.jpeg)
28 August 2024
(National/Texas)
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The One In Five Foundation For Kids announced in a brief Wednesday morning release out of Bell County, Texas, that due to several mitigating factors, it is suspending its independent review of alleged rampant and unaddressed bullying of students within the College Station Independent School District (ISD) schools in Texas. More specifically, the foundation noted it is closing its independent investigation into the 2022 suicide case of a 17 year old student who committed suicide, according to his family; following ongoing alleged and unaddressed bullying at the school. Officials noted that findings in the case, including "Previous mental health history" & a "Lack of sufficient and corroborating evidence," & resources, contributed to its decision to halt its review & possible legal action against school/district officials.
The foundation, formed following the mass Uvalde, Texas school shooting at Robb Elementary School, noted that findings from their review, originally initiated several weeks ago; have illustrated various inconsistent reports and other factors on the student's bullying & subsequent tragic suicide. Further, officials noted that additional reports of other students being bullied at the school, allegedly with no aide or intervention from school or district officials, have been found unwarranted, due to several individuals originally claiming unaddressed bullying at the school, failing to follow through with the foundation investigation or recanting original accounts. The findings, officials noted, also uncovered little to no serious history of school/district bullying concerns reported to officials in the last few years.
The foundation clarified in the release, that due to its results, it will be no longer be considering legal action against the school and/or the district; yet will continue to monitor the district who it says has, "Much improvement it can do to exhibit empathy and sustainable resources toward those students within its halls presently who may be struggling with behavior such as bullying and with mental health issues."
Founder Daniel Chapin noted, "While, in the 2022 student's case, we can, in fact, determine a lack of empathy and even inadequate follow through with the family on behalf of the school and district following this students tragic, untimely death; our foundation cannot determine true delinquent culpability on the part of the district, school or single individual in this case; which would directly result in suicide. While we continue to share in the grief for the family affected, we as a foundation, dedicated to true advocacy & fairness; cannot in good faith hold the district or individual directly responsible in this case; given the current circumstances and results.
It is imperative that families overall understand that the link between youth suicide and bullying exists, yet other mitigating factors such as preexisting mental health factors in this case, although exacerbated by the bullying, exhibit additional contributing factors which in our opinion lay outside the schools authority, jurisdiction and actual ability to handle."
The One In Five Foundation For Kids
254 206 9089
Comments