Transfer Policy Passes—

School Board Hears More Concerns About Bullying

By Eliza Hallabeck

Before opening the Board of Education’s Tuesday, April 10, meeting to the public, Chair Debbie Leidlein said her board takes concerns and accusations of bullying seriously.

At the board’s meeting on April 3, members of the public spoke about alleged bullying on sports teams at Newtown High School.

Ms Leidlein asked all parents concerned about bullying to use the district’s bullying policies to report incidents. The policy, she said, is located through the district’s website, www.newtown.k12.ct.us, under the “Parents” tab then the “Communication Guidelines For Parents And Students” option.

Once an incident is reported, according to Ms Leidlein, investigations happen at the staff level, school administration level, the superintendent’s level, and finally a situation would come before the school board for a decision.

“It is important that all of these steps happen before the situation comes to the Board of Education,” said Ms Leidlein.

Later in the meeting, Griselle Santos and her son Angel spoke before the school board for the third time since a February 28 Coffee with the School Board event, when they and others spoke about bullying in the Newtown High School sports programs.

Outside of the board meeting, Ms Santos said she does not want to create controversy. She wants to speak up for her son, who has voiced being a victim of bullying while a member of the NHS basketball team dating back to the end of November of this school year. There have been further incidents since then, according to Angel and his mother. From the start, Ms Santos said she has also tried to protect the other student involved, saying that student, too, is a victim of the system.

“I am here today and I will be here every two weeks until this matter gets resolved,” said Ms Santos before the school board on Tuesday night.

Ms Santos said when reporting her son’s bullying case she did follow the chain of command. Both Ms Santos and Angel have said in the past that Angel’s civil rights have been violated.

“I don’t know how much longer to wait,” said Ms Santos. “Am I going to wait until my child is hurt?”

When speaking before the board, Angel said he was there to prevent others from having to go through what he has experienced.

The school district, Ms Santos said on Friday, April 6, responded the incidents were not bullying, but “poor behavior.”

After reporting the first incident, Ms Santos and Angel said they experienced a backlash, and since speaking during the February 28 Coffee with the School Board meeting they say the backlash has heightened.

Supporters have also come forward, Ms Santos said, like the growing number of supporters attending the last Board of Ed meetings.

“We are not the only ones,” said Ms Santos, adding others have been willing to walk away in the past.

Angel said he felt the administration brushed off his situation.

“Speak up for what you believe,” said Ms Santos. “Stand by what you believe, no matter what the consequences.”

Before the board Tuesday night, Angel said he has had trouble sleeping and focusing on his studies. He asked the board members to think about other students who may be facing similar situations.

“Thank you very much for standing up and being the voice of many,” said Ms Leidlein to Angel.

Other members of the public expressed concern for Angel during the meeting, such as Lisa Chaloux, who questioned what the district was doing to protect the sophomore.

“I hear your concern,” said Superintendent of Schools Janet Robinson, “and NHS is a safe school.”

Ms Leidlein said teachers have been made aware of Angel’s case and are at a heightened awareness as a result.

Speaking again before the board, Ms Santos said, “There was a bullying incident at the school yesterday, and I had to call the police.”

Dr Robinson said she is working toward finalizing her investigation into the case.

“We will be meeting with [Ms Santos] and have everything ready before [May 1],” said Dr Robinson to a question from Ms Leidlein.

Transfer Policy Passed

After the board heard concerns from district Business Director Ronald Bienkowski regarding the proposed revisions to Policy 3-202, which governs budget procedures and major object code transfers, the board voted 4-2, with members Richard Gaines and Keith Alexander against the motion, to pass the policy.

Tuesday’s meeting was the third meeting the school board discussed the transfer policy revision. At its previous meeting on Tuesday, April 3, the school board added a sentence and postponed its decision until this week.

“I think $10,000 is extremely low,” said Mr Bienkowski, noting the new policy’s limit of having all major object code expenditures that exceed $10,000 come before the school board and all items below that amount to be reported to the school board in its monthly financial report, created by Mr Bienkowski’s department.

The policy was brought before the board for its first read during the school board’s March 20 meeting. Ms Leidlein explained at that meeting the Board of Education Policy Subcommittee looked at the transfer policy because its members wanted a better understanding of where money is being moved within the budget .

Also during the meeting, the board unanimously approved hiring a free Connecticut Association of Boards of Education (CABE) representative to assist in the superintendent’s evaluation process. Through the district’s contract with CABE, Ms Leidlein said a consultant for the superintendent’s evaluation would be free.

The process of the superintendent’s evaluation is set to run from the board’s first meeting in May through June 5, as previously voted on by the school board.

To read about a preliminary report made by representatives of All-Star Transportation, Inc, of Torrington before the board on Tuesday, see the related story in this week’s Newtown Bee.