Parents vow to hold Fairfield schools accountable

Several people who spoke out against Fairfield City Schools for its handling of alleged bullying say the district must do more to prevent such behavior and will continue to attend board meetings to make sure their opinions are heard.

West Chester Twp. Trustee Lee Wong was among more than 150 people who packed the community room during the school board meeting Thursday night. Many Asian-Americans attended Thursday's meeting, saying children at the center of recent bullying incidents were adopted Asian-Americans, including Emilie Olsen, who took her own life last December.

“People are very frustrated toward this because there is no recourse and no accountability from the district. If they’re not enforcing it, who is going to do it?” said Wong.

District officials say they will continue to implement Say Something, a program created by Sandy Hook Promise to encourage students to promote what they see as troubling behavior so it doesn’t escalate into something more serious.

Programs are set to take place next week, but Wong says such efforts are “very weak.”

“We are going to be monitoring the school board very closely, watching to see that the board take action. They will be back,” he said of those who attended Thursday’s meeting.

Terri Calla, a Middle School parent who attended the meeting Thursday, said this latest controversy does not speak to what the school is really like. Both Olsen and the other child targeted by bullies attended the middle school.

“I’m really sad about (the meeting) because I see hundreds of kids who are happy to be there. There’s a different view to the building as well, and kids say their favorite years are at the middle school. When I walk in the building and I’m standing there, I’ll be hugged by no less than 15 kids,” she said.

District spokeswoman Gina Gentry-Fletcher said Friday, “The public comments portion of our regular meeting is the appropriate place for individuals to share their concerns and comments about the district. Anyone who signs up to speak at our school board meetings will be heard. We have a number of programs in place at all schools designed to educate our students about positive behavior and displaying the appropriate positive character traits. More intensive programs are occurring for older students such as the recent cyber bullying program at the middle school, Rachel’s Challenge at the high school, as well as training for staff, to name just a few. Reported complaints of bullying are investigated thoroughly with the perpetrators punished accordingly.”

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