More supervision at Torey J. after bullying reports
MADISON — Torey J. Sabatini School will immediately increase supervision of its 250 students during lunch, recess and dismissal in response to several reports of bullying at the K-6 school, the school district announced Wednesday.
The Madison Police Department's school resource officer is expected to speak to classes about bullying and harassment in the coming days, Principal Michael Post said.
Three parents spoke during Tuesday's school board meeting about insults and physical abuse that they said their children were subjected to by classmates at the school. They said they had reported incidents to the principal and superintendent in the two weeks before the meeting.
Superintendent Richard Noonan said some of the most recently reported incidents, including a fourth-grade student being thrown into a snowbank during recess when staff members weren't looking, were quickly and aggressively dealt with after parents brought the bullying to the attention of school officials.
"This has now come to our attention in a big way and we're going to respond to it in a big way," Post said at the meeting. He said the reports are upsetting to him and that the bullying situation was not known to him until parents raised the issue.
"Obviously we have some work to do," School Board President Lisa Ellis said after listening to the parents.
Noonan posted a letter on the district Web site Wednesday outlining steps being taken at the school to eradicate any bullying and increase confidence that every student is comfortable and safe throughout the day. The steps include:
- An expanded and more vigorous supervision of students in the lunch room, during recess and at dismissal;
- Having the assistant superintendent of schools, Barbara Sargent, investigate current reports of bullying to determine what consequences or interventions are necessary;
- Having School Resource Officer Wayne Reed speak to classes and help implement improved supervision;
- Convening a parent and staff committee on bullying that will review and identify additional steps or programs that should be instituted to address concerns related to bullying and respecting student differences;
Sandra Hulik said her son was the target of hateful insults and slurs, and that some students are afraid to use the bathroom because other students hang out in the school bathrooms, making it uncomfortable for them to go.
Post, who has been principal at the school for five years, said having a safe environment is the school's top priority.
One of the parents who spoke, Rick Fabrizzio, said his son never talked about the violence he experienced at school, which he said occurred mostly during lunch and recess, until Feb. 22. His wife, Mary Lou, said it apparently started as teasing in September and became increasingly malicious, including regular punching, hitting, shoving and kicking. She said reported it to the principal the day after he told her about it.
According to the police report, Patrolman Wayne Reed, who is the school resource officer, called Fabrizzio to let her know he would monitor her son's lunch period. He also told her he met with Noonan and said he would assist the Board of Education in any way they felt necessary.