Wilmington Superintendent Responds To Patch Bullying Story

WILMINGTON, MA — Schools Superintendent Glenn Brand has disputed a Patch story about three families' experiences with bullying at Wilmington Middle School. In a letter to the community, Brand wrote that it is the district's "firm belief that that these incidents were investigated thoroughly and appropriate action was taken." He also contended that the district takes bullying seriously and presented data suggesting that the prevalence of bullying at the middle school declined from 2018 to 2017.

The Patch story, published Nov. 25, shared the stories of three parents who spoke to Patch about their children's experiences at the district. All three children were hospitalized and eventually left the school, which their parents attributed in large part to bullying.

Brand did not respond to repeated requests for an interview during preparation of the story.

Other parents who responded to a Patch survey about bullying, distributed across the state, said bullying problem is acute at the middle school and that school officials do a poor job of addressing it.

Brand criticized the survey in his letter to the community.

"From the outset, I felt that this survey was inappropriate and would not lead to anything productive and, regretfully, that is what has transpired," he wrote.

The superintendent "acknowledge(d) that accounts of any student facing adversity and difficulties within the social realm of any school setting is deeply unfortunate and not acceptable. This includes situations in which students are made to feel unsafe, victimized and/or bullied."

But Brand the district believes that the incidents in the Patch story were "investigated thoroughly and appropriate action was taken."

Regarding the larger issue of bullying at the district, Brand wrote, "The article suggests that bullying is not taken seriously at the middle school or, on a larger level, in the district and, in fact, is at higher levels than perhaps other surrounding districts and or schools. This is flat out erroneous and irresponsible to suggest."

He outlined the district's new bullying prevention and intervention policy, which was published in 2019: "It complies with the requirements set forth by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education. The full plan can be found at https://tinyurl.com/wjke8z7."

"Formal incidents of bullying are investigated and, if deemed to be bullying by definition, are ruled as such," Brand wrote. He also wrote that the school administrators all receive legal training on bullying law, and that the district "will seek to provide individual support plans" for students in bullying cases.

Brand also presented data that suggested the bullying situation at the school has improved: in the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey, less than 15 percent of Wilmington Middle School students reported being bullied, versus more than 35 percent in 2017.

"There is absolutely little question that as an entire community – parents, school staff, and other caring adults - we have a role to play in acting together to try to prevent incidents of bullying and harassment," Brand wrote. "As a school system we are working hard on the first and second items noted above. It is the third and fourth that I worry greatly about in this larger environment we find ourselves in currently where there is often a level of toxicity that is counterproductive toward efforts of communication and collaboration. When any of us hide behind the wall of social media to voice concerns or displeasure, such activity does not help keep our lines of communication open nor does it model best how to treat others."

The Menace Of Bullies: Patch 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.

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Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.