‘Failed my child’: S.C. student expelled after cries for help over bullying

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (WMBF) - A South Carolina parent claims her daughter was expelled for standing up to a bully after her cries for help were ignored.

Ra’Aisha Richardson said her heart sank when she learned her ninth-grade daughter could not take it any longer and got into a fight in March.

Despite her daughter cheering, playing basketball and running track, Richardson said the same bully has been targeting her for years.

Richardson added that the harassment has caused her daughter to contemplate suicide.

“What was she to do?” asked Richardson. “Was she to stand up to her bully or am I going to come home from work one day and find my daughter hanging in her room? Because these kids are killing themselves over bullying now.”

Richardson said she’s tried everything to stop the girl from tormenting her daughter.

“I start with the parents,” she said. “When I can’t speak to a parent, I go to the school, and I would say I’ve been up there over five times. The only option they gave me was to move her to another school, and I was like what kind of advice is that to give a parent?”

Richardson said she sent an email to Georgetown County School District Superintendent Dr. Bethany Giles after her daughter got expelled.

In the email, Richardson expressed her disappointment and her daughter’s suicidal thoughts. She also claimed that Giles and no one else from the district has responded to her.

“Nobody’s emailed me back,” she said. “Nobody has responded to my emails.”

It’s the same story for another Waccamaw High School parent, Tyeisha Holmes.

Holmes said she’s called, emailed and visited the school complaining about the same bully targeting her two children.

Unlike Richardson, she said Giles did call her back.

“I asked her what are we going to do, because this is an ongoing problem,” said Holmes.

Holmes said Giles told her she would take care of it.

Two days after that call, the bully and Richardson’s daughter got into a fight that resulted in the latter’s expulsion.

“I emailed the superintendent and said this is exactly what I was talking about,” said Holmes. “They need to be proactive. I hate that they wait until things happen and then they want to do something about it.”

According to the South Carolina 2023-2024 state report card, the Georgetown County School District saw 61 reported incidents of bullying and harassment as well as 25 reported fights.

When it comes to the district’s bullying policy, Giles says students must report bullying to an before they can launch an investigation.

She also said there are various consequences and intervention methods to stop the bullying.

“Safety of our students and staff is our highest priority,” said Giles. “If students can work with one another and staff because they are the ones there each minute and second. Certainly, if there’s a concern, find an adult to help.”

Giles also addressed what is done if parents step in, alleged harassment continues and they feel nothing is being addressed.

“Continue to talk with us, speak with us and come to us,” she said. “Let us work together. Understand that it is our goal again for safety first.”

Richardson, however, said her countless talks have fallen on deaf ears.

“Y’all failed my child,” she said. “I tried to prevent this the best way I could and you guys did not help me do that.”

Richardson’s daughter does plan to return to Wacamaw High School next year.

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