Parents of Kosciusko Middle Elementary School students were understandably shaken when they found out there had been alleged sexual assaults among students at the school. Learning that the incidents had been reported more than a month earlier only made matters worse.
The already tense situation was exacerbated by the fact that virtually all of them (other than parents of involved students) learned of the alleged incidents on the front page of last week’s issue of The Star-Herald — during spring break, no less.
Dozens of angry comments from parents and others began appearing on social media. Some threatened to remove their children from local schools; many said they would make their feelings known by attending the then-upcoming school board meeting.
When I first started hearing the rumors of the incident(s), I felt strongly that — if the reports were accurate — parents of KME students deserved to be informed if they hadn’t been already.
It wasn’t a matter of exposing children involved or making the school district look bad. It was about ensuring that families had the opportunity to protect their children.
After we confirmed the reports, Superintendent Billy Ellzey explained the district response specifically, as well as changes being made to avoid potential incidents going forward.
What the district didn’t do, however, was inform KME parents, which is the main focus of the anger expressed against the district.
Despite all the frustration, however, only one parent decided to do something about her concern by expressing it directly to the Kosciusko School Board of Trustees.
Haley Nicole Marston’s comments about her anger at the district handling of the matter — made face-to-face to those who can take action — may actually lead to improved communications between the district and parents. Board members thanked her for sharing her sincere concerns.
It turns out that one person, showing up to a board meeting and expressing her point of view, will likely do a lot more good than all those angry social media rants put together.
