Questions surround claim of bullying at Lynn’s Brickett Elementary

LYNN – More questions than answers remain surrounding the alleged bullying attack on an 11-year-old Brickett Elementary School student as police and School Department officials continue to investigate the alleged incident.Family members first spoke to the Item Friday afternoon, alleging that 11-year-old Mathew Mumbauer was viciously attacked by bullies while he was in school, leaving him in intensive care at Massachusetts General Hospital, paralyzed from the chest down and suffering from a collapsed lung.Mumbauer’s cousin, Audrey Spencer, said Friday that the injuries were caused when he was pushed down a flight of stairs at the school, and resulted in Mumbauer being placed on a ventilator with a tracheotomy tube.Spencer said the child’s family is preparing to sue the School Department, and have organized the “Mission of Love for Mathew” fundraiser for Mumbauer set to take place April 12 at the First Congregational Church at 300 Central St.According to Spencer and several additional unnamed sources, the student was able to finish the day at school after the alleged attack, including a trip to the nurse’s office where he complained of a leg injury. When he woke up the next day, he was suffering from more serious symptoms and was transported to Mass. General where he has remained since.It is unclear whether the student sought attention at another hospital before Mass. General.Family members say Mumbauer has been bullied throughout the school year, and it has become a persistent problem.According to School Department officials, Mumbauer was last seen in school on March 10, the day of the alleged incident, however, his family did not inform the department of the situation until last week.After speaking with the student’s teachers and Brickett school officials, however, the School Department has questioned the validity of the accusations, and says there is no evidence of the incident taking place on school grounds.Superintendent Nicholas Kostan said Monday that he is very concerned with Mumbauer’s condition above any other issue, no matter where the incident took place, but in speaking with teachers and Brickett staff members, he has not heard any evidence that his injuries happened at the school.”Our concerns first and foremost is for the young man – it is everybody’s concern that he recover and come out from the situation that he is in at Mass General,” he said. “At this time, after speaking with the teachers and principals at the school, there is no evidence that the student fell or was pushed on March 10.”Lynn Police detectives are investigating the incident, which they say they had no knowledge of prior to this past weekend. Both Lynn Police and the Department of Social Services say they have not received a report or complaint from anyone in Mumbauer’s family.In a statement released Monday, Lynn Police Public Information Officer Lt. David Brown said the police are speaking to school officials and family members to determine the exact cause of the boy’s injuries, but have not found any evidence that it happened at the school.”At this point in the investigation, the exact cause of his medical condition and what may have occurred remain to be determined,” the statement read. “Detectives will be examining all possibilities, and it would be premature to assume the location of the incident. At this time, these are only allegations.”Spencer said the tracheotomy tube was inserted on Friday, and Mumbauer was doing “OK” but was upset that he wasn’t able to talk. Family members are hoping doctors can stabilize him enough to get him to a rehabilitation center soon.Massachusetts General Hospital Spokesperson Emily Parker listed Mumbauer in fair condition as of Monday afternoon.Due to his inability to talk, Spencer said Mumbauer was unable to provide details of his attack, or attackers. It is unclear how the family determined the incident happened at school.Mumbauer’s mother, Alyssa Cormier, who has declined to contact the Item despite repe