SAUGUS — The mother of a girl who was filmed during what has been described as an act of bullying or assault at the Saugus Middle/High School spoke at Thursday’s School Committee meeting, asking the committee if anything can be done to make the school safer.
The video of the incident last week was spread throughout the town shortly after it happened. The mother’s name is being withheld to protect the privacy of her daughter.
“It did embarrass her, it did hurt her, and it hurt me as her mother to witness that, to look at someone assaulting my kid like that and I wasn’t there to protect her,” she said. “And I would have, by all means. I would have protected my daughter.”
The mother said that she heard about the incident not from the school, but from her daughter, who called her and said that she had been beaten up and needed her to get her from school.
She then called the school and spoke to someone who confirmed what had happened. When she got to the school, she said that her daughter was scared and traumatized.
“When we were getting ready to leave the school, we got that disgusting video sent to us,” she said. “I was going to take her to the emergency room because she was in a lot of pain. Her hair had been ripped out, she had cuts and abrasions to her scalp and to her legs. She had been kicked in the back, she had been kicked in the stomach.”
She said that her daughter had been exploited through the recording of the incident.
“She was petrified, and that was the intent. The intent was to put fear in her, to make her feel not safe at school, to humiliate her,” she said.
The mother said later that she had her daughter checked up after the incident, and that she had a mild concussion.
She also said that she went to the Police Department to press charges, but was not able to do so because the students involved in the incident are not old enough.
“She shouldn’t be afraid to go to the bathroom, she shouldn’t be afraid to go to lunch,” she said. “This child is still in that building, and she could still do it to another child.”
The mother added that having phones in the classroom is not a good idea because incidents like this can be recorded with them.
She added that her daughter did not deserve the fight and had just been participating in gym class. She said the girl who attacked her had been bullying her, to which School Committee Chair Vincent Serino interjected that the committee had done an investigation and reminded her that the other party was not present at the meeting.
Serino said that the committee is looking at the school’s cell-phone policy, and that there has to be a way for the committee to prevent this.
Committee member Stephanie Mastrocola said that the district can put policies in place, but it ultimately must make sure they are being followed and ensure the safety of students and teachers.
“We are thoroughly looking into this, believe me, we are,” Mastrocola said. “I’ve been on this since I heard about it, and I’m so sorry.”
The mother said that she thinks parents need to understand that this culture of cell phones is toxic, and that something like this could happen to anybody’s child.
At the beginning of the meeting, Serino mentioned the incident during his report. He said that the committee does not comment on personal issues involving students, but said that something has to be done about students whose first reaction is to record incidents like this when they happen. Serino emphasized that the students have a right to privacy.
“The other thing I’m disappointed about is when adults send the video around to show people what happened,” he said. “It’s just wrong, right? These are kids, they deserve privacy.”
He said it is important for people to get the facts first and for the administration to handle what happened without making assumptions.
Serino said it is incumbent upon people who see incidents like this to do something about them.
The mother’s remarks came during the public-comment section of the meeting. Before she spoke, Selectman Anthony Cogliano said he wanted to say one thing, to which Serino replied that he could as long as it is about something on the agenda.
Cogliano then said that Serino had talked about it earlier.
“Doesn’t matter if I talk about, it’s got to be on the agenda,” Serino said.
Cogliano then clarified that he had received the video from Blessed Sacrament Church and only sent it to the five members of the committee, to which Serino said that he had not been referring to Cogliano in his remarks. Cogliano then said that the mother of the girl in the video was present and wanted to address the committee, which she was allowed to do.
“I’m just glad they allowed her the opportunity to speak, I want to thank them for that,” Cogliano said after the meeting.
He added that he was not at the meeting in any official capacity, but just as a concerned parent who also had a child who had been bullied. He said he hopes the committee does right by the student.
Speaking after the meeting, Serino said that he could not talk about the investigation into the incident, but said that the committee will have a policy subcommittee meeting soon.
“We’re kind of doing an assessment of the buildings and looking at where the needs are for discipline,” he said.
Board of Selectmen Chair Debra Panetta said before the meeting that it is her understanding that the School Committee investigated the video and handled the incident fairly and promptly, and noted that there is zero tolerance for bullying in Saugus’ schools.
Selectman Michael Serino said that any type of bullying is unacceptable, and said that he hopes the students involved, who took the videos, and their parents reach out to the victim and her family.
“My heart goes out to the victim and her family,” Michael Serino said. “I am hopeful and confident that Police Chief (Michael) Ricciardelli and the entire School Committee will do the right thing and take the appropriate action needed.”
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Jeff Cicolini said he has full confidence that the school department and School Committee will handle the situation correctly.
“From what I am told, the actions in the video are deeply concerning and definitely need to be addressed,” Cicolini said.
