Hazelwood student taken to hospital after being attacked

By: Ryan Dean

KSDK -- A broken nose, head injury and a bloodshot eye. Those are the injuries Eugene Jones,17, suffered on Tuesday at Hazelwood West High School.

A 16-year-old has been arrested and suspended for the incident.

Tina Ivory-Dixon says she is keeping her son Eugene and her daughter Leslie out of school until Monday. She spoke with district officials on Thursday to get answers from Hazelwood about what is being done to keep her children safe.

She says her kids have been victims of bullying for the past two years.

"I have wrote multiple letters, emails, countless face to face interviews and talks and meetings with principals and administration," Ivory-Dixon said after picking up her son from the hospital on Tuesday.

Reporter:Why do you think your children are being targeted?

Ivory Dixon: "I think because I am very vivid in the schools, they are active in the schools, they are smart children."

Ivory-Dixon says when her daughter was suspended earlier this year for fighting back, she sent this letter to school officials saying they failed to keep her daughter safe.

She forwarded the letter to Senator Kit Bond and other lawmakers. Senator Bond's office forwarded the letter to the U-S Department of Education. A spokesman with that department says they are looking into the matter.

The school district says there is more to this story and it would like to respond to us about the mother's claims, but can't because of privacy issues.

They did release the following statement regarding the actions they take when a student informs them of bullying.

"Counselors conduct  Conflict Mediation with students who are having personal/social issues with each other.

 We also have peer leaders at each high school.  The students  receive training on conflict and peer mediation, drug and alcohol abuse.  This is a peer mediation model. They are  the go-to  people in the school for students to work out conflicts.  This is facilitated by the counselors.

 Counselors provide Anger-Regression Therapy (ART)  for students experiencing anger management problems.

 Our counselors have received bullying and harassment training through the PBIS program.  There are lessons that the staff can provide in the classes on how the victim should respond and what the bystander can do to stop the bullying .  The focus of this program is to empower the victim and the bystander.

 Counselors and teachers have received Bullying and Harassment Level 1 training. Lessons are taught about how to help students respond to those who bully.

 We have implemented the PBIS  school-wide discipline program in all schools this year.  

 We have a SSHS Youth Advisory Committee that is working on developing  talking points for banners  and posters, focusing on bullying, self discipline and making good choices.  The name of the committee is  Students Taking Action.  They have met three times this year. They represent  students from all high schools.   

 The Wellness Webpage provides information for parents on social , emotional, academic and physical health. 

 Our elementary schools also  use the Character Education program.   

We have added social workers in each high school to assist counselors with providing direct psychological counseling for students with social-emotional and behavioral concerns.

 Each high school has approx. 6-8 counselors on staff to support students academic and behavioral needs."