Plum High School is holding an anti-bullying forum Thursday night in the wake of an incident that left a student injured – and the Salernos will be there to make sure their voices are loud and clear.
Their daughter was attacked from behind in the schools’ cafeteria on Jan. 18, while another student filmed. Someone then posted the attack to social media.
"She walks up behind my daughter, grabs her by her hair, yanks her back, begins to punch her in the face. My daughter never saw it coming,” said Chad Salerno, the victim’s father.
The Jan. 18 attack left his daughter with a black eye and face lacerations.
“The first time we saw her was in the hospital when we walked in, and it was devastating as a parent,” Pamela Salerno, the victim’s mother, said.
The other student was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct and was suspended by the school for several days.
Their daughter is now being home-schooled, afraid to go back to class while her alleged attacker is still in school.
“She has a fear of going to school. There’s something wrong with that. We teach our kids that school is a safe place,” Cad Salerno said.
The Salernos said they’re angry, and they’re taking their fight to the school board.
"When is it going to stop? When we become a Franklin Regional or Columbine? Then you're going to take action?" Chad Salerno said. "I will be at every meeting, in their face reminding them who I am until I get justice for my daughter."
Channel 11 attempted to contact the superintendent, but had no heard back as of 6 p.m. Thursday.
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