Parents Concerned Over Bullying

WAITSBURG – Several adults attended the Wed., Dec. 13 Waitsburg School Board meeting to express concerns about bullying in the school district following an altercation that took place on the high school lawn earlier that day.

The Walla Walla County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a simple assault between two teen girls at the high school on Wednesday afternoon. The two junior high students engaged in a physical altercation while other students stood by, watching.

Neither student was physically harmed in the incident.

At least one bystander took a video of the fight, which Sidney Eaton, whose daughter was involved in the altercation, later posted on Facebook.

Eaton addressed the school board during Wednesday night’s meeting saying that “the bullying in this school is ridiculous” and that bullying has been ongoing. Eaton said he had filed assault charges against the other student involved in the fight and is prepared to file a lawsuit against the school.

Another parent in attendance said she has three daughters in the elementary school who are victims of ongoing bullying. She said she has repeatedly approached school authorities, but nothing has changed.

The board thanked Eaton and the other parents in attendance for their comments but did not discuss the issue during the meeting.