Parents Claim Bullying Problem In Morristown

MORRISTOWN - An upset parent addressed the Morristown Central School Board of Education Tuesday, calling bullying "an extremely serious issue at this school."

Joined by his visibly upset wife, Crystal M., Dustin A. Brooks told the board during the initial round of public comments that the couple had been forced to remove their 4-year-old son from the afternoon pre-kindergarten bus run because they were "scared" for his safety.

"He's been punched in the face and chest, had his hair pulled and has been slammed into the bus window. He's been hit with a book bag, spit in the face, and thrown down the bus stairs. Just last week, he was donkey kicked in the face," Mr. Brooks said.

Accusing the district of lacking a bullying policy and not updating its code of conduct in 10 years, Mr. Brooks said he was upset with the district's handling of the issues with his son. At points, he read a dictionary's definition of bullying and cited several state laws that he said the district was in violation of.

Mr. Brooks told the board that he had attempted to address the situation with faculty members - including a teacher and Principal O. Michael Wills - on several occasions, and was not happy with the results. He also said Mr. Glover was difficult to find.

"They classify it as horseplay and it gets put on the back burner. I went in three times and twice the principal and superintendent, mysteriously, could not be found," he said.

"It's been since September," his wife added.

No discussion ensued and the board carried on with its evening's business until a second round of public comment at the meeting's end, where Mr. Brooks told the board of education he "demanded an immediate resolution," and told Mr. Glover he would be in his office Wednesday at 10:30 a.m.

"You'll have to reschedule. I'm not in the office tomorrow," Mr. Glover said, indicating that he would be traveling on business outside the office. The board then entered executive session, with several board members consoling the distraught couple with kind words on their way out. Mr. Glover also gave the couple a copy of the district's handbook and code of conduct.

On Wednesday, Mr. Brooks said he had gone to the school and scheduled an appointment with Mr. Glover on Friday.

"It's not going to get us anywhere, but I'll give him my two cents," he said.

Reached via cell phone Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Glover said he and the district take the issue of bullying "fully and very seriously."

"We have a bullying policy. It's in the school policy handbook and available online to everybody. Why that didn't get to the parent until last night, I'm not sure," he said.

The superintendent said the district is more than willing to work with the family to resolve the situation.

"In terms of the incidents brought up last night, I haven't yet talked with the parents. Bullying is a word that gets used, but I haven't made that determination. I have to understand why the parent feels this way," he said.

As for Mr. Brooks' perspective that staff members had already dropped the ball in regards to his son and the situation, Mr. Glover defended the district's policies and chain of command.

"When issues such as this are brought to our attention, we certainly address them," he said. "He said he has worked with a teacher and is not happy and that he's worked with the principal and is happy. Next on the ladder is the superintendent. That is the way we'd want it to work."

Mr. Glover said he will review video recordings from the bus and obtain teacher's logs in regards to communications between them and Mr. Brooks, as well as sit down with Mr. Wills, before Friday's meeting with Mr. Brooks.

"Obviously he is upset. We recognize that and take how we treat each other at this school seriously. Some things are happening with his child at school. As a parent, I understand. We're taking it seriously. We'll address it as best we can," he said.