School district ignores bullies

Our school district is in denial about a very serious problem, bullying on campus. Last year, while attending Lindero Canyon Middle School, my son was stabbed with a sharp wooden broomstick in woodshop class by a fellow student.

Dr. Irshay, who was made aware of the situation by my son after reporting it to the woodshop teacher, did not report the incident to us. Nor did she appropriately discipline the bully, despite the fact that the other student retaliated against my son by assaulting him again after school that very same day for telling about the stabbing. The bully should have been suspended following the initial violent act and the subsequent assault would have never occurred. I requested the bully be suspended and the school administration refused, stating they had given him trash to pick up for his actions.

I discovered my son’s abdominal wound two days later. The stabbing had clearly torn through his clothing and caused scarring near his groin area for months. The school district claimed it was only a scratch and swept the incident under the rug when I requested a hearing, following the formal complaint that I had filed.

Additionally, I had to contact the Lost Hills Sheriff’s station when my son did not arrive home directly after school later that week. Then I learned that the assistant principal, Mr. Thomsen, was keeping my son in his office following school each day until the bully made his way home and it was safe for my son to be on his way. This seemed like an unusual way to handle the issue. Shouldn’t the bully have been detained for his actions?

My son has never been involved in any altercations at home or in school. According to LCMS, the other student had been involved in fighting on campus on numerous occasions.

Seems to me that our district does not know how to handle these situations and may even be a bit fearful of these students. I think we should be more concerned lest we have a repeat of the school violence we have all seen across our country.

My son, now at Agoura High School, has moved on, but I remain concerned about his safety on campus. R. Shelley Agoura Hills