A mother says she’s devastated after her 14-year-old son was attacked at Immokalee Middle School.
Edith Ramos tells Gulf Coast News she rushed to the school on Tuesday after learning her son, L, was bleeding from the head and had a broken arm. He later received seven staples and a cast.
“I feel awful for him right now, and I wouldn’t want anyone else to feel what I’m going through with my son; they split his head open and broke his arm,” Ramos said in Spanish. “There’s a lot of bullying at this school.”
L says the incident started in class when another student, who he says has bullied him before, began making fun of his parents. His dad is currently in immigration custody.
“He was talking bad about my mom, I guess he knew my dad is in immigration hold, laughing that he’s in custody right now,” L said. “He came from behind and smashed my head.”
According to the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, surveillance video shows L walking out of class, followed by the other student, who then spun Leonel around, slamming his head against a brick wall. When he fell, he broke his arm.
Ironically, the incident came the day before Collier County Public Schools’ Bullying Prevention Day, when students and staff are encouraged to wear orange to promote kindness and inclusion. CCPS says they encourage every student to recognize bullying, empathize with those affected, and take meaningful action by speaking up or reporting the behavior to a trusted adult.
In a statement to Gulf Coast News, Collier County Public Schools said:
“Immokalee Middle School administration worked cooperatively with the Collier County Sheriff’s Office to investigate and address the incident you reference. Collier County Public Schools maintains zero tolerance for discriminatory and harassing misconduct. Discipline information is part of a student’s academic record and is protected from release by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
For your awareness, all violations of the Collier County Public Schools Code of Student Conduct shall be addressed via the Discipline Matrix in the Code of Student Conduct.
Our school and district staff members promptly respond to parent and student concerns and act in accordance with School Board policy. District School Board of Collier County Policy 5517.01 prohibits bullying and harassment and outlines consequences, reporting, and the investigative process.”
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office also confirmed to Gulf Coast News that the case remains active.
“This remains an open investigation. Detectives will be working with the guardians of the students involved, interviewing witnesses, and collecting and processing evidence relating to this encounter.”
Ramos says she plans to press charges. She told Gulf Coast News she holds no hate toward the boy or his parents but hopes they talk to their son so no other family has to go through what hers did.
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Source: gulfcoastnewnow
