A lawsuit filed by the family of a public school student who committed suicide in May alleges Chicago school officials failed to follow procedures to address bullying.
A complaint filed in Cook County Circuit Court on Thursday by the mother of McKenzie Phlipot alleges the 12-year-old was the target of bullies “numerous times” at the Peirce School of International Studies.
Among other things, the suit alleges school officials failed to fully investigate the claims, intervene in the bullying and discipline any offenders. As a result, the suit contends, the student, who lived in the Edgewater neighborhood, “sustained physical and emotional injuries that led to her death on May 8, 2014.”
The school district’s Law Department launched an investigation into the situation based on a flier distributed by one of McKenzie’s parents, which included allegations that the school was aware of bullying and unfair treatment but failed to address it.
Last month, a district spokesman said the investigation concluded “there was no credible evidence of bullying.” A district official later repeated that statement when briefly addressing the issue during a school meeting.
The Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Board of Education are named as defendants in the lawsuit, which seeks damages in excess of $50,000.
“McKenzie and I were relying on the administration to help us, but they ignored and dismissed the severity of the problem,” said Beth Martin, the student’s mother and the plaintiff, in a statement distributed by her attorneys at Corboy & Demetrio law firm.
“They did not have McKenzie’s back, she felt like she had nowhere to turn,” Martin said.
School officials have otherwise declined to comment on details of the district’s investigation. The school district also generally adheres to a policy of not commenting on legal matters.
“We have expressed our deepest condolences to the family and undoubtedly this tragedy may continue to impact our students this year,” CPS spokesman Bill McCaffrey said last month. “CPS continues to work with the Peirce school community to ensure a safe learning environment for its students.”
The lawsuit alleges school officials knew that the bullying of the student was “an ongoing issue, such that, according to the Student Code of Conduct, an investigation must be followed.”
Officials also allegedly “failed to inform police or juvenile authorities of the assaults, harassment, and otherwise dangerous and violent behaviors taking place on school premises” prior to the suicide.
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“I live with the pain of McKenzie’s loss every day and want to help make sure no other child will have to endure the physical and emotional torment she experienced at school,” Martin said.