Mahomet families demand action over bullying, superintendent responds

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCCU) — Tension are high in the Mahomet-Seymour School District after board member Meghan Hennesy said her colleagues are not taking action against bullying in schools.

"We've had physical assaults on students because of their sexual orientation," Hennesy said.

Hennessy, who said she receives complaints on a weekly basis, said she has asked the board in previous meetings to form a task group to address bullying.

"I've been consistent on asking for the formulation of a committee on inclusion and diversity as a result of a lot of the reports I was getting about kids being bullied," Hennesy said.

Hennesy said nothing has happened.

One student named Connor said he and some fellow students were victims of bullying.

Connor said one student was attacked for wearing a pride flag during homecoming week last year.

"They got, well, kind of just ambushed," Connor said. "Someone was trying to rip off their flag, and they wore it around their neck."

Connor said the incident sparked LGBTQ+ students to organize a rally the next day to support the student who was injured.

Connor participated by wearing a pride flag of his own, but he said he received similar treatment.

"Somebody came up behind me and they were flicking holy water onto me and spewing bible verses," Connor said.

Connor added the bullying continued into this school year.

"Kids would yell 'ewwww,'" Connor said. "I went to Target one time with my mother and it was kids from my school that were there and they barked at me."

Connor said it was so bad, he switched to emote learning.

"I wish I would've started sooner to avoid that, because now I associate that building with this gut-wrenching feeling," Connor said.

His mother, Heather Smith, said she met with the administration after Connor was bullied.

"They were having disciplinary action taken against them [the alleged bullies]," Smith said. "But they can't tell me what that is because of school privacy laws."

Katrina Roberts is a mother herself who said her children also experienced bullying in the district.

That's why she created her not-for-profit "Family First Advocacy" to educate parents on their legal rights.

"Help the parents understand what the laws are [and] what steps they should take," Roberts said. "Because they attend all the meetings that they want, but the people that are sitting in the room know what the policies are. But probably mom doesn't."

Roberts said she had a meeting with superintendent Kenny Lee on January 25 to discuss bullying.

She said she felt Lee was being dismissive.

"I said something about bullying, and he made a comment something like, 'Well, maybe you perceive it to be bullying but I don't,'" Roberts said. "It ruffled my feathers."

She responded to Lee saying, "It's not your definition you're supposed to be protecting, it's how the student is feeling."

FOX Illinois reached out to superintendent Lee.

He declined to go on camera but did agree to an interview over the phone.

He shared what he believes happened during that meeting with Roberts.

'I don't believe it was that particular comment, because I don't remember making that comment," Lee said. "But I did say something that frustrated her, and I did make that comment, because I want to talk through whatever it was I said that frustrated her."

But Lee agreed he and Roberts spoke about how bullying is being recognized.

"Yes, we talked about that it is a perception of, and really perception is reality, so it's how someone who feels bullied," Lee said. "If their perception is being bullied, then they're bullied. And we need to work through that."

Family First Advocacy is encouraging parents to attend this month's school board meeting on the Feb. 21 to voice their concerns through what they're calling "Fill The Board Room" action.

Roberts said all are welcome, even if they don't want to speak. She also encourages supporters to wear blue in solidarity.

It will be at 7 pm in the Mahomet-Seymour's Administrative building in Mahomet.