Parents want more action against alleged bullying

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http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local & id=7705626

Parents want more action against alleged bullying

Monday, October 04, 2010

Gene Apodaca

LA PORTE, TX (KTRK) -- As awareness of the dangers of bullying continues to

rise, a local family says their son was attacked by bullies, despite his efforts

to get help.

La Porte High School student Cody Lane, 18, suffers from autism. That's why his

parents believe he's being picked on. With only months to go to grauduation,

they worry their son's future is up in the air.

With an obvious black eye and several bumps still on his head, Cody shutters to

think about ever returning to school.

" You don't want to go back? we asked him.

" No, " he said.

" Why not? " we asked.

" Too much of that stuff always happens, " he answered.

The latest series of events started Wednesday when Cody claims a fellow student

yelled and pushed him as he walked home from school. It's an attack he says he

reported himself to police by calling 911. On Thursday, Cody claims the bullying

only persisted. He claims serious remarks were made as he rode the bus.

" He was threatening to shoot me and kill me and leave me laying out by the

ground, " said Cody.

District officials confirm administrators and police met with both students

Thursday and thought they had settled their differences. However, a day later,

Cody claims the other student's best friend attacked him, hitting him several

times before a teacher split it up.

" They just let it slide by. What if that kid would have had a knife or a gun? "

wondered Rick Molina, Cody's father.

" Do you think the district dropped the ball? " we asked spokesperson Terri Cook

with the La Porte ISD.

" I think the district did what needed to be done in that circumstance, " she

answered. " Our administration and the police responded both times. "

But Cody's parents say it's not just this one case. They say Cody's been bullied

ever since he started school at La Porte High School. In a text message, Cody

reportedly told his parents that he wanted to transfer schools to get away from

the evil.

" Anyone who knows Cody knows he's a good kid, " said Molina, Cody's

mother. " After this fight, after what this child did, my son stood up and shook

his hand. They saw that on the videotape, because he has a good heart. "

The other student was suspended and charged with assault. The district is

investigating the prior cases in which Cody claims to have been bullied. They

say they take all the claims very seriously.

Meanwhile, Cypress-Fairbanks ISD is conducting an investigation to find out how

their employees did, or did not, respond to reports of bullying that led a young

boy to kill himself. Asher Brown killed himself last month after his family says

he endured years of bullying about his clothes, his religion and his sexual

orientation. The family says school officials repeatedly refused to meet with

them. School officials are denying that, but say they are doing an extensive

review of their records, phone logs and interviews to find out what happened.

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