Kobe Denney, 5, is a kindergartner at APW
/ Courtesy Beth Hummel
ALTMAR -- The mother of a 5-year-old boy, who she says was roughed up inside the Altmar-Parish-Williamstown Elementary School, is accusing the district of not doing enough to stop bullying.
Beth Hummel posted a photograph of her son, Kobe Denny’s, bruise to his forehead on Facebook.
The post has created a firestorm of anger among some other parents in the district.
Hummel claims the principal at the APW Elementary School was more concerned with the Facebook posting than her complaint about bullying at the school.
Hummel tells CNY Central’s Jim Kenyon that her son Kobe has been attacked three times by a group of fifth graders who call themselves the "Tear Drop Gang."
She says that in one incident, Kobe came home in different clothes because he had urinated on himself. Hummel says her son was afraid to go into the bathroom where the bullying takes place.
Hummel says she will not allow her son to return to school until she feels he is safe.
APW School Superintendent Gerry Hudson told Kenyon that the situation "has been contained." He says there were a few "repeat offenders" who he blamed for the bullying.
Hudson says the Facebook posts are unnecessarily raising fear and hysteria among some parents.
Hudson told Kenyon "we’re telling people to come to the school" and attend their child’s classes to see for themselves how they have addressed the problem. He says "we’re reactive and proactive" and points out that the district has established an anti-bullying taskforce.
Hummel’s complaints about bullying have focused attention on an anti-bullying rally set to take place at the Fourth Street Park in the City of Fulton at 2:00 p.m. on March 29.
Organizer of the rally, Heather Clark, told Kenyon that the rally is in response to what she feels is a lack of attention being devoted to the problem throughout Oswego County.
Clark says that since she posted the announcement of the upcoming rally last Thursday, 317 people have already committed to participating.
Clark says her own three children have all been bullied in school, particularly her 16-year-old daughter Corrynne Horning who attends G. Ray Bodley High School in Fulton.
She says that she was not satisfied with response from school officials to her complaints.
