bullying

Indiana schools would need to notify parents if their child was a victim of bullying, or expressing suicidal thoughts, under a bill one House lawmaker plans to reintroduce during the legislative session.

The state has a long definition of bullying that includes “the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate or harm the targeted student.”

Two families are suing Perry Township Schools for unspecified damages over the alleged bullying of two students with disabilities that left them with traumatic head injuries, arguing in court filings that the district has shown continued apathy toward habitual violence in school.

Parents could receive notice of school bullying incidents sooner under a bill passed by the House Education Committee this week. HB 1539 also broadens the state’s definition of bullying to encompass severe one-time acts, even if they are not repeated.

The parents of a 10-year-old boy who died by suicide earlier this year have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the fourth grader’s school district, Greenfield-Central Community Schools.