'Bullying is not tolerated': Warrick Schools Supt. on bullying investigation at Castle

Segann March
Evansville
Castle High School

NEWBURGH, Ind. — Warrick County Schools Superintendent Brad Schneider said bullying is not tolerated in his schools. Officials are still investigating reports that a special education student at Castle High School was the target of online bullying.

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Schneider's response stems from social media comments and an online petition claiming the district sweeps bullying incidents under the rug instead of addressing it. Those statements are false and the district "is never going to sweep anything under the rug," he said.

Warrick County Schools plans to show students an educational piece on the dangers of social media, how to use it in a positive way and what shouldn't be said online, Scheider said.

"We are taking a bad situation and turning it into a positive," Schneider said Thursday. "Everybody involved in the incident has been remorseful, sorry and are learning from it. Bullying is not tolerated."

The petition was created by Megan Robak, a former peer mentor to the student reportedly bullied and former Castle High student. The petition asks that Warrick County school board members put in a stricter bullying policy and address issues like these.

The petition stated, "11 Castle High School students made a group chat on Instagram making fun of a special needs kids. They called this student names including sped, retard, tard, weirdo, etc. They tried to get this student to send nudes and inappropriate pictures so they could make fun of him. They also told him they would 'slap the sh*t out of him on Monday' if he did not send nudes."

To date, nearly 1,100 people have signed the petition. 

The student's mother, who the Courier & Press is not identifying, said her son was added to a group chat on Instagram and was the target of bullying in the chat.

On Wednesday, Castle High Principal Doug Gresham gave the C&P the same letter he sent to parents in the school Tuesday about the incident. He declined further comment. 

"Over the weekend, Castle High School administration was made aware of a social media incident involving some of our students," the letter to parents read. "The incident is being investigated using the Indiana Department of Education Guidelines and Warrick County School Corporation Policies. Appropriate discipline has been issued to some students. As the investigation continues, other discipline could be necessary. Castle High School is committed to providing a bully-free, safe environment for all of our students."

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