Forest Hills students, parents speak up about preventing bullying in wake of student suicide

CAMBRIA COUNTY (WTAJ)– A community and school district are trying to heal, almost two months since 17-year-old Forest Hills student Brandyn Truscott took his own life.

At Tuesday night’s Forest Hills school board meeting parents and students spoke out against bullying, and suggested ways for the board to revise its anti-bullying policies. They were joined by a lone candle on the podium, in remembrance of Truscott.

“I see students being bullied every day,” ninth-grade student Zachariah Hedrick said. “Students being made to feel as though they are less than, every day. I see teachers, staff and other students who are letting it happen.”

Hedrick is one of many who are advocating for the district to adopt a zero-tolerance policy, that includes stronger penalties for bullies. However, Hedrick says he wasn’t at the meeting to yell at the school board, but to help search for a solution.

“Personally I was taken aside by the superintendent and the assistant superintendent and we had a meeting,” Hedrick said. “It was highly productive, so I think the school is doing a good job at communicating with the community.”

District Superintendent Dr. Dave Lehman says the board is currently in the process of reviewing their anti-bullying policies and finding new strategies that won’t interfere with other crisis procedures.

“We’re pretty happy right now that there has been community involvement,” Lehman said. “We have met with students, we’ve met with the parents. We’ve met with almost everyone who spoke at the board meeting. And I can’t thank the community enough for giving us ideas to help us implement some of these policies and practices that we’re doing right now.”

Changes that many at the meeting say can’t come soon enough.

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“Addressing mental health is a great thing, but we need to enforce and establish a zero tolerance policy,” one student in attendance said.

“Yes my daughter has been bullied for seven years now,” said one parent. “She can’t wait to graduate.”

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