FOSSTON, Minn. — A Minnesota mom is hoping a video she posted online will help stop children from bullying her third grade daughter on the school bus. Sarah Cymbaluk said her daughter has visited the principal’s office at least half a dozen times to ask for help.
The little girl’s brother described what it’s like for his big sister at school.
“This guy on the playground said, ‘You’re gonna die by suicide.’ They called me a son of a b—- and a motherf—er.”
At times the bullying has even become physical.
“Calling her lesbian … she’s come home with scratches and bruises,” her parents Sarah and John Cymbaluk said.
For the little girl, it’s a constant struggle.
“It makes me feel sad and scared, and I don’t like it,” she said.
Fosston Superintendent Mark Nohner said he’s only recently been made aware of the situation despite the claims of the Cymbaluks, who say they’ve been trying to get help since December.
“I found out about the situation a couple of days ago, and I think it could have been resolved without going to Facebook,” Nohner said.
Her mother said her daughter has been called to the principal’s office and has been “made to feel like it’s her fault.”
“She’s been told to ignore it,” Cymbaluk said. “She’s been told to disregard it, basically she’s been told to stuff your emotions and get on with life.”
School officials admit they dropped the ball.
“Obviously somewhere along the line it feel through the cracks,” Nohner said. “So we need to review our procedures and policies and maybe do a better job articulating to the parents what we’re doing, even though we can’t be specific, we need to do a better job of getting that communication out there.”
School officials said they’re investigating but can’t elaborate on any disciplinary action because of confidentiality laws.
