Tensions ran high during the 色多多 County School Board鈥檚 meeting Thursday, as community members shared their personal experiences with bullying in the school system and their concerns for students in the wake of a county student鈥檚 death.
Autumn Bushman, a 10-year-old student at Mountain View Elementary, died by suicide March 21. Bushman鈥檚 family says she was being bullied. Nine people spoke during the public comment section of Thursday鈥檚 meeting, many of whom are current or former students of 色多多 County Public Schools.
鈥淪he was a person, and she was beautiful, and her parents, Mark and Summer, are back here, hoping that something will be done for her,鈥 Emma Rench, a junior at Northside High School, said.
Several people who spoke shared that either they had felt suicidal as the result of bullying or that their children have. Ryan White, a child and adolescent psychiatrist who is running for the Windsor Hills seat on the school board, shared that the week Autumn Bushman died, he had a 9-year-old student in his office having the same problems.
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鈥淏ullying starts with our policies at the top and trickles down to our students,鈥 White said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 choose to lead by courage and let鈥檚 ensure that our schools are places where kindness is expected, safety is non-negotiable and bullying in any form and any name is never tolerated.鈥
For the first time since Autumn Bushman鈥檚 death, bullying was on the agenda for Thursday鈥檚 meeting. RCPS Deputy Superintendent Jamie Soltis and Director of School Counseling Shawn Hughes presented the school system鈥檚 bullying and harassment policies during the meeting to answer questions they鈥檝e been getting recently, Soltis said during a work session on April 3. The presentation came after the public鈥檚 comments on bullying and after the board unanimously voted to approve its consent agenda, which included approving the bullying policy. No major changes were made to the policy.
Those attending the 色多多 County School Board meeting on Thursday applaud after a speaker finishes sharing their experiences with bullying within the school system.
Things started to become heated as Soltis and Hughes presented the bullying policy. Vice Chair Brent Hudson stopped the presentation once and asked the audience to be quiet, warning that he would pause the meeting and have the law enforcement officers present restore order if necessary.
Soltis continued to say that the policy requires the principal or principal鈥檚 designee to notify the parent of any student involved in an alleged bullying incident within 24 hours of learning about it. Summer Bushman, Autumn鈥檚 mother, became emotional.
鈥淚 was never notified,鈥 she stood and yelled. 鈥淣obody ever contacted me. My daughter is dead. Nobody ever contacted me.鈥
Summer Bushman soon left the room on her own with the rest of Autumn鈥檚 family, but other parents stood and began yelling as well. Members of the school board left the room and law enforcement officers began to intervene.
鈥淗ow dare you not give justice to her and walk away? Shame on you,鈥 one adult, who was one of two people eventually told to leave the building by a law enforcement officer, yelled.
A law enforcement officer asked two people to leave during the 色多多 County School Board's meeting Thursday.聽
Eventually, the school board returned and Soltis and Hughes continued. However, for the rest of the presentation, members of the audience stood, some holding makeshift signs that said 鈥淪tand up 4 our students.鈥
At the end of the presentation, Soltis stated that the policy can be changed in the future. Additionally, RCPS is also posting a survey for parents to share suggestions to improve its policies and procedures, he said.
鈥淲e are open to listening,鈥 he said. 鈥淎t the end of the day, just because we鈥檙e adopting a policy, we can revise a policy at any time.鈥
On March 22, in the school system was created. As of Thursday evening, it had 2,894 signatures.
Members of the board individually expressed their condolences for Autumn鈥檚 family during their comments at the end of the meeting. Board member Cheryl Facciani joined the meeting via phone call, stating that she is on her way to Washington, D.C., to meet with U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon.
鈥淲e can change that policy at any time,鈥 board member David Linden said. 鈥淲hen we have a better policy and we鈥檙e ready to do that, I鈥檓 confident that this board聽鈥 we鈥檙e not tone deaf up here. If there鈥檚 a better policy, we鈥檒l find a way to put it in place.
Board Chair Shelley Clemons also read a joint statement from the 色多多 County School Board regarding the matter.
鈥淎s a school board, we are heartbroken over the death of one of our students,鈥 part of the statement read. 鈥淟osing a student with their whole life in front of them is gut-wrenching, and the tragic circumstances of Autumn鈥檚 death make it even more difficult. We cannot imagine the pain and loss of her family, but we stand in support of them, and ask that everyone keep them in your thoughts and prayers.鈥
In the statement, the board also expressed support for school staff and fellow students that are also grieving the loss of Autumn.
During the meeting, Winter Schassberger also announced her intention to run against David Linden for the Hollins District seat on the school board.
