ROANOKE, Va. – Protesters gathered outside the last Roanoke County School Board meeting before summer break Thursday night.
This comes after an explosive school board meeting last month, where the public called for change when it comes to the district’s bullying policy and enforcement.
10 News Anchor Lindsey Kennett spoke to protesters, who said that two months after a 4th grader’s tragic death, bullying is still top of mind, yet they feel nothing is being done.
“Stand up; Autumn can’t” read one of the signs held by protesters outside the Roanoke County School Board meeting Thursday.
“Seeing the death of Autumn Bushman, I’ve had multiple suicide attempts in the past. I know multiple friends who have had suicide attempts,” said protester Keely Meadows.
“There’s a lack of response from the school board to change policy at all,” she added.
Another protester, Emma Rench, also spoke out.
“Even from my own experience being in school—having people bully me or just seeing others—it’s a slap on the wrist, and they don’t do anything. They care more about truancy and drug use than bullying,” Rench said.
Inside the meeting, school board members celebrated students, teachers, and staff, but made no mention of the bullying survey sent out last month or of Autumn Bushman, the 10-year-old who took her own life in March after being bullied.
Protesters addressed the board members, calling for accountability, changes to the district’s bullying policy and how it is enforced.
“Bullying also comes in many forms, including ignoring those you serve, which is what you do by shutting your constituents down,” said Meadows.
“In case it wasn’t obvious, bullying kills kids, as well,” Rench said.
10 News spoke to board members after the meeting, and all of them declined to comment about the protesters and the bullying survey. However, one member, David Linden, said that they have not received the results of the survey yet and will likely discuss the results during a work session in the future.
