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TEG THURSDAY, MAY 12, 2016 V V V PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING FAMILY OWNED SINCE 1895 V V V Good Evening VVV Will bullying ever go away?? WWW.EMPORIAGAZETTE.COM CATHRYNE SCHARTON/GAZETTE  Commissioners discuss and review the five year plan.  B U L L Y I N G K E P T S E C R E T PARENTS NEED TO KNOW “I want to know when she is bullied, I need to know,” Joyce Jones, Xena’s mother said. “It’s my EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the job to protect her, to support her. I fourth of a multipart series on need to know what is going on so I bullying. The first articles ad- can make sure she is okay.” The parents also report that dressed defining bullying, youth sharing their experiences and they are concerned that some chilbullying prevention programs. dren would never tell their parents Today, parent reactions to bul- about being bullied so the school lying are shared (the names are should do so. “So many instances of bullying pseudonyms). The final article will address how the community go unreported,” Jones said. “What about those children that will can help reduce bullying.  never tell their parents. They need Joe Smith’s son, Wade, is in support.” Nancy Horst, director of comsixth grade at Emporia Middle School. Wade experiences bul- munications for Emporia Public lying at least three times a week Schools confirms that the district — including being tripped and does not notify parents because of pushed down in the hallways. One the privacy concerns. “We are required to follow state of Smith’s biggest concerns is that the school does not notify him and federal privacy laws which about the bullying. He only finds make student information confiout when the day ends and his son dential, specifically the Kansas Student Data Privacy Act and the notifies him of the bullying. Family Educational Do you thinkthe bullying is a problemfederal in area schools? Other parents report Rights and Privacy Act same dilemma — they (FERPA),” Horst are not notified said. “The Kanwhen their child UNSURE sas S D PA is bullied. passed two “It’s odd ye a rs a go that no one NO strengthfrom the ened the s c h o o l privacy calls me rights of when my YES students son is with regard tripped, to their acaDo you think bullying pushed or demic record.  shoved,” is a problem in “A student’s S mith s aid. disciplinary re“But if he retaliarea schools? cord is part of his or ates he gets susher academic record and pended. They wait unparents or guardians are the ontil that point to notify me?” “I never get a call if he is bullied,” ly ones entitled to the information Sue James, mother of a sixth grader unless the confidentiality is waived at EMS said. “I would like a call. I or there is some legal action that most certainly get a call if he has do- allows another party to have acne something they don’t approve of. cess to the information. Only the student who has been disciplined I want to know when it happens.” By Jessie Wagoner [email protected] Total number of bullying occurrences for the past 4 years and so far this school year as recorded by school administrators. These are K-12 numbers. and his or her parent/guardian has the right to share that information,” she said. The only exception to this would be if criminal charges are filed. “The only exception would be a situation that is referred to law enforcement,” Horst said. “If criminal charges are filed, the public may have access to some information about consequences, but even for juveniles that information may be limited.” For the parents interviewed by The Emporia Gazette, privacy concerns mean little to them — they simply want assurance that their child is safe. “I want to know when he goes to school that he is safe,” Smith said. “I also want to be called by the school when he is unsafe and bullied. I don’t think that is too much to ask.” “I again go back to all the children that are bullied that will not tell their parents,” Jones said. “Who is watching out for those children? Not the school.” According to stopbullying.gov, many times children won’t ask for help or disclose bullying. The site encourages parents to be on the lookout for warning signs that a child is involved in bullying. Those warning signs include: ✦✦Unexplainable injuries ✦✦Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics or jewelry Please see Bullying, Page 3 CITY LOOKS INTO THE FUTURE By Cathryne Scharton [email protected] Commissioners received a draft of a 5-year plan presented by Emporia city staff at Wednesday’s city commission meeting. “The city of Emporia has been discussing the new wastewater plant that will need to be constructed in order to comply with federal and state regulations,” city manager Mark McAnarney told the commission. “The estimated cost of the new wastewater plant is approximately $26 million dollars and will need to be financed in order to build it. The city is looking at various methods to finance the new wastewater plant in a manner that impacts the ratepayer the least.” The commission also received information on a new playground that is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. “The city of Emporia desires to upgrade the playground equipment in the public parks so that it is more modern and accessible to all people,” McAnarney said. “The proposed playground equipment in Hammond Park will be accessible to all children.” Additionally, the commission heard from Friends of the Animal Shelter in conjunction with the Humane Society of the United States on their trap, neuter and return efforts at Eighth Avenue and Rural Street. In the process, feral cats are trapped, neutered and then returned to their natural habitat. The process helps r