By Wayne E. Rivet

Staff Writer

Stephanie Wilcher wants SAD 61 to keep its promise to provide a safe and learning environment for all students.

Surrounded by her “support church family,” Wilcher outlined to Superintendent of Schools Al Smith and some School Board directors attending an informational meeting how she felt the district failed her biracial children, who were the targets of bullying and racial slurs during the last school year.

“I’m here to make progress, not to rehash the past, not to be combative,” said Wilcher, who is a 2007 Lake Region H.S. graduate. “I just don’t think this is a kid issue. I think it’s an adult issue.”

Wilcher pointed out there was a “moment of ickyness” at Stevens Brook Elementary School where three of her daughters attended, but Principal Courtney Smith “handled it swiftly.” The problem school, Wilcher pointed to, was Lake Region Middle School. She felt complaints of bullying and use of racial slurs were not handled as a priority and no consequences for inappropriate behavior were handed out. School officials, Wilcher said, offered her daughter the use of a resource room — “which is often empty as a space to be alone” — rather than address the issue.

“It’s so disconnected from what could have been helpful. She didn’t need more loneliness. She needed more community, more support. She didn’t get that,” Wilcher said. “We need to look at it (bullying and use of racial slurs) together. I really don’t want to point fingers. I want to move forward. I want to work with you to bring about real change. That’s all.”

Wilcher added she could suggest two guest speakers that could address these issues to middle and high school students. Smith liked the idea.

Near the end of the last school year, Wilcher approached the School Board regarding the issues her daughters were having at the middle school. Officials offered to meet with Wilcher to discuss the problems and look at possible solutions.

While the district has various policies regarding bullying (those policies can be found on the SAD 61 website) and the State of Maine has standards school systems are to follow in investigating incidents, Wilcher feels some SAD 61 teachers and administrators failed to act when children or parents brought complaints of bullying to their attention.

Before Superintendent Smith outlined changes put into place for this school year to address this problem, he allowed others in attendance to offer their input. Comments included:

• “As a nurse, I treat everybody the same. And having been bullied when I was younger, I understand how it goes in schools. There’s always somebody that’s weaker that’s going to get picked on. However, if we don’t nip this in the bud, these kids grow into adult bullies. And that doesn’t serve anyone. It doesn’t serve the kid being bullied and it doesn’t serve the kid doing the bullying. They will not do well in life if they continue along this path. And that is my concern for this community. I see this going on here and I’m flabbergasted because most of the people I know in this community are loving, caring people. They care about their kids in school. They care about the sports, they care about their community. I’m listening to these stories from lots of parents that this has been going on for quite a while and it never seems to go away. I’m hoping that we can all work together as a community, parents, teachers, and students to come up with a better solution to get these kids to understand their diversity and why it’s important to be kind and respectful to one another.”

• “I taught for 25 years. It was elementary school, but I don’t think it matters. I think a sense of community in a classroom and in a school is essential. It has to be a safe place. No child of any age can learn unless they feel safe. Did you know that less than 50% of children that are being bullied reported to an adult? And when it was reported in this situation, more shockingly, was the administration’s dismissive response. Administrators must not avoid controversy. They need to meet it head on. There needs to be zero tolerance by teachers, administrators, and anyone involved in our schools.”

She continued, “But zero tolerance is not enough. Laws against bullying are not enough. In fact, Maine has a very good exceptional no bullying policy. What we need is actual conversations about race, such as panel discussions with adults of color, telling their experiences. This is where growth happens to confront racism, is to listen to people with lived experiences and then taking the advice of how they would cause change...There are two children at risk here in this particular situation. But we cannot forget the child that is doing the bullying if they are not helped. Studies show that they will likely become socially isolated and at-risk youths and adults... Teachers need to recognize bullying and how it manifests itself in the classroom and then be able to refer to the professionals. This is your opportunity to be a leader against racism.”

• “I do a lot of counseling with people of all ages. And I know when people are bullied, it can sometimes be dismissed as it’s just words. It’s not a physical threat, but the scars of bullying go through all people’s entire lives. I know parents who have lost their children because they couldn’t take the bullying. It’s a threat. What can happen to help stop the scarring is if someone reports the bullying to feel that they are supported... As soon as we hear about something, we can address it. A child can be heard, a child can be validated and the scarring can be prevented in that situation because they know that there is a supportive system, they know that the words used against them are not true.”

Superintendent Smith then shared steps SAD 61 will take this school year. He met with the administrative team (principals) for three days and set two goals.

“My belief is you don’t set a goal that you don’t intend to strive to achieve. One goal is to implement strategies and address behaviors. We went to a social-emotional learning opportunity, and the information we received was really positive. It gave us some good strategies,” he said.

One change is the creation of a Civil Rights Team.

Two, there has been a change in principal at LRMS. Holly Wilson, who was vice principal at the high school, succeeds Matt Lokken. Smith also pointed out that LRHS now has a Dean of Students and the district has a data coordinator, who will help staff take a closer look at student needs.

“We are also in the process of doing a lot of the restorative pieces — how do we work with kids on both sides of the spectrum. It obviously behooves us to have consequences for the person that is racist or bullying or whatever. But then how do we work with that student, as well as, how do we support the student that was the victim?” Smith said. “I have met with all my administrators and I think sometimes they’re not direct enough. Parents can attest to this. I told them point blank, you must be consistent. You must be open and you must say what happened? All sides. You can’t gray it out. The administrative team had the opportunity to meet with the board for a few hours to share some of the things that they’ll have in place and some initiatives they will be working toward.”

Smith noted that an alternative ed program has been added to the middle school “for some of our more challenging situations for kids that could use some help.”

He added the School Board sent a clear message to principals that complaints of bullying and use of racial slurs must be fully investigated and consequences be clearly defined. The board also expects reports regarding behaviors presented at School Board meetings.

When a report of bullying is made, principals conduct the investigation, Smith said. As part of those discussions, students need to understand “what they’ve done and why they’ve done it or are they just doing it to be mean,” Smith said.

There will also be formation of a Parent Advisory Group at the middle school.

“Sign me up,” Wilcher said.

Smith pointed out that SAD 61 has a social worker and a guidance person at each of the elementary schools, and a social worker and two guidance people at the high school and middle school. Smith invited Wilcher and other parents to reach out to school administrators if they have concerns or questions.

Wilcher told school officials that she hopes for a fresh start for her daughters this school year, although one is attending Baxter Academy in Portland.

“I am not letting this district ruin her anymore,” she said. “They’re not all going to Baxter so I need to know that they’re safe. Please show me how they’re going to be safe it this happens. I don’t think that’s too much to ask.”

Others encouraged school officials and teachers to send a clear message to kids that if they are bullied or the target of racial slurs, they can confidently tell them and something will be done.

The message to students as they return to SAD 61 schools, Smith said, will be “This is our house, these are our rules.”

“This is our chance. The beginning of the school year is when you build your classroom community. If those children walk in and they have their rules, and all of their teachers are saying this is a safe place, this is our expectation, we’re going to trust each other and support each other, it’s going to change,” one person said. “I think when you bring them in, you talk to them and you encourage them to be these people, these wonderful humans, they will step up and they’ll do that.”

“I want to get the year started and see how things get going. But I’m hoping to sooner than later to sit down again and just chat about how you are doing,” Smith told Wilcher.