"West Allegheny Middle School Parents Pursuing Possible Lawsuit Over Anti-Bullying Program"

pittsburgh.cbslocal.com

According to parents, legal action is in the works after a controversial anti-bullying program at West Allegheny Middle School.

At a special parent meeting Tuesday night, parents and taxpayers told KDKA’s Kym Gable that they’ve retained the services of a Pittsburgh attorney to pursue a possible class action lawsuit, claiming administrators infringed on students’ rights.

KDKA tried to gain access to the meeting, but was told it was a private, closed-door session with no media allowed.

During an exercise at the Jan. 15 workshop, students were asked questions amongst their peers and then “grouped” based on their answers.

There were more than two dozen questions. The statements included:

“Please move to the middle of the circle if:”

• You have been impacted by drugs or alcohol
• You have been called fat or made fun of
• You or someone close to you identifies as gay, lesbian, or transgendered
• You have been impacted by mental challenges or learning disabilities
• You or your family has ever worried about not having enough money
• You or someone close to you has been imprisoned
• You have been raised by a single parent