Petition Calls For Bullying Investigation At D157-C School

FRANKFORT, IL — A Change.org petition calling for a bullying investigation at Frankfort District 157-C's Chelsea Intermediate School has gathered more than 2,500 signatures, halfway to its 5,000-signature goal. The petition was started two weeks ago in response to a student facing bullying at the school.

Sydney Davis, a fifth-grader in the district, has faced bullying at school since 2017, her mother, Stephanie Davis, told Patch. The district has since completed its investigation into the bullying Sydney faced and told Stephanie "no bullying was found."

"No bullying was found in 2017, and no bullying was found this year, either," Stephanie wrote on her Facebook of the investigations' conclusions. "What this district has shown me, consistently, is that they do not have the best interests of my family, my children, at heart."

Stephanie said district officials not only said there was no bullying, but offered a comprehensive evaluation of Sydney.

"It's not only was she not bullied, but now she's emotionally unstable," Stephanie said of the district's response. Bullying, whether face-to-face or over the internet, takes a terrible toll on adolescents and teenagers, with the effects sometimes lasting into adulthood. In some cases, relentless bullying ends in suicide — one of the factors that spurred the long running Patch national advocacy reporting project on bullying.

Davis said her friend Lia Crawford started the petition, and she was "pleasantly surprised" to learn of it.

"I think it was a fantastic idea to seek the support of people all over, along with the attention of lawmakers. My intention has always been to bring awareness, to start dialogue and exact change," Davis said.

The petition lists Sen. Dick Durbin as one of the recipients, and had 2,534 signatures as of Thursday morning.

The petition calls to "investigate Chelsea Intermediate School for negligence and a potential breach of its duty of care toward its students in light of accusations of failure to address incidents of bullying."

"We advise everyone to sign this petition as it affects every parent of every child. We hand over responsibility of our children seven hours a day, five days a week the moment we leave them at the school," the petition states. "We therefore should expect a level of care, and safety to be observed by those whose care they are under."

When asked for comment, District 157-C said "anyone who witnesses bullying or is a victim of bullying is encouraged to report the incident to the district by telling a teacher, administrator or staff member, or reporting the incident on the district's website."

Anonymous referrals are accepted, and each school has a Bullying Referral Form available on the "For Students" section of its webpage, the district added.

"Each incident reported to the district is investigated as outlined in Board Policy 7:180. The district's response includes restorative measures to mediate between parties."

District 157-C said it also teaches social-emotional curriculum to students in grades K-8, which includes a focus on being kind, tolerant and respectful of others, treating others how they would like to be treated. Age-appropriate anti-bullying curriculum is incorporated in social-emotional learning at all grade levels, according to the district.

"The District has been open about talking about this topic. Anyone with questions is welcome to contact the District Office at 815-469-5922," the district said.

The Menace Of Bullies: Patch Advocacy Reporting Project

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

Do you have a story to tell? Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims?

Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.

Selected Stories From The Project

• Bullied To Death: When Kids Kill With Words
• I Could Have Been Mallory Grossman
• Bullied Over Homemade T-Shirt, Kid Inspires University Of Tennessee Design
• Howell Teen Runs To Save Lives, Change Statistics On Suicide
• America's Shameful Truth About School Shooters And Bullying
• Cyberbullying Most Often Affects Girls; These Women Are Trying To Stop It
• Bullying Kids: Straighten Up, Or Your Parents May Have To Pay Up
• Teen Who Killed Himself Wasn't 'Worthless,' Family Tells Bullies
• Menace Of Bullies: Why This Woman Resigned Her 6-Figure Job
• Survivor Of Bullying And Suicide Writes Frankly About Both
• ‘I Will Be Your Friend’: First-Grader’s Shirt Fights Bullies
• Girl-To-Girl Bullying: Why It's Different, Difficult To Confront
• What Prompts Bullying In This Ohio School
• Cyberbullying In This Michigan City Carries $500 Fine, 3 Months In Jail
• Bully Upstander: Whatever He Said Caused Bullies To Back Down
• Bullying Caused 11-Year-Old To Attempt Suicide, Mother Says
• Bullied 10-Year-Old's Suicide 8th In School District This Year
• The Menace Of Bullies: Most U.S. States Take On Cyberbullying
• Cyberbullying Is Now Against The Law In Michigan
• Shooting Incident Linked To Bullying At School, Mom Says
• Girls More Likely Than Boys To See Bullying As Harmful: Study
• 13-Year-Old Hangs Herself, But Bullying Killed Her
• Teen Tells Bullies In Video: 'Every Day, I Wear Your Words'
• 'The Hero Myth': Why Expecting Kids To Fight Bullies Is Harmful
• 'Mr. Anti-Bully': Reformed Bully, 12, Sets Mistake Right
• Mallory Grossman Bullying Detailed In Wrongful Death Suit
• Malden Schools Were Non-Compliant Through Bullying Saga: DOE
• 'They All Failed And Changed A Child': Malden Bullying Detailed
• Mom Speaks About Bullying Heartbreak: 'I Feel I Failed Him'
• Why These Kindergartners Start Each Day With A Handshake
• The Bully Menace: 'The Hurt Never Goes Away'
• Bullies And Their Targets The Same: Digital Self-Harm Rising
• Williamsburg Poetry Teacher Helps Bullied Kids Open Tortured Minds
• Bullying Tougher To Confront When It's Bias-Based: Researchers
• The Bully Menace: 13 Age-Appropriate Reads
• Teen's 'I Wear Your Words' Video Inspires Nashville Songwriters

From No Bully, Patch News Partner

• School Shootings: Eradicating Bullying Must Be Part Of Safety Plan
• Eradicating Bullying: Progress On Creating Bully-Free Environment
• Is Screen Time Hurting My Child?
• Preschool Children: Online And Dangerous
• What Every Young Child Needs To Know About Being Online
• Patch Partners With No Bully To Help Eradicate Bullying
• Meet 14-Year-Old CEO On Mission To Spread Kindness, Stop Bullying
• Meet Talen And Cooper, 2 Upstanders Demonstrating Kindness
• Cyberbullying Is Now A Crime In Michigan: Is Criminalizing A Good Idea?
• Hitting A Homerun With Kindness With The Phillies

From The Experts

• 'The Anti-Bully': Talk And, Especially, Listen To Your Kids
• The Bully Menace: Patch Experts Offer Tips To Parents
• Anti-Bully Experts Offer Tips On Sometimes Deadly Encounters
• Understanding The Bully: They're Often Victims, Too, Experts Say

What We've Learned

• 10 Key Takeaways From Patch’s The Menace Of Bullies Series
• The Bully Menace: What Patch Has Learned About Bullying