Over the years that my children have attended this school, we have experienced things that I never thought my children would have to experience in a school environment. All three of my children attend this school, and unfortunately, they have dealt with bullying, being hit, feeling uncomfortable, and feeling unsafe. My concerns as a parent have repeatedly felt like they were taken lightly, and because of that, I feel like the same issues continue to happen year after year. My oldest son was even threatened by another student who told him they were going to kill him. The principal’s initial solution was simply to keep the two students separated within the same classroom. As a parent, I did not feel comfortable with my child remaining in the same classroom as a student who had made such a serious threat. I had to beg for the other student to be moved to another classroom. In my opinion, the first priority should have been my child’s safety, and I should not have had to fight for that basic protection. What is even more frustrating is that my children have also been called racial slurs, including the N-word, while attending this school. I have had concerns about how some staff members interact with my children and whether they are being treated fairly. I have also questioned whether some staff members are truly making the effort to teach and support my children the way they should. It is extremely difficult for children to learn when they feel uncomfortable, targeted, bullied, or unsafe in the environment they are expected to learn in. Another major issue is that the school has repeatedly placed my children in classrooms with students who have previously bullied them. Every new school year, I find myself having to raise the same concerns and advocate for my children to be separated from students who have already caused problems. I should not have to repeatedly explain why putting a child back into the same classroom with someone who has bullied or hurt them is not an appropriate solution. As a parent, I should be able to trust that when I bring serious concerns to the administration, they will be taken seriously and addressed not minimized or brushed aside. My children deserve to feel safe, respected, and supported at school. We moved here from Florida, and honestly, our experience at this school has been so disappointing that we are considering going back. This is, without a doubt, the worst school my children have ever attended based on our experiences.
