated to be stricken... Completely deleting the rule makes it administratively confusing,” he said, and recommended the policies go back through the review process.
Martha Sue Hope told the board the bullying policy appears written to protect the district rather than the bullied student: “Bullying policy that doesn't talk about the human being that's being harmed. It's not bullying policy,” she said, and urged the board to adopt procedures that make students feel protected and visibly supported when an incident is reported.
A newer resident, Selena (Selina) Ward, described repeated incidents involving her child at Summerville High and said her calls and emails went unanswered after an incident in November 2025; she also criticized a proposed five-day reporting window as too short: “For there to be a 5 day, window to speak up, I think that's a little...,” she said. The chair reminded commenters to focus on the policy rather than specific student cases and offered follow-up outside the public meeting.
Several commenters asked for clearer cross-references between policies, a transparent pathway for grievances, and better district responsiveness. Trustees accepted copies of submitted materials and offered to take written feedback; no policy redlines or formal votes on bullying or grievance policy were recorded in the transcript provided.
