NEW CASTLE, Pa. — A New Castle mother is demanding action after she says bullies attacked her 8-year-old son, who has special needs, putting him in the hospital.
New Castle Area School District officials told Channel 11 News that they’ve addressed bullying issues head on.
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Even though none of the alleged incidents involving Krystal Mravintz’s son have happened on school property, George Washington Intermediate School’s principal said all students involved and their parents were contacted. However, Mravintz said it’s not enough, and now her son, Bryce Mravintz, is afraid to walk to go to school.
“I like school, but I don’t want to go back because of those boys,” Bryce, 8, said.
Krystal Mravintz said Bryce was walking home from school last Thursday when she says a group of older children jumped her son, making fun of him and hitting him.
“He is a special needs child, and for them to just hurt him like that,” she said. “He loves learning and he loves going (to school). Now he's afraid to leave my house.”
Krystal Mravintz said Bryce has a condition called Hirschsprung's disease, which affects muscles in the colon and keeps him in the hospital a lot. Bryce has to wear pull-ups because of the disease, and Krystal Mravintz believes that makes him a target. She said Thursday’s incident isn’t the first time her son has been bullied, but this time, he had to go to the hospital. Krystal Mravintz said Bryce suffered a mild concussion and bruising under his eyes.
“That's my baby. That's my first son and I'm his mom and I love him to death and I can't see anything bad happen to him,” she said.
Authorities told Channel 11 News that they have talked with all parties involved in the incident, saying both sides tell a different story. Nonetheless, officers said they’ll be increasing patrols along Bryce’s school route for the time being.
Meanwhile, district officials said they have a zero-policy for bullying on or off campus and have addressed the issues with Bryce and the other children involved.
Bryce hasn’t been back to school since last Thursday’s incident, and Krystal Mravintz said she doesn’t know when she’s going to send him back.