Moss Point schools chief: Bullying won't be tolerated
MOSS POINT -- In response to bullying allegations leveled
against the Moss Point School District by the Southern Poverty Law
Center, schools Superintendent Maggie Griffin released an official
statement Friday evening.
The SPLC held a press conference Thursday at Magnolia Junior High School, where 16-year-old Destin Holmes said she was bullied and harassed because she was gay.
"We take allegations concerning bullying and harassment very seriously and have a protocol to address bullying in our schools. The school district has a policy (JBAB -- Student Complaints of Sexual Discrimination/Harassment -- Title IX Procedures) that is followed by all schools in the district."
Griffin said because of the ongoing investigation, officials are unable to discuss the allegations at this time.
She said she sent a message to parents in the district Friday regarding the allegations.
"Protecting our students from acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation and threats by any individual is our highest priority," she said. "Acts such as these will not tolerated by the Moss Point School District and we will follow our policy and take the appropriate action."
The SPLC had sent the district a letter asking for a meeting to discuss solutions to what they said is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender -- LGBT -- bullying problem in the district, or a federal lawsuit will soon follow.
Destin said she was called a gay slur by the former principal, and harassed by students and teachers.
She told of an incident in which a teacher split the eighth-grade class into male and female groups for a game, but separated Destin and told her she had to be in the middle. Destin said the teacher called her "it."
She said her family talked with school officials about the incidents, but the bullying did not stop.
Destin left the district and is now being home-schooled. She said she would like to return to the district but only if conditions improve.
The SPLC said in its letter the school should "implement a plan to comprehensively address the hostile environment" or face a lawsuit.
Griffin said the district will "continue to provide a nurturing environment for all of our students, which will allow them to reach their full potential."
The SPLC held a press conference Thursday at Magnolia Junior High School, where 16-year-old Destin Holmes said she was bullied and harassed because she was gay.
"We take allegations concerning bullying and harassment very seriously and have a protocol to address bullying in our schools. The school district has a policy (JBAB -- Student Complaints of Sexual Discrimination/Harassment -- Title IX Procedures) that is followed by all schools in the district."
Griffin said because of the ongoing investigation, officials are unable to discuss the allegations at this time.
She said she sent a message to parents in the district Friday regarding the allegations.
"Protecting our students from acts of bullying, harassment, intimidation and threats by any individual is our highest priority," she said. "Acts such as these will not tolerated by the Moss Point School District and we will follow our policy and take the appropriate action."
The SPLC had sent the district a letter asking for a meeting to discuss solutions to what they said is a lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender -- LGBT -- bullying problem in the district, or a federal lawsuit will soon follow.
Destin said she was called a gay slur by the former principal, and harassed by students and teachers.
She told of an incident in which a teacher split the eighth-grade class into male and female groups for a game, but separated Destin and told her she had to be in the middle. Destin said the teacher called her "it."
She said her family talked with school officials about the incidents, but the bullying did not stop.
Destin left the district and is now being home-schooled. She said she would like to return to the district but only if conditions improve.
The SPLC said in its letter the school should "implement a plan to comprehensively address the hostile environment" or face a lawsuit.
Griffin said the district will "continue to provide a nurturing environment for all of our students, which will allow them to reach their full potential."
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