Bullying Won't Be Tolerated, Superintendent Says

This story was reported and written by Local Editor Alex Tiegen.

As the school year approaches, officials wanted parents to know they're paying attention to concerns about bullying.

So Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning highlighted the district's anti-bullying efforts to the press at a conference on school safety.

"We cannot allow as a district tolerating this behavior (bullying) in our schools," Browning said.

He said the district has now put a link on its website where people can report bullying. The district held a We Stand Together conference this summer where students, community members and teachers share anti-bullying ideas. School resource officers are going to be paying attention to communication on social media websites like Facebook, he said.

People started expressing concern about online bullying, specifically, after Fivay High student Jessica Laney committed suicide. Students pointed out Laney had received numerous disturbing comments on her page on a social media website while she was alive, including one saying "Die".

In addition, a Mitchell High student was beaten in a fight on a school bus earlier this year.

Bill Lindsey, a detective with the Sheriff''s Office, advised parents to keep close tabs on their children's conversations online and on mobile devices. He suggested parents get the passwords to children's social media accounts.