ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) – A Cosgrove Middle School student and her parents are speaking out after they claim that a group of boys involved in a bullying incident did not face appropriate consequences.
Kim and Shaun Sick said the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, along with the Greece and Ogden Police Departments, are investigating the matter.
Their daughter, Lia Sick, an 8th grader, described the bullying incident that occurred on November 22. She said that a group of boys surrounded her and slammed her against her locker at the end of the school day.
Lia explained that the same group of boys has been bullying her since 6th grade, and while it used to make her cry, she is now fed up with feeling like a victim. “They shoved me full speed right into my locker,” Lia recounted.
“I think three or four put their hands on me, but still those are boys against me, and after that, I just started hitting them and telling them to go away. Just leave me alone.”
Lia’s father, Shaun, expressed his anger upon learning about the incident and his daughter’s concern that she might get in trouble for defending herself. “No parent wants to hear that their 13-year-old daughter is being assaulted by six boys,” he said.
Since sharing their story on social media, the Sick family has received hateful and threatening messages from students, but they’ve also heard from numerous parents concerned about bullying at the school.
“At least 20 people have reached out and said, ‘My child is getting this,’” Kim Sick said, adding that these issues seem to be confined to this particular group of students.
The Sick family believes that the three-day suspension given to the students involved is insufficient. They also noted that their daughter, Lia, is being punished, as she now has to be escorted around school and eat lunch in a teacher’s classroom for safety.
The family is hoping that the ongoing investigation by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will result in stronger consequences for the students responsible.
News 8 reached out to law enforcement and the Spencerport Central School District for an update. Last week, the district notified Cosgrove Middle School families about an incident involving verbal and physical harassment.
The district encouraged anyone with more information to contact the Safe School Helpline and reminded parents to monitor their children’s use of social media and messaging apps.
The Spencerport Central School District released a statement emphasizing its commitment to ensuring students feel safe and secure at school.
