Michigan: Parents want action against bullying in Marcellus

MARCELLUS, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – School bullies are once again making headlines in West Michigan.

Parents in Marcellus say that students are being harassed, made fun of, and threatened.

The taunts got too much for one child, so police say they committed suicide.

On Monday night dozens of parents put forth a united front, telling the district to stop the problem, and stop it now.

“You all better do something,” said one parent Monday night, “or we're going to do something and you won't like it.”

Parents in Marcellus are uniting against what they see as a common problem.

The Marcellus school district has one confirmed suicide in 2010 and another death is still under investigation, something many parents say is the result of bullying.

“Now that I've been threatened with a weapon it's just different,” said seventh grader Donavan Norman.

Norman says he's been bullied for years. His mother, Sarah Hackenberg, says it's been allowed to go on for too long and now it's getting scary.

“He got threatened by another kid that brought brass knuckles to school,” said Hackenberg.

“Pulled them out, set them on the table,” said Norman. “I said, 'what's that for?' He picked them up, put them on his hand and said 'they're for you.'”

Norman says he told teachers about the bullying multiple times, but nothing was done until a weapon was involved. His mother says the school's reaction wasn't acceptable.

“They suspended the child for ten days and then let him come back,” said Hackenberg.

Now Hackenberg and other parents are looking for action.

“All us parents were just fed up and we're trying to make a change in our schools,” said Hackenberg.

A faculty task force from Marcellus schools is headed for suicide prevention training, something the district hopes to have happen for all of their faculty members.