By Ashley Miller, Mason City Globe Gazette

LAKE MILLS — A group of parents is concerned a north Iowa school district isn’t adequately handling bullying and harassment complaints.

Louise Martinson, who has a high school-age son and middle school-age daughter in Lake Mills Community School, said she feels parents, students and teachers are living “in fear” as “intimidation and abuse of power” continue in their small community.

Martinson alleged her daughter has been the target in one of many bullying and harassment incidents the past three years, and has suffered from anxiety after being subject to a classmate’s repeated taunting.

Several threats she received included being shot with a gun or having her parents sent to jail, Martinson said.

After filing complaints with the school and going to law enforcement, Martinson said there hasn’t been any follow-through on the district’s end.

“We’ve had no calls back,” Martinson said. “Our complaints are not being addressed.”

Martinson said local police “blew off” what she described as a potentially dangerous situation where a student allegedly aimed a bow and arrow at classmates.

And Martinson said her family is not alone in dealing with bullying and harassment — several other parents have reportedly similar problems, spanning multiple grade levels.

About 20 parents attended an August school board meeting to voice concerns. Martinson said she doesn’t believe the board is aware of the severity of the situation.

Superintendent Daryl Sherman “likes to cover it up and say it’s fine,” she said. “But I don’t believe the administration has been relaying (to the board) what has been going on the last three years.”

Martinson said she’d like to see changes made to the school’s bullying/harassment policy, including out-of-school suspensions and expulsions for extreme cases. She also thinks administrators shouldn’t be the only ones who investigate incidents.

While her daughter is doing better now, Martinson said, her family is considering a move to Forest City if there isn’t a satisfactory conclusion.

“We have had issues before, but nothing like this or this chronic,” she said. “We’ll try it for now, but if it doesn’t get better, we will leave the district.”

District administrators said they’re aware of parents’ concerns and take bullying and harassment complaints “very seriously.”

“We aren’t problem-free, but we can be problem solvers,” Superintendent Sherman said.

Lake Mills Community School is constantly striving to improve its climate and culture, according to grades 6-12 Principal James Scholbrock, through staff training and student programs such as Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports (PBIS), which provides defined behavioral expectations.

Students of all ages have been receptive to PBIS, which Scholbrock said is new this year for the district. It has helped other schools nationwide decrease problem behaviors and increase academic results.

Sherman said he believes the district offers a positive, nurturing environment where students generally feel safe and are proud of their school.

According to the most recent information available from the Iowa Department of Education, Lake Mills reported nine bullying/harassment incidents in 2012-13. Prior years’ information is not comparable since it is not as detailed or broken down by district.

The number of incidents at neighboring districts was similar to Lake Mills, with most reporting numbers in the low-to-mid teens.

Iowa Code 280.28 defines bullying or harassment as:

• Placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to person or property.

• Causing substantially detrimental effect on a student’s physical or mental health.

• Substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance.

• Substantially interfering with a student’s ability to participate or benefit from services, activities or privileges provided by a school.

Four of Lake Mills’ instances were found to have detrimental effect on health, while two interfered with performance and two interfered with participation. The remaining incident was listed as “law not violated.”

The type, method and location of bullying were not defined, nor were consequences. Lake Mills, like the majority of other Iowa school districts, reported “less than 10” in those categories.

Districts must report all incidents that meet criteria based on a targeted student’s perception, according to state guidelines. Only one of the four criteria must be met for an incident to be considered bullying or harassment.

Although data reported to the Iowa Department of Education is publicly available, student records and disciplinary measures are confidential under Iowa Code.

Since the district cannot publicize consequences for founded bullying or harassment cases, Kari Wagner said there’s often a perception that nothing has been done.

“That’s unfair and not accurate,” said Wagner, who is the pre-K-5 principal and K-12 equity coordinator. She noted the district has state-approved policies and follows certain procedures for investigating complaints, concluding with a determination communicated to involved parties.

Scholbrock admitted there was a recent situation where determination was not communicated, but noted it has since been resolved.

“That’s one area we can improve,” he said.

Due to student privacy rights, he said it’s difficult to combat misinformation, but he did address one alleged incident.

Scholbrock believes the shooting threat traces back to a smartphone and tablet app that became popular with middle schoolers last school year. He told students it was inappropriate, since it displayed a picture of a gun and imitated gunshot noises.

While Sherman said he was aware of the bow and arrow issue, he declined to speak on the record, saying it occurred during a non-school sponsored event.

Lake Mills Police Chief David Thomas was unavailable late last week to comment on alleged bullying instances that may have been reported to the department.

A dispatcher said Friday he was on vacation and the dispatcher was unsure when he’d return.

In coming weeks, the Lake Mills School Board plans to host a community meeting to receive input before reviewing board policy.

President Ryan Joynt said he and other board members welcome the public to share concerns during meetings as well as one-on-one.

Considerations for bullying and harassment policy changes may include more in-depth investigative procedures, as well as a three strikes or zero-tolerance rules, Scholbrock said.

There’s also a possibility a panel or task force may be formed, something the district has done in the past.

 

Lake Mills officials plan meetings to address bullying concerns

Lake Mills Community School has several meetings planned to discuss bullying and harassment concerns.

A community meeting will be 6:30 p.m. Thursday in the library directly inside the north main doors of the school.

A non-quorum of two school board members and individuals part of the Lake Mills Area Ministerial Association will be in attendance.

Items to be discussed include:

• Board policies for bullying and harassment;

• District procedures, investigative steps and follow-up;

• Procedures from other school districts;

• Student education and discipline options;

• Student rights and confidentiality;

• Next steps.

No action will be taken during the community meeting.

Board members will formally review bullying and harassment policies during their regular monthly meeting at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 in the district’s central office.