Parents: Time to face bullying differently

Parents of a girl who committed suicide after alleged bullying filed a federal lawsuit against Triad Local Schools and say it’s time for schools to handle bullying differently.

Nationwide, about 30 percent of sixth through 12th-grade students reported being bullied, according to StopBullying.gov. In Clark County, more than one in five high school students reported being bullied at school, according to a survey conducted by the Clark County Combined Health District.

These statistics call for nation-wide reform, said Paul Thompson. Thompson is suing the school after his daughter, Bethany Thomp- son, killed herself almost two years ago.

“Hopefully other families don’t have to go through this,” Thompson said. “That schools do change their poli- cies and really do have a zero tolerance like they say they do. I kind of feel that they do not. They just rather turn a blind eye on it.”

He also said parents should make sure their kids aren’t bullies.

“My mission is no family or child ever has to go through this and try to spearhead any situation,” Thompson said. “Try to be proactive and not reactive.”

Bethany survived the cancer she was diagnosed with when she was 3-years-old. However, during brain surgery to remove a tumor, a nerve was hit causing her to develop what her fam- ily affectionately called a “crooked smile.”

Her parents say kids at the school made fun of her for it.

The federal lawsuit filed last month alleges school leaders knew the girl was being bullied and was considering harming herself. The lawsuit alleges the school failed to act.

Bethany’s parents are suing the district, former superintendent Chris Piper, former principal Duane Caudill, middle school counselor Jessica Gronas, along with students and other employees who are not named.

Attorney Douglas Holthus, who is representing the school and its employees, said the district does everything possible to protect students.

“The district continues to take all precautions to identify student needs, be responsive to reports of con- cerns and bullying, protect students, and provide stu- dents with support at school. District administrators and teachers are trained and encouraged to take actions to address concerns of student safety, report any miscon- duct immediately to proper authorities, and to keep par- ents of the involved students informed,” the statement says.

Seeking reform

Thompson and the fami- ly’s attorney, Natasha WellNiklas, said the lawsuit is focused on putting pressure on schools across the coun- try to handle bullying appropriately

“What we want to try to accomplish is to help families that have gone through something really, really bad and to bring something good out of that,” Wells-Niklas said. “Their hope is to raise awareness of bullying and childhood suicide and we are hoping through this lawsuit we can force reform at Triad and get this message across statewide and even nationwide.”

Thompson said he feels not enough was done to protect his daughter.

“The frustration is they knew about it and it was swept u nder t he rug,” Thompson said referring to the bullying. “It has turned a blind eye and it could have been taken care of.”

“Let’s take care of things now and reform things at school and their bullying policies,” Thompson said.

The statement by Holthus says the district is committed to protecting all students and is currently doing so.

“The district continues to take all precautions to iden- tify student needs, be respon- sive to reports of concerns and bullying, protect stu- dents, and provide students with support at school,” the report says. “District admin- istrators and teachers are trained and encouraged to take actions to address con- cerns of student safety, report

misconduct immediately to proper authorities, and to keep parents of the involved students informed.”

A statement released by current Triad superintendent Vickie Hoffman also says she is committed to making sure students are safe.

“Safety of students is of utmost priority for our school district and its admin- istrators, and we are committed to providing a safe and nurturing learning environment for our students,” the statement says.

Thompson says he didn’t realize his daughter was in such a dark place that she thought killing herself was the only way out, and he encourages parents to talk with their children about their issues.

The lawsuit filed in federal court does request the court to grant Bethany’s parents monetary awards for their suffering but is unclear how much they are seeking.

Police report/ lawsuit

The federal lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court on the two-year anniversary of Beth- any’s death alleges the school knew she was being bullied.

Champaign County Sheriff ’s Office reports say through an investigation they found Bethany told her friend she was having suicidal thoughts about a month before her death.

“(Bethany’s friend’s father) indicated that there have been prior threats of suicide from the victim,” a report completed by detective Glenn Kemp said. “He stated that approximately one month ago, (his daughter) spoke with him stating that the victim ‘was going to kill herself.’ He indicated that he relayed that informa- tion to the school principal.”

Wendy Feucht and Thomp- son, Bethany’s parents, said the school did not contact them about the incident.

The police reports say Bethany told her friend the day she committed suicide that she was going to kill herself. The friend told her dad about the threat when she got home and the dad tried contacting Bethany’s parents, but it was too late, the report says.

The report also says Bethany’s friend told authorities a group of boys had made threats to her and Bethany just days before Bethany’s death.

School staff told authorities that Bethany appeared to be in a good mood the day of her suicide and was seen putting “good luck stickers” on various student’s lockers.

The lawsuit filed by Betha- ny’s parents says the school didn’t do enough to protect her.

“The severe and pervasive bullying, verbal harassment, physical harassment and discrimination were not “handled” as promised by the School District and the severe and pervasive bullying, verbal harassment, physical harassment and discrimination continued and wors- ened in the 2016-2017 school year,” the lawsuit says.

The lawsuit says Feucht also contacted the school to ask staff to stop the harassment but officials “did noth- ing to stop the bullying.”