Parents: Bullying sent teen to hospital

ELLETTSVILLE, Ind. (WISH) - Parents in Ellettsville say a case of bullying at Edgewood Junior High School resulted in the hospitalization of a 13-year-old girl.

Ellettsville police are investigating the Nov. 2 fight.

Parents painted a disturbing picture of what they say happened to the 13-year-old.

“They beat her pretty badly. They ripped out large chunks of her hair. They beat her into unconsciousness and then the main instigator beat her in the head repeatedly until she went into seizure,” said Cindy Chavez of Ellettsville.

Heather Collins says her daughter witnessed the fight.

“(My daughter) said at one point there was a couple other girls that jumped in and started kicking the little girl,” said Collins.

Parents say the student had to be taken to the hospital.

The teen was later released.

Both Chavez and Collins are angry because they say bullying is a problem at the school and their kids have been victims.

“(My daughter) would go to the bathroom and beg me to take her out of school. The girls would knock the books out of her arms as she walked down the hallway. They would call her fat,” said Collins.

The mom says emails to administrators and multiple face to face meetings last year failed to fix the problem, so she pulled her teen out of the school.

Chavez also pulled her son out of the school system because she was concerned about his safety.

“I think the school is concerned about it. However I feel they are sweeping it under the rug and they are trying to hide it,” said Chavez.

Edgewood Junior High School Principal Melissa Pogue says her team of teachers and administrators follow the school corporations bullying policy closely. Pogue says this year they have investigated six reports of bullying.

Those cases resulted in warnings and at least one out of school suspension. However, because of confidentiality laws Pogue cannot discuss with the community specific cases or disciplinary actions taken.

A special meeting was scheduled for Wednesday evening at the school to discuss the bullying policy. Parents like Cindy Chavez and Heather Collins planned to be there. Chavez even typed up a list of demands designed to bolster whatever bullying policies the corporation has in place.