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Parents urge action after reports of ongoing bullying in middle school
Summary
Two parents raised concerns about persistent bullying affecting middle-school students and urged the community to act; administrators said discipline occurs, the district is constrained by FERPA, and counselors and student-support forms are being used to respond.
Two parents told the Tonasket School District board on Feb. 25 that bullying among middle-school students is a continuing problem and asked for stronger community action.
Autumn Fulk, a mother of a middle-school student, described her child’s experiences and urged broader involvement, saying, "She wants the community to come together to stop the bullying that continues between students." Another parent, Jody Batton, recounted similar problems her children faced and noted the help she received from school staff.
District administrators described the supports already in use. Middle-school administrator Trisha Roach told parents that the school documents concerns with student-support forms and has received "100s of forms turned in this year. All forms have been taken very seriously." Roach also cautioned that "discipline happens; the school can't disclose student information, as the district is bound by FERPA (the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)."
Board members did not take a formal vote at the meeting on new anti-bullying measures but heard parents’ appeals and staff assurances that student supports and parental trainings — including an upcoming 'Hidden in Plain Sight' event — are planned. The board and administrators encouraged parents to work with the schools on next steps.
