Are Penn Hills school administrators doing enough to address bullying among students?

That question was a focus of discussion at a town hall meeting April 18 that was hosted by the Penn Hills NAACP that drew about 30 students, parents, community members and school board representatives.

The school district plans to launch a districtwide anti-bullying program at the start of the 2010-11 school year. Several of those at the meeting said such measures were needed immediately.

The parent of a kindergarten student and the parent of a first-grade student, both at Forbes Elementary, said their children were afraid to ride a school bus because of bullying by older children. The parents are now driving the children to and from school.

Another parent reported that her daughter's self-esteem has been "ruined" by bullying at Penn-Hebron Elementary.

A Penn-Hebron student who has learning difficulties was "smacked" in the face and back by another student, said the girl's mother. The mother called the school about the incident but said she did not get a return call.

School board member Erin Vecchio told of a female high school student who was bullied so much by other girls, she considered quitting school.

"Bullying has always been around," Ms. Vecchio said, "but we have let it get out of control."

Adding to the sense of frustration at the meeting was the news that, two days earlier, a high school student bypassed security and brought a loaded gun into the school.

Although no threats were made and the student was immediately removed from the school, the incident prompted questions about the efficacy of security personnel and whether the district spends enough money on security measures.

"Our school district is an accident waiting to happen," Ms. Vecchio said.

No school district administrators were invited to the meeting.

On behalf of Superintendent Joseph Carroll, district spokeswoman Teresita Kolenchak said in an e-mail that the district has "looked into any and all reports [of bullying] in order to ascertain the level of seriousness and have taken the appropriate steps as per district policy."

"We investigate, determine culpability and mete out discipline as necessary. We have training programs for students and staff and have counseling programs to provide trained professional support for our students. There are rules that we are required to follow and we do so. People just may not always be satisfied with the results [of investigations]."

The use of the "parent concern form" that was crafted years ago by the school district and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People was discussed at the meeting.

Parents reported that the district gives them a copy of the form in a back-to-school folder, but they gave varying accounts about whether the form was offered to them when they called or visited schools to report bullying. Some said that when they have submitted the form, no follow-up has been taken.

"I am appalled," school board member Carolyn Faggioli said about the incidents that were related at the meeting. "All students need to feel safe at school. We need to address this as a board. ... We need to admit that we have these problems."

Ms. Faggioli urged parents to bring their concerns to school board meetings.

But some of those at the meeting questioned that suggestion, saying their complaints should be addressed at the building level or by the superintendent.

"There is a lack of accountability and sensibility to addressing [these] issues," said parent Shirrell Burton. "Why do parents have to go to the school board to get action? There are avenues in place. Why aren't they used?"

"Because they aren't doing their job," answered Penn Hills Deputy Mayor Sara Kuhn.

She challenged the school board members at the meeting, including her son, Don Kuhn, to use the existing chain of command.

"The school board supervises the superintendent, who supervises the principals," she said. "If a paid administrator is not doing the job, it is your job to do something about it."

Joyce Davis, of the NAACP, said she would send a letter to the school district asking for a written procedure for parent concern forms, for accountability in handling bullying and for anti-bullying training for students, teachers and parents.

Ms. Davis said she did not consider the bullying to be a racial issue, with either black or white students having a majority of problems.

"It's an accountability issue," she said.