Resident Addresses School Board About Bullying
Jamestown Public Schools officials are probing into a possible bullying incident at Washington Middle School.
Fulton Street resident Paul Wolff addressed the school board Tuesday about anti-bullying policies, and said his daughter attends Washington and is allegedly bullied by three boys at the school.
“My daughter comes home and she has a split lip, and she tells me that it’s three boys that we’ve reported to the school a few times, and it seems that there’s no repercussions for bullying,” Wolff said.
Wolff added he knows of other alleged incidents at the school that have taken place.
He asked the board if anti-bullying policies are being enforced at the school.
“This is getting uncalled for. … Imagine how many other parents out there know kids that are being bullied in our school district? We have policies in place. We do our part as parents. We call the school. We expect the appropriate people to respond,” Wolff added.
In 2022, the district launched Say Something anonymous reporting system, according to the district’s website jpsny.org.
The system, the website noted, teaches students in grades 6-12, as well as teachers and administrators, how to recognize warning signals and threats on social media, in school, or in their community, of individuals who may be a threat to themselves or others and report the behavior to a trusted adult or use an anonymous reporting system.
Students and staff have received formal training on how to recognize the signs and threats of at-risk behaviors; take every sign and signal seriously and act quickly to get help by talking to a trusted adult, or report it anonymously to the SS-ARS 24/7/365 Crisis Center via a mobile app, website, or telephone hotline; respond to and manage the submitted tips using a tip management system overseen by a designated school team; and sustain the curriculum and awareness via student clubs, in-school activities, and call-to-action weeks, the website stated.
Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said he has reached out to Principal Erika Alm about the situation.
“Any time you hear about bullying, you want to make sure you put an end to it, and make sure the appropriate consequences are applied,” Whitaker said.
Whitaker noted on the website, that the district is committed to creating and sustaining a comprehensive, coordinated effort to improve the overall safety and well-being of our students, educators, administrators, and the community at large.
“The Say Something anonymous reporting system is a community-wide program and initiative involving parents, teachers, administrators, local law enforcement, mental health and wellness professionals, and elected officials as we strive to take meaningful action to protect our students,” Whitaker wrote.