Despite COVID-19 restrictions easing and taking place in classrooms before the start of the school year, parents continue to face threats of cyberbullying, post-pandemic isolation, and school shootings. He said he still has concerns, including fears.
Earlier this year, two Poughkeepsie children made threats against the school district, terrorizing many parents and students. This follows the May murder of 19 of her students and her two children in Uvalde, Texas.
“They came to us and shared with us what they were not doing well,” said Dr. Eric Rosser, superintendent of Poughkeepsie’s schools.
Rosser was awarded a $2.3 million state grant to expand mental health services for students and their families. He created a panel where students in grades 6 through his 12th grade can seek help from community-based partners and mental health providers.
Chris Ruby, president of Ruby Media Group, says schools, police and parents need to tackle cyberbullying head-on.
“Children are using social media as a vehicle to insult, embarrass, and cause psychological harm,” he said. “We’ve seen this result in suicide.”
Dr. Eric Byrne, president of the Lower Hudson Superintendents Council, acknowledged that the school is fine-tuning plans to address safety and mental health support from all angles.
“One of the really important things we need to know as a school is that every child needs adults and other students to feel connected to.”