NOWATA, Okla. -- An incident on a Nowata school bus is raising new concerns about bullying after a mother claims her son was attacked by bullies, leaving him with hearing loss in one ear.
Friday was a school day, but Brandy Reeve pulled her kids out of class after she says her 10-year-old son Tobbeey was assaulted by two boys with a lollipop stick.
“One of them held me down while the other one put a sucker stick in my ear,” said Tobbeey.
Reeve took her kids home Friday morning after learning the alleged attackers were back at school the next day.
The superintendent of Nowata Public Schools, Leon Ashlock, says they didn’t discipline the children right away, waiting until the next morning to get both sides and hear from witnesses. Ashlock says the appropriate action was taken, but wouldn’t say what the punishment was.
According to Ashlock, there were no documented complaints of bullying in the past, but Reeve says she complained several times.
“I constantly went to them and nothing got done,” said Reeve.
As for Tobbeey, after two trips to the emergency room for his bleeding ear, the next step is to see a specialist to find out whether or not the damage can be repaired.
Reeve has some advice for parents of children who’ve been the victims of bullying. “If your kids come to you don't let it go-- go to somebody about it and keep going until something is done about it cause if they don't then it's going to wind up in a severe situation like my son.”
Nowata Public Schools released a statement following the incident. Read the full statement below:
“On Thursday March 23 we had an incident on a school bus that resulted in one of our students being injured. Once the incident was brought to our attention law enforcement was notified and we began an investigation. Since the incident took place after school was dismissed, our investigation could not be completed until this morning when we had access to every student who may have witnessed the incident. Due to federal and state privacy laws we cannot release any personal information about our students and that includes discipline actions. What I can confirm is that as of 9:15 this morning the situation was handled appropriately by our elementary administration."
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