State Senator Victoria Sullivan visited the WFEA studio to discuss testimony from the state legislature’s Committee to Study Violence in Schools regarding safety issues, online targeting, and disciplinary processes within the Manchester School District.

Cyberbullying and In-School Threats: Former school committee member Joy Senecal testified that high school students brought knives to school after facing severe online threats via apps like Snapchat. Bullies used social media platforms to track targeted students across school hallways in real time, creating an environment where fearful students felt compelled to carry weapons for self-defense.

Disciplinary Delays and Educational Access: Senator Sullivan criticized the district’s expulsion process as overly slow, inconsistent, and burdensome for families. She highlighted cases where students faced months-long disciplinary delays—such as an armed student suspended in March whose formal expulsion hearing was delayed until August—leaving students without educational access or proper resolution.

Incomplete Data on School Violence: Testimony indicated that current incident reporting at local high schools fails to differentiate between student-on-student conflicts and student-on-teacher violence, obscuring the true extent of classroom disruptions and safety risks.

Need for Consistent Enforcement and Support: Senator Sullivan stressed that escalating school violence stems from understaffed classrooms and inconsistent policy enforcement. She urged district leaders to establish clear, predictable disciplinary standards while fully backing teachers and administrators on the front lines.