ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — Orange County deputies are investigating a fight that was caught on camera at Meadow Woods Middle School.
Now, the mother of one of those girls says she was jumped by a gang of other girls. That mother filed a report after the fight, when it happened last Friday, claiming her child is a victim of bullying.
WFTV spoke with the Orange County School District Tuesday about its policies for not only preventing, but reacting to bullying.
A few seconds of jumpy video captured by a bystander at Meadow Woods Middle School in Orange County shows a verbal argument between Victoria Acosta and another girl, escalate into something more when a third girl appears to leap in from the crowd.
Acosta's mother, Nancy Mina, told WFTV her daughter and the middle school student wearing the light blue t-shirt were both suspended on Friday for fighting.
However, Nancy believes if some bullying issues were addressed months ago it never would have come to this.
"Where is she going to run with everyone surrounding her?" asked Mina.
Mina says there were online threats against her daughter prior to this confrontation. She hesitated about talking about them, but says she needs to protect her daughter. She has also filed a report with the Orange County Sheriff's Office which is investigating a battery case involving three unidentified juvenile suspects.
"I don't want to get a call next time that my daughter is in the hospital," said Mina.
Orange County schools do have an anti-bullying policy. WFTV asked the school district how it responds to bullying when it does happen.
"First of all, we have to establish it's bullying and not harassment. Many times it's mutual conflict, but when we do decide there is bullying we make out safety plans in place for the person who is being bullied," said area administrator Dr. Louise Wicks,
"I can't keep my eyes closed anymore. I have to do something to protect my child," said Mina.
A bullying complaint automatically launches a school investigation. If founded, there could be counseling or even an expulsion.
WFTV
