A Northern Lehigh parent is asking the school district for help because he said his daughter is being bulled.

Jason and Tamara Fahringer addressed the school board last week about the incidents involving their elementary-school-aged daughter.

“I am here tonight because I have a serious concern about the safety and well-being of my daughter, and I believe the district needs to take a closer look at how bullying, threats, and ongoing harassment are being handled,” Jason Fahringer said.

In addition to disturbing comments, Fahringer said, “These two students have also recruited other peers to try and physically harm my daughter on school grounds. There have also been other troubling statements, as well as degrading and scandalous content posted on TikTok that has been taken down due to their Cyber bullying policy.”

He said he contacted police and school officials, but the bullying and threats have continued.

He added, “The comments about harming another student combined with threatening behavior on social media should not simply be brushed aside as ordinary school drama. These incidents deserve to be taken seriously, documented, and appropriately investigated.”

Adequate response?

Fahringer said he was particularly concerned that these incidents have continued after they were reported. When concerns are brought to the attention of school officials and the behavior persists, it raises important questions about whether the response is adequate and what additional steps are needed.”

Fahringer asked the board to review how these incidents have been handled and determine whether the district’s bullying, student safety and threat response policies have been followed and revise as needed.

“This situation has been allowed to spiral because the consequences haven’t been painful enough for these students to stop. It’s been my daughter having her classes adjusted, lunch routine changed, it’s affecting her grades, it’s affecting her mental health, Fahringer said.

He asked the board to ensure that all reported incidents, including relevant social media threats are properly documented and investigated.

“Because these, while the school took a look at them; that’s where I’d like a little clarification on the cyber bullying policy where it says on school grounds and off school grounds, they’re being sent to all the students. These are 11-year-old girls that are sending them, my son has friends that have seen them, it’s going through the middle school, so we’re getting this secondhand from other children and families.

He asked the board to ensure that students who report bullying are protected from retaliation and that incidents are addressed properly.

Finally, he asked the board to provide parents with the process for reporting concerns, the steps being taken to address safety issues, and the appropriate follow-up procedures.

“No parent should have to report these threats and wonder whether anything will change. No child should have to wait for a situation to get worse before adults take action.

Mom speaks out

His wife, Tamara, said she is a pediatric psychiatric nurse since 2005, and a certified school nurse for the last seven years.

“I have coached, volunteered and donated countless hours to our school and community,” Tamara said. “I love this community, and that is why I’m here; because the adults trust it to protect our children are failing and it has pushed our kids to a breaking point.”

Tamara said her children are not on social media.

“This harassment is happening face to face on your property and in our community.”

She mentioned incidents with youth sports.

Tamara thanked school Principal Todd Breiner, whom she said has been “wonderful,” along with other school staff members.

Tamara said the issue, resolved last school year, began on her daughter’s first day of school in August.

“My daughter has missed 10-plus days of school, I have missed 10-plus days of work,” she said. “We’ve had to seek medical attention, mental health attention; police in our home, police in the community, it’s really been exhausting to say the least.

“This is bigger than our daughter; it’s about every student whose parents trust this district to provide a safe environment. Policies without enforcement are just words, safety without accountability is just a promise.

Board President Mathias Green thanked the Fahringers.

“Obviously we can’t make a public comment about what you’re asking,” Green said. “We can’t publicly comment about what you’re asking on because it’s about students, student discipline, etc.”

After the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link noted what a school district does to address perceived school bullying during the school day on school grounds and within the limits that it’s legally allowed to act within.

“I know that our administration, faculty, and staff goes above and beyond to support students,” said Link, who added he did agree with what Tamara Fahringer said when she thanked Breiner along with other school staff members for their support in the matter.