A distressed teen disclosed that she self-injures as a result of bullying at the same New Jersey high school where a 14-year-old girl committed suicide due to bullying.
Danielle Ledesma, 17 years old, poured out her heart in front of current and former students, parents, and members of the Central Regional School District board on Thursday night as she described her own personal experience.
The adolescent and her mother were among the hundreds who addressed the systemic issues of bullying in the region, with Danielle stating that self-harm was her “only escape.”
Following the tragic suicide of 14-year-old Adriana Kuch, incidents of bullying, sexual assault, and racism have been thrust into the national spotlight.
They emerged as it was revealed that the disgraced former superintendent Triantafillos Parlapanides is still receiving his $190,000 salary despite resigning after smearing Kuch.
Danielle wiped away tears as she told the board members, “You guys have done nothing, and I’m trying so hard to just talk and get your attention.”
“We are mourning the loss of a student, and I am furious and upset with each and every one of you.”
I had been making cuts. It is my only means of escape. I will return home terrified and threatened.
There are a few individuals who do not belong here.
Concerned members of the public filled the entire auditorium at Central Regional High School as they addressed eleven school board members, including the acting superintendent Dr. Douglas Corbett, Board President Denise Wilson, faculty, and the board’s attorney.
It is the first time members of the Central Regional School District have addressed the public since the suicide of 14-year-old Adriana in her Bayville, New Jersey home on February 3.
Members of the public were asked to line up and address the board members within a 3-minute time limit, during which harrowing cases of current and former bullying cases illustrated what many have called a ‘inherent’ problem in the Ocean County school district.
Milo Luga, a student in grade 11, stated that she has been bullied every school day since grade 7.
Every day in the hallways, I am victimized by bullies… I had photos posted on social media,’ she confessed, fighting back tears.
“I’ve been to mental hospitals and committed suicide as a result of events at this school.
My mother has contacted the school, but nothing has been done. It never truly ceases.
Echo McNichols, a former student, stated that she was ‘bullied out of school’ at the age of 13.
She said, “These people and a few others I didn’t know told me I was fat and ugly and that I should kill myself.”
They sent me images of firearms and threatened to send individuals to raped me.
“I saved myself because you were unable to.” The silence says it all,’ she concluded to the stony reception after speaking.
One student reported having “extreme anxiety” because of Central Regional School, adding, “I was Adriana last year.”
Maria stated that she left Central Regional High School in 1990 due to a ‘threat in school’
“He told me he would find people to beat me up,” she explained, adding that she now fears for her child who attends the school.
She stated, “My daughter shouldn’t have to self-harm because of you people.”
The majority of parents who addressed the audience echoed the sentiment that the school board should be dismantled.
John, whose children attend the school, said, “This school system is under national scrutiny, and you’re failing our students.”
It is your responsibility to care for and educate these children, as well as their parents, who do not feel heard.
“Stop assuming that parents are ignorant; we’re not. Tell us what’s happening to our children in school.”
Since moving to the district, another mother stated that her autistic son has been bullied and assaulted by bullies every year, with the only respite occurring during COVID when lessons were conducted remotely. She stated that she had documentation of seven attacks on the child, which left him in a fetal position on the ground.
The afflicted woman also accused staff of a cover-up by alleging that video footage of one of the assaults had been ‘corrupted’, despite her ability to obtain a copy of the assault.
In spite of her efforts to protect gay students, a former teacher at the school reported that it was a hotbed of homophobic bullying during her tenure.
Parents of the Central Regional School District have been collecting publicly accessible information for a petition to investigate the Central Regional School District administration.
The petition states, “In light of recent events at CRSD, it is evident that the administration has not been following policies and procedures to protect students from harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB).”
In the past five years, 115 HIB incidents were reported at the middle school, but only 52 were proven.
There have been 77 reported HIB incidents at the high school, with only 11 confirmed.
They wrote, “It is implausible that the middle school averages only 23 HIB incidents per year and the high school averages 14 HIB incidents per year.”
The question is why these incidents are so severely under reported.
During the 15-month school year from September 2021 to January 2023, police responded to the high school and middle school nearly 115 times for reports of juvenile problems, threats, harassment, or follow-up investigations.
In this time period, the police responded to the district 42 percent of the 270 school days for reports of juvenile disturbances, they said.
Yet, HIB incidents only indicate that there have been 115 incidents over the past five years; the numbers do not add up.
We demand that parents and guardians receive information and have full involvement and notice in any HIB investigation involving their child.
At a press briefing held just hours before the meeting with parents, which lasted from 7 p.m. to 10.30 p.m. on Thursday, the acting superintendent, Dr. Douglas Corbett, outlined the policies and procedures currently in place as well as those that will be implemented in the wake of the tragedy.
Corbett stated, “Everyone at Central Regional School District and Central Regional High School mourns the loss of Adriana Kuch.”
In this time of sorrow, our thoughts and prayers are with her family and friends. The circumstances surrounding her death are troubling, and we share the community’s dismay.’
In a small press room at Central Regional High School, Corbett addressed policies and procedures in place to deal with a’systemic’ and ‘violent’ culture in the region, as described by the school community.
When asked at the press briefing if he was qualified for the position in light of student allegations that he ‘laughed off sexual assault’ claims, he refused to answer directly, instead insisting that ‘better communication’ was required across the district.
He stated, “I believe the biggest problem we’ve had is communication.”
One of the things I’m going to do better is communicate the positive things we’re doing, the services we offer, and the responses we already have in place, so that the students know we’re always here to help.
Adriana was only a freshman at Central Regional High School in Bayville, where her family relocated seven years prior due to her father’s military service as an Army Airborne soldier.
Her suicide has been a lightning rod, calling into question the school board and administrative positions.
Following the suicide, reports of bullying, racism, and sexual assault have surfaced, and hundreds have protested the administration’s inaction in the region.
Corbett stated that the organization is ‘committed’ to learning from the tragedy and emphasized the current harassment, intimidation, and bullying policy.
He stated, “Our current harassment, intimidation, and bullying policies and procedures are up-to-date and in accordance with all applicable state laws and department of education regulations.”
All complaints filed by family members of students or other members of the school community are documented and investigated, and the results of these investigations are kept confidential.
A full team of specialists is dedicated to the physical and emotional health of students, he continued.
He stated, “Three anti-bullying specialists are available, and a 27-member crisis team has been trained and mobilized to conduct interviews in conflicts as soon as possible.”
Stacey Ehling and David Klucsek, crisis public relations specialists for Princeton Strategic Communications, swiftly quelled inquiries about Adriana’s death. They were brought on by the district to address the overwhelming number of questions asked of the school following the tragedy.
Instead, Corbett listed the policies they hoped to implement, despite the school’s history of bullying allegations and lawsuits.
These upcoming endeavors include:
Establishment of a committee, including parents, to evaluate and revise our approach to bullying and other issues;
Employing a third party to review our policies and responses to this crisis.
Conducting a review of the District’s cell phone policy;
Scheduling an assembly for students to discuss bullying, social media risks, and other contemporary issues;
Establishing a toll-free hotline operated by a third party for students to call (anonymously if desired) if they feel physically or digitally threatened;
Organizing speakers for student assemblies centered on avoiding and preventing risky behavior;
Organizing parent education and information sessions to help them comprehend bullying, harassment, and other issues affecting our students;
Additional training for faculty, staff, and parents on how to recognize potential problem situations; and
More frequent communications with parents, guardians, and the community at large regarding new and existing programs and services.
Corbett explained, “These are just a few examples of ideas, and we look forward to developing these and other initiatives further.”
In accordance with State law and Department of Education requirements, the District maintains a policy on Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying, including procedures for addressing bullying incidents.
Central Regional personnel are assigned to anti-bullying programs, and the District maintains a professional staff dedicated to other aspects of child safety and welfare.
Additionally, the District trains and maintains a 27-member crisis team that can be activated when necessary.
It will take time to determine how to improve these priorities and to implement effective solutions. However, we will not stand still,’ said Corbett.
“We are committed to learning from this tragedy and listening to our parents, students, and community,” the statement reads.
Central Regional High School enrolls approximately 1,500 students in grades 9 through 12.
The District contains Berkeley Township, Island Heights, Ocean Gate, Seaside Heights, and Seaside Park.
‘Throughout the school year, multiple ongoing programs and formal training sessions address bullying and harassment,’ he said.
“Each year, all faculty and staff are required to complete training in specific areas,” and we adhere to this requirement.
Additionally, we are reaching out to state and national organizations for assistance in identifying policy and procedure enhancements that comply with state and federal laws.
On Thursday evening, hundreds of New Jersey residents attended an emotional school board meeting.
Adriana committed suicide and was discovered in her home’s closet on February 3, after footage of her being beaten in the school hallway was posted to social media.
At the meeting, officials addressed residents who demanded action, with many accusing the administration of failing to address a ‘innate’ and ‘evil’ problem of ‘violence and bullying’ in the district.
The Central Regional School District in Ocean County appointed Corbett as their acting superintendent after disgraced official Triantafillos Parlapanides resigned due to ‘insensitive’ remarks made to DailyMail.com in an email regarding the tragedy.
Last week, dozens of students in the area staged a walkout to protest the district’s lack of action against bullying.
Last week, the Ocean County prosecutor’s office reportedly met with school officials to investigate allegations that the district failed to address bullying in the area.
Following the tragedy, the superintendent of the school district, Triantafillos Parlapanides, responded to inquiries about her death with slanderous accusations against her family.
The official, who was paid $190,000 annually, stated that the 14-year-old was offered drug counseling.
He also made a shocking accusation against the girl’s grieving father Michael, a 22-year Army veteran, claiming he ‘had an affair’ when Adriana was seven, which led to her mother’s suicide, and then’moved the woman into the house.’
In addition to his emails to DailyMail.com, Parlapanides, the town’s highest-paid school administrator, defended himself on Facebook by asserting that ‘every story has two sides’.
After hearing the news of Adriana’s death, an alumna stated she would never send her children to the school.
Hundreds of students and local residents gathered outside the school to mourn the teen’s death and demand action after the emails were revealed.
Students and parents gathered outside the school with protest signs in response to what they termed a “shocking lack of sensitivity” on the part of the “administration that swore to protect” them.
The disgraced superintendent stepped down from his lucrative six-figure position and resigned in the days following the scandal, but he is still being paid, according to a shocking revelation made at a public seminar on Thursday.
The day prior to his decision, a funeral home had opened its doors for visitation so that mourners could pay their respects.
Former faculty members have also spoken out in the wake of the tragedy, criticizing the district for failing to take action against rampant student bullying.
Daniel Keiser, who claims to have worked for two decades at Central Regional High School, stated that the bullying that led to Adriana’s suicide was ‘not new’.
In a Facebook post, he stated, ‘It is tragic that something of this nature had to occur to wake people up. There were days when I broke up three fights before the start of homeroom.
The teacher criticized the district for fostering ‘a climate’ of bullying over many years, stating that district officials were notorious for’sweeping things under the rug’
My heart breaks for the parents and family of this young girl.
Michael Kuch responded to the superintendent’s attempt to deflect blame for the tragedy onto Adriana’s family.
In an interview with DailyMail.com, he described how Adriana’s mother struggled with addiction and tragically passed away in 2015, when Adriana was only seven years old.
He denied Parlapanides’ claims that his daughter was offered ‘drug counseling,’ instead explaining that he and his wife sought help for her because she had been vaping marijuana, as did many students at the school.
Mr. Kuch responded to the superintendent’s emails by stating, “I do not know how to respond to this insanity.”
At the same time he was preparing for his daughter’s funeral, he said, “This guy is a piece of s**t.”
He also criticized the school’s system for allowing the bullying, stating that if the videos had not been distributed, the perpetrators would have received a one-day suspension or been in no trouble.
He continued, “I cannot express how angry I am with the school and the police department.”
“The [school] has taken no action. They should not be responsible for the safety of our children.
In a social media post, former student CeCe Lane repeated her complaints about the school’s severe problem with bullying. She stated that teachers frequently did nothing to prevent bullying, instead opting to simply watch.
Lane stated that she was once assaulted by another student in the school gymnasium while teachers hid behind locker room doors.
She stated, “They did not bother to assist.”
“I know numerous individuals who were bullied, beaten, and humiliated, but the school always turned a blind eye.
You are responsible for protecting these students and preventing bullying. However, you have failed.
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