The Bermudian Springs school board heard Monday evening from a former student and his parents about their experience with bullying in the district. The board also addressed two newly-empty seats after board member Matthew Nelson did not run for re-election and board member Neil Tate resigned.
Nichole and Jason Nelson said they spoke at the meeting to support the Tomasellos, a family who filed a federal lawsuit against the district last month. The lawsuit alleges the district did not stop bullying that resulted in the death of a 15 year-old student in 2023.
Nichole and Jason, as well as their son, a former Bermudian Springs student, spoke about the bullying their son dealt with at school several years prior.
The Nelsons said their experience started in kindergarten and continued from 2005-13. Their son faced violent threats and a physical altercation with his bully, according to the family. Eventually, the child enrolled in an online option to avoid the situation.
“This is a problem now that we hear that something else happened, and worse,” Nichole said. “That a child lost his life because he didn’t feel safe coming to the school. When is somebody going to listen?”
Nichole said they had to enroll their son in karate in order to help prepare him to defend himself.
“What you guys have to understand is that kids that are the bully – the bully can let it go,” Nichole said. “The bully can put it down and not think about it that night. Kids that are bullied cannot. Every night we had to go around to every window in the house and make sure they were locked. Every night we had to talk to him about how to, if he couldn’t get away, what he should do.”
Their son alleged that while in the school he had books pushed from his hands, was shoved down the middle school stairs on a near-daily basis, and that his locker contents were thrown around in the hallway.
The Nelson family were the only individuals to speak during the time for public comment.
School board members needed
Following last month’s election, the board swore in Mary Kemper and Jennifer Goldhahn to the board. A third member will be sworn in next month as they were unable to attend Monday’s meeting.
Daniel Chubb was re-elected as board president and Brian Davis was elected as vice-president.
Dr. Brad Sterner, superintendent of the district, said the board will soon need to add two new members to the board.
According to the board agenda, former board member Neil Tate resigned effective Dec. 1.
The board packet included a short email from Tate sent at 5:16 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 16.
“It is with deep regret that I write to inform you all, effective immediately, that I resign my position as a board member due to personal circumstances,” Tate’s email read. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve beside so many great men and women. I wish nothing but the best for all of you, the district and community of Berm.”
Tate represented District 2.
Former board member Matthew Nelson did not run for re-election and as no one else ran for his seat, his spot for District 3 is also currently vacant.
Sterner said residents of both districts should soon receive notices by mail to let them know how to apply for the school board positions if interested.
Public interviews for both positions will be held at the next board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13.
Sterner said the board will interview candidates and hold any discussion concerning the candidates during the open meeting.
A pop-up notice about the vacancies is also posted to the school district’s website and states that a replacement must be chosen within 30 days.
Tate’s uncompleted term will run through November 2027.
Since Nelson fulfilled his last term, the seat he left empty has a full four-year term.
The next regular board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 13 in the Middle School Learning Commons A.
Audio of the meetings is also recorded and posted to the district’s YouTube channel.
