Several recent articles have been published regarding the revelations of suspected abuse or neglect of an autistic Shelby Middle School student in gym class with three laughing coaches and many students witnessing the beating of the student. All this was brought out by two speakers at the April 8, 2019 school board meeting that prompted me to report the incident to the Shelby Police Department as well as the Cleveland County Department of Social Services. North Carolina law requires anyone with a “suspicion” of child abuse, neglect or dependency to report their suspicion to the Director of Social services in the County the child resides in. Apparently, I was the only person that abided by the law in this incident. Although others informed school officials and one of the laughing coaches (it should have been all the coaches suspended from the get-go) was allegedly forced to retire early over the incident. I suppose that coach is not laughing any more. However, Dr. Dustin Bridges, the Principal of Shelby Middle School made sure the security camera footage of the alleged “beating” incident was destroyed amidst the controversy.
Well, since my report to the DSS as well as the Shelby Police Department, several things have happened:
1. I received a written request from the School SRO asking for the names of witnesses, which I provided. Those witnesses also provided the SRO with the names of the three coaches. Then I was told the SRO works for Shelby Middle School and NOT the Shelby Police Department. A claim that I do not believe. But if the SRO is doing the investigation and HE believes that he works for Shelby Middle School, then the SRO has a conflict and should never be the one doing any kind of unbiased investigation regarding my official complaint.
2. On April 21, 2019 I received a letter from DSS, dated April 12, 2019 and under the letterhead of Jane Shooter, DSS interim Director and well-known and long-time conspirator telling me that DSS did NOT investigate such matters as “school teachers, school personnel and school staff are not considered to be caregivers” and my report had been referred to the Shelby Police Department. Chief Jeff Ledford is the SPD Chief of Police and would be the person in charge of ensuring the proper person was assigned to perform an unbiased and independent investigation of the allegation. I have not received any official notice from the SPD regarding the proper assignment of a trained investigator or the results of such an investigation. I would also note that the Federal Lawsuit filed by Mr. Willie Green against the City of Shelby and City Manager Rick Howell indicate to me that it is very likely that the Shelby Police Department, as well as other city departments, have not received proper oversight and direction from the Mayor, City Council and City Manager on down in quite some time.
That being said:
I have received feedback from the witnesses that provided information to the Shelby Middle School Principal, spoke at the CCS Board meeting and provided input to the SMS SRO that the “official” story (that I believe to be a made-up lie) is that the autistic child was just a part of a “game” and was not “hurt.”
At this time, I am going to ask you readers a question that I have asked myself. Is it proper for three laughing gym coaches to single out an autistic-handicapped child with communication issues and play “games” with him in front of a whole class? Especially when at least some of those other students perceived the “game” to actually being a beating? To such an extent that Principal Bridges saw fit to have or allow the security footage of the incident be destroyed. An action that is backed by the school administration and school board, except for Danny Blanton.
As for me, I would say that what the inconsiderate and bullying coaches might consider a “game” was in reality a very cruel “game,” an act of bullying. A joke of a game. A cruel game that only bullies at heart could or would laugh about. I would say the beating “game” may not have hurt the autistic-handicapped child very much physically; emotionally it was abusive to the highest degree of brutality as well as a very bad example for the other students in the gym class. A bad example that some students might repeat on the playground, in the classroom, on the street or on the school bus. Bad to the bone and condoned by the Principal, Superintendent and the School Board. All made liars by their propaganda saying Cleveland County schools are a “No-Bullying Zone.” And CCS is the biggest bully of all.
So, what to do??
Remember folks, 2020 is election time for five school board members. Shearra Miller, Richard Hooker, Roger Harris, Jo Boggs and Jeff Jones. Let’s all us voters give these five the Heave-Ho on Election Day by voting for five good candidates who will not play games with handicapped students as well as with the education and future of all our children.