Addressing bullying in Rome schools

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Updated?04/18/2013 07:29 AM

Bullying is a problem in most schools nationwide leaving students depressed and even afraid for their lives. In Rome, those affected most by bullying came out of the shadows to tell their board of education what really goes on in the halls and classrooms. Our Cara Thomas has more.

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ROME, N.Y. -- For Taylor Fulgieri, bullying is part of her every day life and has been for more than two years.

"There was this girl and she used to push me around and call me names and used to tell on me for things I didn't do. And then this year, she threatened to choke me and kill me," said the sixth grade student.

Taylor's father, Michael Fulgieri, said, "The kids aren't safe. They don't feel safe. They don't want to go to school. They just don't feel like if they go to anybody for help there's anybody there to actually help them."

And she's not the only one. For other students in the Rome School District, the bullying has led them to do unimaginable things.

Michele Grifasi, a parent of bullied teenager, said, "So it end up being, my daughter had had enough one day, things had happened in school, she came home very upset and I got the call at work that the ambulance was on the way, my daughter tried to overdose."

To try to put an end to the school's bullying problem, more than 100 people attended Wednesday night's Board of Education meeting and more than a dozen shared their stories of the significant role bullying has played in their lives.

"Bullying hurts, help us make it stop," said a young girl who spoke to the board.

But the biggest concern for parents, students and teachers is they say that school administration isn't doing anything about it, no matter how many issues they bring forward. But school officials say that's not necessarily the case.

Superintendent Jeffery Simons of the Rome School District said, "We do have a number of initiatives in place in the district to address bullying but in each case those initiatives may not always be effective of reducing the behaviors."

After listening to more than an hour of public comment, the board as well as school administrators promised to take a look at their disciplinary procedures when it comes to bullying and are asking for the public's help to come up with the best solution.

School officials say they don't take the parent's and student's concerns lightly. They will discuss new options on how to deal with bullying and bring their ideas to the next board meeting.

Source: http://centralny.ynn.com/content/all_news/romemohawk_valley/657435/addressing-bullying-in-rome-schools

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