The Florida Civil Rights Association (FCRA) said Monday it has been receiving an increasing number of bullying and harassment complaints from minority students and parents and the association is currently conducting an inquiry into three recent bus incidents. The focus of the inquiry will be on the anti-bullying and anti-harrassment training which school bus drivers receive, a statement from FCRA said.
“School bus bullying is becoming more of a common occurrence in Orange and Seminole County public schools and we have fielded a number of complaints from concerned parents and children,” said J. Willie David, III, President of the FCRA. “The FCRA is seeking to put brakes on school bus bullying regarding inadequate responses to minority students and parents’ complaints of bullying or harassment.”
In particular, the cases involving the stabbing of an Orange County student of color, Lavaughna Christian and the arrests of two parents, one of color, Laura Brooker, are being looked at closely by FCRA.
David said that it seems as if bullying complaints on school buses of students and parents of color are not being taken seriously by Orange and Seminole County School Districts. He added that the school districts have a legal obligation to protect students from bullying or harassment on school grounds and school buses.
“Anti-bullying and anti-harassment prevention for District’s employees can not end at the school grounds,” David said. “Bus drivers must be afforded the same anti-bullying and anti-harassment tools and training as other school officials.”
If bus drivers have the needed skills they can create a safe and respectful environment free bullying and harrassment on the school buses, David added. FCRA’s inquiry will focus on whether or not school bus drivers are adequately trained and seek to determine if the School Districts’ policies, procedures and practices are in need of revision.
David also expressed his frustration over the School Districts’ slow responses to bullying and harassment complaints on the part of people of color and said he would be requesting the U.S. Department of Education Office of Civil Rights to conduct an inquiry in that regard.
“No student or parent should ever feel helpless because a school official failed to act on a complaint of bullying or harassment in a timely manner,” David declared.
Hello. I have a situation where one of my youth have come to me in confidence and tell me that he is being bullied. i have taken this matter to his parents. They in turn asked me to be the one to help them. So I took the first step in contacting the School that he is currently attending where the bullying is taking place. Sadly the employees there did not take this seriously. The dean said that he was to busy to talk, so he asked the schools secretary to connect me to the assistant principle. When I spoke to the assistant principle I felt as if she was also brushing it off. She told me that there are steps in the investigation so when asking her what the steps were the phone cut off twice. I called her back several times but she didn’t pick back up. I am afraid for my youth. He is already showing signs of fear. what do I do? It is and orange county school here in Florida. I look forward to your help! Thank you and God Bless.
Pastor Shirley Cooper