LAKE COUNTY, Fla. — A Lake County mother called Channel 9 after she said her son endured years of bullying at school without officials taking any action.
Treadway Elementary School now has an investigation underway and said it has a zero tolerance police.
The mother, who did not want to be identified, said she hoped it means the district’s lengthy anti-bullying policy is being taken seriously, because she won’t rest until the daily damage to her child stops.
“I’ve seen his smile just almost completely go away,” she said. “They’re taking his shoes. They’re taking his food at lunch. Two years ago, he was lured into the bathroom by another student who proceeded to choke him.”
Last week, after being repeatedly called a homosexual slur during physical education class, she said her son told her he might hurt himself to make it stop.
“He was totally broken,” she said.
She immediately called the school, but said she heard nothing until the assistant principal called Monday.
“Her own words were, ‘We have over 900 students in this school and if there are only a matter of about five that are getting bullied or picked on, then I don’t find that an issue,’” she said.
According to the school district’s 18-page bully and harassment policy, physical, verbal, online or psychological abuse is strictly prohibited and all school employees who are aware of such behavior must report it.
A school district official said the issue is part of the student code of conduct.
Consequences might mean suspension or expulsion.
“Something has to be done. No child should have to go through this,” said the victim’s mother.
A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy who knows the alleged victim said he stopped by the school Monday and was assured the issue is being addressed.
WFTV
