CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman County Schools is addressing concerns from parents and the community following a recent student fight on a school bus that was recorded and widely shared online.
In a statement released earlier this week, the district said the matter was “handled swiftly and effectively.”
Superintendent Dr. Shane Barnette spoke with The Tribune to provide further details on how the district responds to bullying, online harassment and the spread of sensitive content.
Barnette said no two bullying cases are alike, and administrators work to gather as much evidence as possible before taking action with discipline.
“Our administrators always try to gather as much evidence as possible and this may include personal witnesses, camera footage and any other information that is available,” he said. “While this incident was more of an assault than ongoing bullying, but with ongoing bullying, administration try to determine when and how this got started so that hopefully they can get to the core of the issue.”
He added that punishments are meant to be consistent with past cases, and more serious offenses may lead to due process hearings outside the local school level.
When asked about non-physical bullying, Barnette noted the challenges posed by harassment, intimidation and online activity.
“More often than not, much of the bullying that occurs in our schools is not physical. This is actually more of a challenge and harder to address especially when it occurs online or just verbally,” he said. “Many students, as well as adults, believe that once they delete this information from their personal phones that it goes away, but it doesn’t. There is always a trail that can be retrieved.”
Barnette confirmed that all reports, regardless of type, are investigated.
“All reports of bullying are investigated regardless the form that they are in,” he said, adding that teachers handle minor incidents daily, with administrators and law enforcement stepping in when needed.
The superintendent also addressed the policy on recording and uploading videos of fights.
“While we have a general policy about the proper use of technology, the issue in this situation would be more about promoting the incident and infringing on the rights of other students, which would fall under the Jamari Williams Student Bullying Prevention Act,” he said. Posting such content, he explained, risks prolonging bullying for both the victim and the aggressor.
On the question of banning phones on buses, Barnette said the district currently allows them during bus rides, though restrictions may change if problems continue.
“We currently have cameras on all of our buses so the argument over the need for students to video events for evidence isn’t applicable,” he said.
Support for victims, he noted, comes through counselors, social workers and prevention lessons, though online exposure is difficult to undo once content spreads.
“We routinely do preventative lessons about all types of bullying, but many times once content such as this is all over the web it is hard to stop it,” Barnette said.
He also criticized adults for their role in sharing the video.
“While the video that was shared so many times was videoed by a student, most of the shares and posts came from adults,” Barnette said. “Many people shared and posted it just for the thrill of having someone like or click on their post. That is a sad trend in our society right now. I like to think we are better than that. My message to adults is, let’s stop spreading content online that isn’t positive.”
Barnette said the district also focuses on prevention through digital citizenship programs and monitoring student accounts. But in this case, he said, “The online activity is coming from adults for the most part.”
He added that both the victim and the aggressor deserve protection, as both are minors.
To parents who feel their child’s bullying cases were not addressed, Barnette said discipline is never shared publicly, even with other parents.
“Many times parents think nothing happened because the school administrators will not share what discipline or actions were taken with any child besides that child’s parents or guardians,” he said. “Every time someone breaks in line of another student or does something they shouldn’t have, it isn’t always considered bullying. True bullying, which is continued activities targeted at a student, result in increased discipline fairly.”
Barnette also responded to concerns about families removing children from buses or the district altogether.
“We have not had a large number of students removed from our buses or our school system over safety concerns. I feel like our school system does an excellent job taking steps to keep our students safe,” he said. “I feel like our schools are some of the safest places around.”
On the question of a stronger social media policy, Barnette said he believes accountability is essential.
“Posting images of anyone being humiliated is wrong, but anyone that posts images of children in this light should be held accountable,” he said. “Young people make mistakes and poor decisions. … I believe anytime someone posts a video or message pertaining to a minor online without their parents’ permission, there should be consequences.”
Barnette closed with a message for parents and the wider community: “I believe it all starts at home. We all have to begin at a very young age raising our children to respect other people and to treat them the way we want to be treated. We will continue to teach good behaviors and have bullying prevention lessons, but if someone is repeatedly being aggressive (toward) your child, please let the administration know so that they can investigate and help put an end to it.”
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