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More than a simple flier

Editor's Corner

Brian Wilkinson

(Updated: Friday, January 21, 2011, 11:50 AM)

It started with a simple flier announcing a Jan. 6 special Bass Lake Unified School District board meeting to present the district's anti-bullying and harassment policy.

But within 24 hours, thanks to an Oakhurst Elementary School second-grade teacher's media blitz, we quickly realized there was more to this meeting than the flier indicated.

The teacher, Elaine Brown, a well-liked and respected teacher from many accounts of school parents, says she was placed on paid administrative leave Nov. 29 pending an investigation after school administrators said she disclosed too much information to parents about the actions of a class bully.

She is critical of the school's principal and superintendent for not dealing with the 7-year-old in a timely manner after she documented and reported some of his alleged verbal and physical actions towards classmates.

Brown, a teacher for 18 years, says she went to administrators because she was concerned for the safety of the children in her class and was also concerned that the student in question receive help. She now finds herself on administrative leave while the student is still in school.

After five weeks on leave, Brown decided to go public with her concerns.

Bullying has been an issue in schools since school books were first printed, but in recent years the public has become aware of escalating and often terrifying incidents of bullying across the country.

More than 100 parents attended the district board meeting last Thursday to voice their concerns about bullying at the school.

We hope this situation at Oakhurst Elementary School is an abnormal case and not the norm. The recent allegations and concerns of some parents should certainly serve as a wake-up call, not only for Oakhurst Elementary, but for all schools in the Mountain Area.

And although the schools have policies in place and professional staff members trained in the early signs of bullying, it's probably a safe bet they will be more vigilant in the future and act quicker to defuse such behavior.

Superintendent Glenn Reid said the district is taking the concerns of the parents seriously. Bullying prevention programs will be held for students and staff at Wasuma Elementary today and at Oakhurst Elementary tomorrow. A presentation for parents will be held 7:30 p.m. tonight, Jan. 13, at Oak Creek Intermediate School.

Brown's future at the school seems to rest on the findings of the investigation. We hope to see Brown back in the classroom soon doing what she does best -- teaching and caring for children like the rest of the school staff.