Notice of claim filed against Central Islip school district alleging bullying, discrimination

The filing claims the teen was told she couldn't attend a school trip because she was Black and begged her parents to let her stay home from Ralph Reed Middle School due to severe bullying.

Kevin Vesey

Apr 26, 2023, 4:47 PM

Updated 585 days ago

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A notice of claim has been filed against the Central Islip Union Free School District that alleges a 13-year-old middle school student was bullied and discriminated against.
The filing claims the teen was told she couldn't attend a school trip because she was Black and begged her parents to let her stay home from Ralph Reed Middle School due to severe bullying.
"I don't think my daughter was ever safe at this school after the bullying started," said Antoinette Moore-Thomas, the teen's mother. "She had text messages on her phone that said they we're going to jump her. One of the girls even said they were going to shoot her in the head. We printed out all these text messages, took them to the school and nothing was done."
According to the family, the teenager threatened to take her own life.
They say the teenager sent a text message to her mother, saying, "I'll go away so you wouldn't have to deal with me anymore. You can easily replace me."
The family also claims that an assistant principal told them their daughter was in an improper relationship because she was dating a girl.
Antoinette Moore-Thomas and her husband Gregory Thomas say they constantly spoke with administrators at the school but were ignored.
"Do I have to wait for my daughter to commit suicide for somebody to understand what she's going through?" Gregory Thomas says.
The notice of claim will likely become a lawsuit against the district seeking $2 million.
This is the third alleged bullying incident in the district in the past month.
Less than a month ago, another family sued the district claiming their child was viciously attacked inside the high school. There was also a lawsuit involving an alleged sexual assault.
"The commonality in all of the cases against Central Islip - the commonality is that the school district after being advised over and over and over again did nothing," says attorney Kenneth Mollins. "They failed to protect their students."
The student in the most recent case has reportedly been transferred from the school for her safety. The family says the 13-year-old is doing much better now that she is going to school somewhere else.
The Central Islip Union Free School District would not comment citing pending location.