A lawsuit filed against Branford school officials regarding bullying raises questions about the actions of the officials after a series of incidents, both in and outside of school.
Earlier this year, a family filed a lawsuit against the Town of Branford, The Branford Board of Education, and multiple officials, including former superintendents Hamlet Hernandez.
In the suit, allegations of bullying are made, as well as allegations of lack of action by school officials to handle the matter, with the victim being a 7th grader.
The incidents in question took place between February and June of 2022, where the victim’s parents are claiming the student was subject to bullying from one or more other students, “including hitting, punching, name-calling and psychological abuse.”
In one incident, the student was cornered in a bathroom at Walsh Intermediate School, photographs were taken of the student with threats to have them posted on social media.
The lawsuit lists multiple incidents, including March of 2022, then a student put his hands on the victim and pulled on his neck; one from April of 2022 where students shot the victim with a bead blaster gun filled with water beads while he was playing basketball; May of 2022 where the victims pencil sharpener was taken, and when he tried to retrieve it, was punched in the head; and an incident in May of 2022 where students stood outside the victims home, taunting him with homophobic slurs and sexual comments about touching genitalia, in full view of his family members.
The claim is that multiple school representatives were informed of the incidents, and proper protocols as detailed by the state were not followed.
Bullying laws in the state have been evolving, including a new laws passed just this year by Governor Ned Lamont that takes effect for the 2025-26 school year. But even prior to that, schools have strict protocols to follow regarding reporting, documentation and meeting with students to maintain a safe space; lawsuits regarding bullying in school often point to a failure to properly train school employees or to implement the plan in place.
The case is making its way through the court system, with a trial date set for the end of November.
I’m so disappointed in the officials that are in charge of NO bullying at Walsh Intermediate School. I grew up in Branford and there were ALWAYS bullies but not like now and I’ve heard at least three parents complain this past summer at the pool that their child was bullied and picked on and nothing was done. Shame on all of you!!!