Schools

Father Of Bullied Nashua Girl Hopes To Spur Change

Chad LaCrosse said outcry surrounding attacks on his 12-year-old daughter have forced a response on bullying in Nashua schools.

NASHUA, NH — The Nashua father whose social media posts of his daughter being repeatedly attacked at Fairgrounds Middle School shined a harsh light on bullying in Nashua schools said he is hopeful attention the story has garnered will lead to action. Chad LaCrosse, who said his 12-year-old daughter was threatened and twice attacked by a group of middle school girls at the school, met with Nashua Superintendent of Schools Jahmal Mosley, Nashua police and members of the school administration on Wednesday afternoon.

"I don't think they have any choice but to change now that it continues to blow up," LaCrosse said Wednesday night. "Everyone was kind of put under the spotlight and that was my intent. I wanted to do it to protect my daughter foremost. But everyone should be able to go to work each day and feel confident that our schools and our police are protecting our children, and that they are in a safe spot."

LaCrosse said he has received many messages since he posted the videos of his daughter's attack — which he said he compiled from Facebook, Instagram and TikTok posts from middle school students present at the assaults — from parents of other students in Nashua ranging from elementary to high school telling him that their children had also been victims of tormentors.

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"Kids are being bullied on a regular basis all over Nashua," LaCrosse said. "There are a lot, a lot, of kids who are bullied. I am hoping that today leads to a lot of action and a lot of changing of things."

LaCrosse said he appreciated the compassion Mosley expressed in the meeting and he is encouraged that the case has moved beyond the schools into the police and court systems. He said the girls involved in the attack are out of school for at least the next two weeks after he secured a restraining order in Nashua District Court on Tuesday.

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"Police are investigating and trying to build a case so that is a step in the right direction," LaCrosse said. "Today seemed like it was very positive, but we will see what happens going forward."

LaCrosse said the Facebook video posted was of a Sept. 27 attack and that his daughter was attacked in the same manner on Monday, getting beat down while she was looking the other way. LaCrosse also asserts that his daughter was threatened Sept. 26, received more threats Sept. 28, and had to be dismissed from school due to threats Oct. 4 before being attacked a second time on Monday.

He said he went public after the second attack — which he said occurred when his daughter got off the bus at the school Monday morning — because he felt having the videos go viral would be the only way to increase awareness of the incident.

Related Stories: Nashua Father Says Daughter Bullied At Fairgrounds Middle School

Bullying In Nashua: Share Your Stories With Patch

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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