“Trust Us” Isn’t Enough: Why Parents Must Demand Real Answers on Bullying Data

At our most recent PTO Open House Night with the Board of Education, one question was asked that deserves a direct, transparent answer:

Who is responsible for reporting bullying incidents at Pomfret Community School to the State of Connecticut?

When a Board member was asked this question, the response was simply, “the administration.” When pressed for clarification about who in the administration specifically, he glanced toward our principal, then looked back and repeated, “our administration.”

That is not an answer.

And that lack of specificity — combined with the fact that bullying data is neither easily accessible nor clearly explained to parents — should concern every family in Pomfret. If we don’t know who is accountable for reporting incidents, how can we be sure it’s being done accurately? How can we trust that the data we are being shown reflects the reality our students face every day?

Why Bullying Data Matters

During a time when parents are reporting more incidents and more concerns than ever before, our own Board continues to state in meetings that the number of bullying cases is “very small” — citing state data to back up that claim. But if the data is incomplete or not accurately reported, then those statements are misleading at best and dangerous at worst.

Bullying data isn’t just a statistic — it’s the foundation for how schools respond. It determines:

• Whether additional safety measures are implemented on buses and in hallways.

• Whether support services are provided to victims.

• How state policies, mandates, and funding decisions are shaped.

If those numbers are low because incidents aren’t being reported, it creates the false impression that there isn’t a problem — when in reality, there is.

“Restorative Practices” vs. Real Accountability

Right now, the district’s primary focus is on something called restorative practices — a philosophy centered on repairing harm and reintegrating students into the school community after they’ve caused harm. In theory, it’s about dialogue, accountability, and relationships.

In practice, however, restorative practices often mean the focus shifts from the victim to the perpetrator. The emphasis is placed on understanding why the bully acted out and helping them feel more supported — while the child who was physically assaulted on a bus or repeatedly harassed in a hallway is left feeling unsafe and unheard.

Restorative practices can play a role in behavior management, but they cannot and should not be the only response — especially when we’re talking about physical harm, threats, or repeated targeted abuse. Those incidents require firm consequences, accurate reporting, and full transparency

The Truth About Accessing Bullying Data

When I tried to find Pomfret’s bullying statistics on the state’s EdSight website, I discovered that the information appears to be suppressed or incomplete. After more digging, I learned why:

The state reports bullying as verified incident counts and number of students with at least one verified incident. However, for smaller schools like ours, those numbers are often hidden for privacy reasons — or they’re only available through a special “Bullying Export” tool that requires a SAS/EdSight login.

Here’s what that means for us as parents:

• ✅ EdSight Public: Anyone can view basic school data — things like enrollment, test scores, and limited discipline summaries.

• 🔒 EdSight Secure: Only authorized personnel (administrators, board members, or designated staff) can log in to view the detailed bullying data — including the number of verified incidents and demographic breakdowns.

  
  

In other words, parents and taxpayers cannot access this data on their own. The only ways to see it are to submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to the district or state — or to rely on what the administration chooses to share.

The Bigger Question: Why the Lack of Transparency?

This brings us back to the question no one seems willing to answer: Why is it so hard to get a straight answer from our current Board of Education and administration?

If the data is being reported accurately, why not show it?If incidents are being tracked thoroughly, why not name the individual responsible for reporting them?

And if everything is being handled properly, why have parents told me directly that they were never even notified about incidents involving their children?

It’s hard not to question whether the data is being underreported to make our numbers look better — whether for funding, ratings, or reputation. But if that’s the case, then we’re prioritizing appearances over student safety. And that is unacceptable.

We Owe Our Students — and Their Parents — Better

Every student in Pomfret deserves to attend a school where they feel safe. Every parent deserves accurate information about what’s happening inside our classrooms, our hallways, and on our buses. And every family deserves a Board of Education that doesn’t hide behind vague answers when safety is on the line.

What I’ll Do If Elected

If I’m elected to the Board of Education this fall, I will work tirelessly to:

✅ Push for transparent reporting policies so parents know exactly how bullying incidents are tracked and reported.

✅ Advocate for publicly accessible aggregate data — without violating privacy — so we can have honest conversations about what’s happening in our school.

✅ Ensure that victims’ safety is prioritized and that restorative practices never become an excuse for ignoring harmful behavior.

✅ Demand accountability from leadership — so “our administration” is no longer a vague shield against transparency, but a group of professionals parents can trust.

Because when it comes to the safety and well-being of our children, “just trust us” isn’t good enough anymore.

Want to learn more and ask all of your questions:

ATTEND THIS UPCOMING EVENT NEXT WEEK: PCS is hosting a Parent Information Night focused on Restorative Practices on October 15th at 6:00 PM in the school's cafeteria

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING: WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 22ND - 6:00 PM starting with a business meeting & followed up with presentations at 6:30 PM on Restorative Practices, Discipline & Testing