CI Student Says She Couldn't Go On Field Trip Because She Is Black

CENTRAL ISLIP, NY — The family of a 13-year-old Central Islip student filed a notice of claim and complaint against the school district, saying she was denied a school field trip because of her race, discriminated against by administrators, and severely bullied by students.

Kenneth M. Mollins, the client's attorney, said in a news release that the middle school student was denied access to a field trip to New York City by her Spanish teacher, because she is Black.

In addition to race, an assistant principal told the 13-year-old's father that his daughter was in a relationship with another girl, Mollins said. The administrator told her father, "that kind of relationship is improper and should not be allowed," he said.

The 13-year-old was also bullied so badly that she "begged her parents "to let her stay home from school. When she went to school, she brought and used mace out of fear and frustration of being in school.

The student was transferred from the school for her own safety.

This is the third student to file a notice of claim against the district in less than a month over bullying accusations.

"These are both clearly violative of the student’s civil rights and discrimination," Mollins said.

In March, a 14-year-old student said she was attacked by another student on school property, and the incident was videotaped.

On April 14, the mother of a 16-year-old special needs student, claimed her daughter was bullied for years and sexually assaulted on school property.

Patch has reached out to the Central Islip School District for comment and will update when we hear back.