CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla.-- Parents are calling for more action after a student ended up in the hospital for trying to stop a bully.
You’ve seen a few times here in the last few months. Bullying in Charlotte County.
But this time, a 13 year-old student, Zane Skowronski was trying to stop the bullying, at his bus stop, and ended up in the hospital.
"Then right where that yellow line ends over there, he punched me in the face, that’s what happened,” Zane said.
Zane said bullying is that much of a problem at his school, but that’s not necessarily the case at the other 21 schools in Charlotte County.
Charlotte County Schools have received 90 bullying reports since the start of the school year.
"Every case is dealt with individually and it’s looked at in different ways, you look at the behavior of the child that’s being bullied and the child that’s the bully and you gauge that and judge it on that,” said Charlotte County School Liaison, Mike Riley.
90 reports are 90 more than what the county wants. The school system does have a way to report and investigate bullying, it’s called the ‘Bully Button.’ It’s a button that allows parents, students, and faculty to report bullying at any time, so counselors can look into it.
"If it’s factual, they have an opportunity for counseling with the social worker, or the guidance counselor at the school for both the bully and the person who’s being bullied,” said Riley.
Even with the petitions for change in schools, parents and faculty to agree on one thing. In order for bullying to stop, they have to work together.
"So recognizing the signs and the issues, in advance before it is that bad situation I guess is what I’m looking for and parents talking to their kids about what bullying even is,” said Zane’s mother, Heather Skorownski.
