School Bullying Council

FLUSHING, Michigan — Within 30 minutes of announcing the death of Jarrod Nickell at Flushing High School, his parents received texts and messages that their son was being bullied at school.

Jarrod, 18, took his own life on Jan. 11 and his parents strongly believe bullying was one factor.

More than 50 people showed up at Tuesday’s meeting to share bullying stories, show support for the school district or just get educated on the situation.

Jarrod’s step-mother, Michele Nickell, stood before the board during public comment addressing her concerns on how the board was handling the situation, stating she knows her son was bullies and wants the district to recognize that.

“The letter that was sent out (Jan. 13) was the meanest, coldest letter I have ever read,” she said about the letter that stated the district didn’t believe bullying was an issue. “We wanted you to know that Flushing has a problem. … We’re not addressing it, we’re hiding it.”

Jarrod’s father, James Nickell, encouraged everyone to teach compassion to their children to try and prevent a situation like this from happening again.

He also encouraged the district to reach out to the parents, the to get feedback on what can be done.

“I ask that you look to see what we can do to help you,” James Nickell said. “I just want to know that at some point you reach out to us. It’s our community, too.”

Other stepped to share how they, or their children, have been bullied over the years.

Two high school students stepped up to show that they have seen improvements in bullying, fighting and punishment over the years at the high school, saying the administrators and staff have realy stepped up.

Olivia Dougherty, 17, said she has seen a drastic decrease in fights since she was a freshman.

“I would like to say thank you to the administration,” Dougherty said during public comment. “Yes, you can’t stop it all but I think (Principal Jason) Melynchek has been doing a great job to try and decrease the bullying.”

Kyle Emory, 17, said he can honestly consider Melynchek a friend and knows that he cares for all of the students.

“I don’t think that any staff member you couldn’t go to that would deny help,” Emory said.

Many board members addressed the audience and the Nickells Tuesday night choking back tears and pledging to improve communications with the students in the future.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/01/flushing_community_experiences.html

FLUSHING TOWNSHIP, Michigan — Hours after it was announced to students at Flushing High School that Jarrod Nickell had killed himself Wednesday, Jarrod’s parents started receiving Facebook messages that their son was being bullied.

View full sizeSean Work | The Flint JournalJames Nickell and Michele Nickell discuss their son Jarrod Nickell’s death at their home in Flushing Township today.

His stepmother Michele Nickell said Jarrod had complained of being bullied earlier in the school year but said she thought it had stopped.

“We had no idea this was going on,” Michele Nickell said. “He was always happy, he was laughing.”

Jarrod’s father, James, said he found his son dead Wednesday morning near a wooded area behind their house on West Mt. Morris Road.

James and Michele Nickell said that the note that Jarrod left behind said that people were causing him pain, although he didn’t specifically name anyone.

In the note, Jarrod also apologized for whoever it was that found his body and took responsibility of taking his life on his own, said the Nickells.

A police investigation determined that Jarrod, 18, died of self-inflicted injuries.

Flushing Township Police Chief Dale Stevenson said a police investigation did not indicate that
bullying was a factor in the suicide.

Stevenson said Jarrod’s family has told police that he was bullied, but said that there isn’t anything that supports their claim.

View full sizeSean Work | The Flint JournalJarrod Nickell’s senior photo displayed on a computer screen.

“If there’s something that arises that we need to follow up on, we will,” Stevenson said.

Michele Nickell said Jarrod joined the high school football team in August after moving here from Maryland, but was declared ineligible because of his grades.

Although he couldn’t play, he worked on the sidelines and wore his football jersey to school, Michele Nickell said.

Michele Nickell said a small group of football players started giving him a hard time in the fall for wearing the jersey, calling him names and even sending him a death threat.

Nickell said she stepped in, bringing it to the administration’s attention and said a meeting with all the boys was set at the school.

She said she assumed it had stopped and that Jarrod never mentioned it again after that.

Flushing Superintendent Tim Stein declined comment when asked about the specifics of Michele Nickell’s claims.

“We have always had open lines of communication with the mother,” Stein said.

Stein called the death tragic but said there isn’t any evidence that it was caused by bullying.

The school district sent out a letter to parents today saying that bullying did not lead to Jarrod’s death.

The Nickells say there is a problem with bullying in the district and other schools and say that the problem should not be ignored.

Check back to Mlive tonight for more updates.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2012/01/bullying_blamed_by_family_for.html