Springfield Superintendent Responds To Allegations Of Serious Bullying

SPRINGFIELD, NJ — The Springfield School District has responded to allegations of serious bullying made by the mother of a 9-year-old student. As a result, the mother is standing firm in her claims that the district is not adequately addressing the situation involving her 4th-grade student.

Springfield Schools Superintendent Michael Davino, in a letter sent to all parents Sunday night, addressed the bullying of a 4th-grade student whose mother told Patch she has been pleading unsuccessfully for a classroom change. Emma Spektor has not been to school since Oct. 2, her mother said.

The child's mother, Irina Spektor, told Patch her daughter had to endure daily bullying from classmates for an entire school year while she was in the third grade during the 2016-17 school year at Thelma L. Sandmeier School in Springfield. She has spent the last several weeks unsuccessfully fighting the school system to try and get Emma transferred away from the bullies.

Davino, in his letter, said there was misinformation in news articles and inconsistency in the child and her mother's accounts. He denied that the district ignored certain requests made by medical providers in Spektor's case. (Spektor told Patch she had letters from a pediatrician regarding the impacts of the alleged bullying.)

"This is never the case. It is important for all parents to know that should medical information regarding a student's condition or state of mind be presented to district staff or administration, such information is not merely reviewed by relevant school personnel," Davino said.

The child's mother pushed back against his statements. "Mr. Davino is trying to make me look like I am crazy or a liar (or both)," Spektor's mom said, adding she has all supporting documentation and emails to prove her case, she said in an email to Patch.

She said after Emma began to experience physical side effects of the bullying, she brought her to her pediatrician and to see a therapist.

Spektor said that on Sept 29, she had an in-person meeting with the school principal. "To this meeting I brought my daughter's therapist, who informed the team that it was vital to transfer my child to another class immediately. In addition to the therapist, I also brought a letter from my child's pediatrician stating that Emma requires a change of class placement right away. At this meeting, Principal Plias refused to move my daughter and refused to offer a reason for this," Spektor's mother said.

Davino, in his letter stood by the school's approach. Every instance of alleged HIB (Harassment Intimidation Bullying) reported is promptly investigated, he said, however, delays in reporting bullying incidents from last year hampered the school's ability to address the matter right away.

In her response, Spektor questioned what she would have to gain by keeping her child home or fabricating such a story.

"What should be normal care-free childhood seems to have been replaced with self-doubt, fear and shame, all while the school administrations continued to stand firm on their 'zero tolerance' policy. Shame on you, Mr. Davino for behaving this way. You have become an embarrassment to our wonderful town and a black spot on the reputation of what Springfield was known to be — a charming suburb, with kind people, good schools and a happy community."

Davino said the district has taken multiple steps to address Spektor's case.

"We have been and are continuing to address that particular situation. In fact, two investigations were conducted, the second of which by an outside entity is ongoing," Davino said.

"The safety and security of the students in our district is of the utmostconcern to the administration, the Board of Education, and myself," Davino added.

(Image via Shutterstock)

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