From left, Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education member John Panebianco, and Vice President Joe Pawelski listen to concerns of three Jefferson Middle School students. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Three Jefferson Middle School students voiced their concerns Tuesday to the Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education because, they said, at the school there are bullying and behavioral issues.

Eighth-grade student Gianni Ciancio, seventh-grade student Kian Volpe, and eighth-grade student Jaxon Fred all said that there also should be more accountability at the school.

“Last week, I was assaulted by a seventh grade student,” Ciancio said. “He approached me from behind and began to choke me. After a brief struggle, he let go. Less than 50 feet away were two teachers that were oblivious to the situation, as it happened. There were numerous students yelling for someone to intervene while I was left feeling dizzy, and lightheaded.”

Cianco added that the student who assaulted him was suspended for five days, and also was required to have an escort while in school.

“Today, that student returned with no escort, leaving me feeling unsafe. I am here asking, where is the accountability for the safety of myself and my fellow students?”

Volpe told board members that hallways have become dangerous where students run, swear, and fight and participate in horseplay. Volpe added that classrooms are also out of control.

“I’m not getting the education that I’m entitled to get. We never see our principal or hear about the behavior. …Finally, the hallways are so loud and out of control, I’m distracted, even in a quiet room. It’s awful to see our happy teachers upset all the time,” Volpe said.

Fred echoed Volpe’s and Cianco’s sentiments and said the school is unsafe for teachers and students.

“We feel our principal is non-existent,” Fred added.

Board President Paul Abbott said to the three students that board members listen to public comments, but do not respond to comments made by the public. Abbott added that the board is bound by law not to speak about student discipline in a public setting such as board meetings.

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said administration personnel have been made aware of the concerns at Jefferson Middle School.

“I’ve met with the principal (Katie Zwald) on a number of occasions, three times, probably in the last week,” Whitaker noted. “I know that the principal and her assistant principal (Nicole Marino), and (Assistant Superintendent for Instruction and School Improvement) Tina (Sandstrom) have met with the JTA, the teachers association, and are putting together a very specific plan to address concerns. I applaud the students for coming forward.”

Whitaker added that district students and parents when there is an issue at a school, to first make contact with the school’s principal as the principal is the closest to the issue and can get the fastest results.

In a related matter, in February, Fulton Street resident Paul Wolff addressed the school board about anti-bullying policies, and said his daughter attends Washington Middle School and is allegedly bullied by three boys at the school.

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.

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.

In other business:

– The board accepted a $450 donation from the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation to the Jason M. Williams Fund for the Washington Middle School musical.

– The board accepted a $5,500 donation from Cummins Engine Inc. for the Love Dash to the Finish Line Robots for Love Elementary School.

– The board accepted a $322 donation from the United Way for Girls in Sports.

The board accepted a $10,000 contribution from the New York State Association of Small City School Districts, Inc. for reducing legal costs regarding the Maisto v. State of New York court case. Also known as the “Small Cities” lawsuit, the district and eight fellow small-city school districts around the state sued the state in 2009, arguing the state was denying students in those districts a sound education by underfunding the district.