SPARTA, WI (WXOW)—Sparta Police are still investigating a report of a Sparta teen being harassed on a school bus; they said a report should be complete by the end of the week.
Sparta School District has completed their investigation. Superintendent John Hendricks said the district met with parents and they've taken action.
The school district has rules in place to prevent bad behavior from happening on a school bus.
"We hear a lot about the term zero tolerance," Hendricks said. "We don't tolerate bullying but that doesn't mean every act of bullying receives the same consequence."
Hendricks said all bullying is bad behavior but not all bad behavior is bullying.
"Occasionally there's one time events that happen between two students," Hendricks said. "That does not represent bullying. That doesn't mean it's acceptable. But it doesn't mean its bullying. Bullying seems to be a catch word now days."
As required by the state, the district has policies on bullying.
On the school bus, drivers can usually handle bad behavior.
"They might talk to the student," Hendricks said. "Give them a warning. Many of our bus drivers have a good relationship with the parents of their riders. They might choose to call the parent."
As an extra set of eyes, there are two video cameras on Sparta school buses.
"It provides us a great way to be able to investigate something that too place on the bus that the driver may not have seen," Hendricks said.
Those cameras recorded the incident of harassment Sparta Police are looking into.
Misty Morales claims her son was bullied on that bus. She saw the recording from the bus camera.
"It was difficult," Morales said. "I got through it. I think it helped having my son by my side because he was stronger than I was."
Morales said cameras aren't enough to combat bullying and bad behavior on buses.
"I do strongly feel we need an actual person there to help supervise and to intervene because cameras cannot do that," Morales said. "Like high schoolers that need community service. I think it would be great to have that be one of their community services."
Hendricks said Sparta will continue their efforts to combat bad behavior at school and on the bus.
"We don't tolerate any poor behavior," Hendricks said.
He said, if your child tells you they're being bullied at school or on the bus parents should call the school's principal.
