Malden Schools Failed To Protect Girl Against Bullying: State

MALDEN, MA — Malden Public Schools failed to institute a safety plan for a habitually harassed 13-year-old student following a cyber-bullying incident and did not notify police about a hallway assault the girl later suffered at Linden STEAM Academy.

The district acknowledged noncompliance with state law and its own district policy by not reporting the incident to police, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education said in a letter to district officials and the victim's mother. The district must review its Bullying Prevention and Intervention Policy and provide a corrective action report by Sept. 10.

Superintendent John Oteri declined comment when reached by email, citing student and staff privacy concerns.

Patch is not identifying the victim, now 14, or other juveniles involved.

The victim was the target of an unspecified cyber-bullying incident in February in which a video was posted to a social media site in order to make fun of her, the DOE said.

In May, the victim was slapped in the face by a female student in the hallway. The school suspended the girl for a day, but the district did not notify the DOE or provide proof it notified police of the assault, which would have been consistent with the district's bullying prevention policy. The district at that point had been aware of multiple bullying incidents involving the victim over the past few years.

More bullying incidents followed, and the victim was pulled out of class before Memorial Day. She finished eighth grade with a district-provided home tutor at her parents' request.

Her mother told Patch she is not going to Malden High this fall because of their experience.

In the letter, the DOE noted the district said Linden Principal Richard Bransfield was no longer employed. Bransfield was informed in March that his contract would not be renewed after 35 years. Oteri at the time cited privacy concerns in not explaining why the district was parting ways with Bransfield.

THE BULLY MENACE SERIES

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