UNION COUNTY, Miss. (WTVA) - Parents of the special needs student who was seen on video getting punched in the face voiced their concerns, before the Union County School Board.
"Based on what we've been told, it has taken the procedures it will take," Brian Randle, the father of the teenager who was punched, said.
The video was captured in the East Union High School gym. It showed Randle's son getting punched and it was also posted on Facebook. Randle told WTVA News he heard the student who punched his son and the student who captured the video received five days suspension each. However, he is not pleased with the punishment.
"We do not feel the disciplinary action that was taken was satisfactory," Randle said.
Amy Snyder, the aunt and legal guardian of the teenager who was punched, said she wants more answers.
"I think we deserve to know what steps have been taken and what changes are going to be made. [We want to know] how they're going to make these changes," she said. "Right now, we're just being told that disciplinary action has been taken."
Randle and Snyder said they interpret parts of the bullying policy differently than the board.
Specifically the following portion of the policy:
"I. Definitions - Bullying or harassing behavior is any pattern of gestures or written, electronic or verbal communications, or any physical act or threatening communication, or any act reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic that (a) places a student or school employee in actual and reasonable fear or harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property, or (b) creates or is certain to create a hostile environment by substantially interfering with or impairing a student's educational performance, opportunities or benefits (Union County School District handbook p.16)."
Synder said the policy suggests a single physical act is bullying. Snyder told WTVA News she feels her teenager received a single physical act of bullying.
We asked Ken Basil, the Union County School District superintendent, about the meeting. Basil declined to comment regarding the matter. The school board attorney did not make himself available to WTVA following the meeting.
According to policy, the school board must provide a written decision within 10 days following the victim's appearance before the board.
"I hope we will get this resolved. This is in the board's hands. They have the ability to overturn this. They have the ability to change it," Snyder said.
Randle said he is not giving up.
"We'll just have to wait and see. Then, based on what they decide we will continue further." Randle added, "I will never stop until this issue is resolved."
All Mississippi schools had to adopt a bullying policy at the beginning of 2010/2011 school year. However, the Union County School District did not confirm or deny the incident was bullying.
