IPS parent protests school's treatment of alleged bullying

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Monday, a Warren Township stepmother took her concerns about bullying to the streets. She stood along 10th and Post Road holding a protest sign. She claims her daughter was beaten by a bully and the administration has done nothing about it.

Heather Harvell says she wants to know why no adult intervened when her stepdaughter, 14-year-old Mykeia Harvell, complained for months about a boy's taunts. Harvell says the taunts finally led to a fist fight. Harvell says the punches kept coming, and the teacher could do little to stop it.

"Both her eyes are black. She has a cut on her face and she's got a large contusion on her head," said Harvell.

School administrators at Creston Middle School describe the incident differently. They say a video, which they won't share with 24-Hour News 8, shows Mykeia as the aggressor. A school investigation will determine whether the fight was between two equally guilty parties or the actions of a bully.

Meanwhile, students from six IPS schools packed the Shortridge Magnet High School auditorium to hear Erika Harold, Miss America 2003, talk about her experiences being bullied. Her mission was to raise awareness and begin the process of helping administrators and students deal openly with the issue.

"I thought that she was the type of person that probably wouldn't have been bullied," said Raven Hayes, a Shortridge sixth grader.

That was the point of the presentation. It showed students that anyone can become the victim of bullying.

In the meantime, Harvell says she will continue to fight for her stepdaughter in the hopes that administrators will address her concerns.

Mykeia Harvell and the boy involved in the incident have both been suspended for five days.

After 24-hour news 8 arrived, district administrators met with Heather Harvell.

Administrators say they're investigating the case and will send it to the Marion County Prosecutor's Office if they believe it's warranted.