Local mother concerned, says school is ignoring bullying problem

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — A Swissvale mother told Channel 11 that when she sends her 12-year-old daughter to school at Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy, all she does is worry about her safety.

“I feel like I shouldn’t have to keep my kid home from school. She wants to go but I don’t know if these adults will make sure she’s OK,” said Ashley Bellisario. “There’s no rules. There is no nothing. It’s just crazy.

Bellisario said that for months, her sixth grade child had been bullied and harassed, and one student had even threatened to bring a knife to harm her child at a choral concert.

Bellisario said she had repeatedly taken the issue to the Woodland Hills School district but claimed that instead of showing concern, officials had continuously brushed her off.

“I was told by the principal that if I believed she wasn’t doing her job, to call the police. I did what she told me to do,” said Bellisario

Swissvale police confirmed with Channel 11 that they were called to the school during a choral concert last week. However, they said there wasn’t a threat and police action wasn’t needed. Instead, police decided the incident was for the school administration to handle.

“I feel like they aren’t paying attention to these kids.”

Earlier this year, the principal of Dickson Preparatory STEAM Academy held a meeting to address serious safety concerns that she said parents had brought to her attention.

Then, parents told Channel 11 that the school’s principal wasn’t addressing serious concerns like drugs in the middle school, fights in the bathroom or nude pictures being sent to kids in class. A parent shared emails that the principal sent to him that read, “this is over” and “if you feel Dickson is not a good fit for your child you can seek other options,” when he asked about the strict bathroom policy in place.

“They’re violating student’s rights to have a safe public education and causing parents no other choice but to move their kids out of the district,” a parent told Channel 11.

School administrators would not allow Channel 11 inside the public meeting.

Regarding the latest claims, the school district told Channel 11 that it didn’t have any comment.

“I’m not going to stop calling them, I’m not going to stop emailing them. At this point they have stopped returning my calls,” said Bellisario.

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