KHTS Radio Santa Clarita Radio – Santa Clarita News
A Ventura law firm is representing a Palmdale family in a lawsuit alleging the Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District allowed a student to be physically attacked and bullied at Vasquez High School, according to Miller Law.
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Kimberly Coverdill was just a 13-year-old freshman at VHS when the bullying began, said her mother, Amber Coverdill.
The bullying started with another girl at the high school who would allegedly make comments such as “You have friends?” and “I didn’t think you had any friends.”
At one point, a physical altercation was initiated by other girl towards Kimberly.
When asked about the lawsuit and the incident, the secretary for Vasquez High School Principal Ty Devoe said Devoe could not speak about it.
A campus security guard investigated the incident. Officials gave the two girls the same punishment for “mutual combat” — a five-day suspension, Amber Coverdill said.
In a meeting with school officials and the Coverdill family, the campus security guard who investigated the incident allegedly said he had prior knowledge that the fight was going to happen, Amber Coverdill said.
“This man is responsible for teen safety,” Amber Coverdill said. “My family and I were outraged.”
Amber Coverdill hired an attorney and got ahold of the investigation paperwork, she said.
“In the investigation, the security guard ends up admitting to actually knowing about the fight the day prior to it happening and the cheer coach found out about the fight,” Amber Coverdill said, adding that both the security guard and coach talked to the girl who wanted to fight Kimberly. “He didn’t contact me, my daughter or any other schools officials. I thank God every day that this girl didn’t bring a weapon.”
Over the next couple months, Kimberly’s grades fell from a 3.0 grade point average to below a 2.0 grade point average, causing her to be kicked off the soccer team, Amber Coverdill said. Kimberly continued to be bullied, threatened and harassed, even by teachers.
Three months after the physical altercation, Kimberly withdrew from the school and entered into homeschooling.
“I put her in Highland, there were a couple girls bullying her at Highland,” Amber Coverdill said. “She went to the security guard. They handled it wonderfully. They got the girl that was bullying her and let Kimberly remain anonymous. She’s trying another school now and so far she loves it.
“Still to this day, if girls look at her, she gets nervous. I’m just trying to help her realize not everybody is like that.”
Attempts to get statements from Acton-Agua Dulce Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Brent Woodard, Vasquez High School Principal Ty Devoe and the mother of the girl who allegedly bullied Kimberly have not been returned.
“I would love for them to have some type of training for their teachers and consequences. When somebody neglected what they’re supposed to do they should have consequences,” Amber Coverdill said. “We’re doing this because we care about Kimberly. (The school) did wrong and they should actually have to answer for what they did. It is still something that deeply affects us tremendously.”
Jeremiah Lasater, a 14-year-old special needs student, committed suicide at the same school in 2008 after he was allegedly bullied. The Lasater family filed a lawsuit as well.
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My sons both attended school in the Acton-Agua Dulce district and were bullied too. The district almost seems to have a policy that encourages bullies to blossom. I hope that the lawsuit is directed to the responsible parties involved. Oh, what am I thinking? School district employees are NEVER held personally responsible for their actions. They usually resign. Translation: early retirement with no loss of benefits. They should personally pay ALL of the damages this girl deserves, be fired with no benefits, and be required to go through classes that teach about the bad results of bullying.
The Board members should all be held personally responsible for not setting in place a policy that would make bulling stop at all district campuses.
Absurd, just absurd. The parents should be held accountable, not the staff members, jackass!
I’m a teacher. EVERYONE should be held accountable. Calling someone a name is cyber bullying. Bullying should be taken care of immediately. If a student comes to me crying…I will immediately call the school office who then alerts the principal. In the district I work for, bullying would never be tolerated.
this is just another form of violence that is not being addressed in the lower grades and because it is not punished with swift, predictable and appropriate consequences, it will continue. Shame on the school districts for wanting to sweep things under the carpets!
School not responsible for bullies parents of bullies are!
Vasquez is the worst school that I have ever taught at. The administration does nothing to curb the atmosphere of “the kids are running the asylum.”. In my entire teaching career, I had never received the abuse I received there as a teacher. In one class, students were burning words into the carpet, with the teacher in the classroom. She told the students it was her last year and she wasn’t going to do anything and they could do whatever they wanted. The teachers want to be buddy buddy with the kids and do very little, if any, discipline. The few teachers who did attempt to discipline and run a decent classroom, were harassed by the administration and most were let go. When disciplined, the students would run out of the classroom and go to the admins who then would come and ask the teacher what he/she did. Unbelievable. I really felt sorry for the handful of students who really did want to learn and who had respect, since so much time was taken up with these rowdy out of control kids. Many parents were pulling their kids out to home school them, and in this situation, I believe that is the best thing that can be done. Some students were enrolled in two classes the very same period (which is so against the educational code)…but at Vasquez, it’s whatever the kid wants. I am glad to be away from there. Many kids are hurting at that school because of the bullies.
I don’t know the direct details of this case but I think bullying has gone on for decades and will continue to do so regardless of how much we educate our children. It’s very sad & unfortunate. However taking away a person’s lively I think is going a little over the top. Yes they may have known about a fight that may or may not have been planned but to hold that supervisor or teacher responsible and taking there income away I think is going overboard. Jobs are hard enough to get especially in education positions. I think it’s more the parents fault for bringing up a child that is violent against other kids. I know 1st hand what it’s like to be bullied but I also know what it’s like to grow up as an outstanding athlete and being able to defend myself and others who were still getting bullied until I really started to grow in high school. I’m not saying everyone will get the chance I had to be drafted out of high school and again from college to play baseball but I know what it’s like to be bullied and it sucks. But to take away a livelihood is just wrong unless they were there and did nothing to stop it. But then they would’ve been sued for laying there hands on a minor. Unfortunately there’s no way to win as an outsider. Let’s keep teaching kids at home 1st that it’s wrong to bully then let teachers do there job and teach not parent. Just my opinion.
Very pretty girl, Kimberly is probably a sweet young lady, bullies r jealous of her so they have to b very mean, I had to put my daughter’s in homeschooling back in 1996, because of bullies, one of my girls was threatened everyday, both graduated in 1999 at homeschool. Homeschooling is not a bad thing, I think they learn more and they don’t let them fail. They can also take collage classes even though in high school. Best wishes to u Kimberly.
I am a counselor for the hart district and about 7 or 8 years ago my school adopted a very structured no-nonsense bully prevention program. Our students sign a contract at the beginning of the year saying that basically it is everyone’s responsibility at the school to keep it as safe as it currently is. Everything is confidential when it comes to reporting bullying, everything is taken seriously and investigated. We have what is called a bully box in our main lobby and the students are expected to use it as frequently as necessary. All of the staff at my school sign a contract as well saying that they are here to support the students. All of the counselors do a presentation at the beginning of the year stressing the importance of bully prevention. We also have the group Teen Truth come out in October to do a presentation.
As a school counselor, I do not want to bash on any other school but it is critical that we all take this issue seriously and try our best to keep our children safe!
Not that I am defending bullying although, does anyone realize that the “real” world has no such protections? I’m sorry but, we need to teach not to “run and tell” but rather get used to it, get beyond it and stand up for yourself if necessary. Do not teach the children to be so thin skinned otherwise they will not last a week in the “real” day to day world.
Been teaching out of the country for past thirteen years. I must say the overall dynamics concerning issues about bullying and personal safety of students has really changed. What in the world have we been doing or not doing which has allowed things like bullying to become so center stage? I agree a bully personality begins in the home, thats where the roots are and a no tolerance policy at school is a must.You cannot hold teachers responsible for everything. They already where too many hats for failed parenting skills. Who will want a career that demands so much for so little in return?
I feel so bad for you now
I have a story, too. Please contact me if you need my support for your case.
A. Mom