Comments on bullying shared with district officials
(Seguin) — The Seguin ISD didn’t score well on its Town Hall meeting this past Monday at the Seguin High School Performing Arts Center. Several individuals shared their failing grades with the district as they took to the podium to discuss concerns the following day during Tuesday night’s school board meeting.
Recent incidents of suicide involving students and alleged bullying across campuses prompted the district to host the community-wide meeting.
Prior to the meeting, the district collected, filtered, and grouped questions submitted by the public. Many said the district failed to deliver on promises of fully breaking down the issue of bullying. Expectations included the district sharing more details about procedures and consequences and/or explaining its attempts at facilitating conflict resolution.
Most of all, stakeholders were disappointed that the format did not include room for public comments or questions. They said the town hall meeting was simply a presentation –– a PowerPoint –– an attempt to waylay concerns that ultimately left attendees feeling ignored.
Among those addressing the school board was Levi Robertson. Robertson says accountability starts with the school board and all those in charge of keeping kids safe.
‘“I recognize some of you are new to your roles and genuinely want to make positive changes. I also recognize that some of you have been here for a while and care deeply about this community, but feel limited in your power to enact real change. Let me be clear. If you want to hold Chief-level titles and operate like a corporation, you must expect to be held to the same standards as a corporation. Accountability is not optional. You must listen to the parents who are heartbroken and struggling. You must listen to the students who are emotionally damaged from their experiences within this school district,” said Robertson.
Robertson added that although he has no children in the district, protecting kids is a community responsibility.
“When you say, it starts at home, you ignore the reality that some homes will never change. And while I commend initiatives like the Ministerial Alliance and student engagement efforts (as mentioned in the town hall meeting), these are just starting points. Real change requires more than surface-level solutions,” said Robertson.
Also finding the courage to speak on behalf of all children was local mother Caitlin Aguirre. Aguirre has four children in the Seguin ISD and says she continues to be disappointed by the district’s handling of this issue.
“I would like the chance to express a few of my concerns after (Monday’s) town hall meeting, which was more of a, you listen and we talk. I am highly disappointed in our administration with how this was handled – the fact of the matter is, the staff at the meeting had more safety measures put in place than our own students have during school hours. I want to say, how dare the district not provide time (Monday) night for parents to raise concerns and ask questions. It was just very belittling to not be able to speak. We were also met with a hollow Power Point with measures that are already in place, but these have already failed,” said Aguirre.
Also sharing her family’s fight against bullying was local mother Megan Strickland. Strickland says it’s been eight years of trying to hold someone accountable.
“I’ve had my son videoed while he was in a stall using a restroom. My daughter was on a school trip, the HEB Camp, and had her towel ripped off of her and her body made fun of while other girls laughed at her. Do you know what all of these have in common? Nothing was ever done. Everything was reported to the administration. Everything was reported to the principals. Nothing was ever done. Now, if we had done any of those out in public, we would have been arrested. We would have been in trouble, so what are we showing our children –– that it is okay to do it now but later on, it’s not? I speak for a lot of parents in the Seguin ISD, when I say, it’s time for resolutions. No pre-selected questions. No excuses and no placing blame,” said Strickland.
Strickland says these highlighted examples were only two of the handful of incidents endured by her children alone.
She says the journey has been exhausting. She is tired. Yet, she is still willing to seek a resolution with the Seguin ISD.
“At last night’s town hall, the superintendent was talking about a mentor with teachers. I think there should be a mentor program with peers and students who have either been bullied before, or just those who need some extra help like my son. He would benefit from a peer mentor – someone to come sit with him at lunch, come check on him and it shouldn’t be up to her group of people,” said Strickland.
Also mustering up the courage to speak at the podium thanks to one of her teachers was, Seguin High School Junior Karla Sanchez. Sanchez says she believes there’s been a lack of consideration for her peers, especially as they continue to mourn. She says losing two of her friends to suicide is not being acknowledged the way she thinks it should be.
“I think like people who have not gone into the high school — like for example — the school board, in my eyes, it feels like they really don’t care and it’s like as long as we look good and everything is fine – throw it under the trash can, nobody really cares. But for me, it’s not like that and I think everything needs to be heard,” said Sanchez.
Also speaking at Tuesday night’s board meeting was Local Resident Sylvia Marmolejo. Marmolejo says she could no longer just sit back and allow the parents to be silenced.
“Last night’s meeting was a hard ‘D.’ It would have been an ‘F’ if it weren’t for the cute little fifth graders (who led the meeting). But the silence was horrible. Another thing, just tell it like it is. Don’t go around with whatever you have written. Just say it straight. We are adults here. There’s so many good kids and they come here to learn. There’s so many good teachers and they come to teach but it does need to be taken care of now. There is no time to wait. I would like to, next week, hear that you have another kind of meeting coming up with some answers. Change it. It is up to y’all,” said Marmolejo.
All comments were provided during the “Audience with the Board” portion of Tuesday’s meeting. During this opportunity, trustees are not allowed to respond but only listen.