Public hearing/Board of Education meeting on 5/11/26
Parents, caregivers, and community members of Newark Valley Central School District—this is a moment that truly matters for our children.
We are asking you to show up, stand together, and make your voices heard at the upcoming public hearing and board meeting. Our grassroots anti-bullying campaign will be presenting critical requests aimed at creating real, lasting change—reducing bullying, ensuring proper and legally required reporting of incidents, and strengthening the safety, mental health, and emotional well-being of every student in our district.
This is not just about policies—it’s about protecting our kids, supporting those who feel unheard, and building a school environment where every child feels safe and respected.
Your presence matters. Whether you have experienced concerns firsthand, want to support positive change, or simply care about the future of our schools, we need you in that room.
Our petition for change
We are actively working with families, educators, and community members to promote accountability and drive sustainable change within the Newark Valley Central School District. Our current primary focus is a community-wide petition to reform the school district's code of conduct. This initiative aims to ensure transparency which will lead to greater accountability from school administrators and better protection for victims of bullying. We strive to ensure that all concerns are heard, taken seriously, and addressed with transparency and integrity. Please click the button to go to our petition on change.org.
We need your testimony
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As caregivers, many of us have witnessed our students transition from joyful, carefree children to individuals who may express distress when boarding the bus or feel compelled to conceal their true selves. We have observed their innate brightness dim, despite our best efforts to nurture it. We have seen once academically strong students face difficulties, with attendance shifting from regular to truant.
We recognize that our students may feel they have outgrown the need to discuss their experiences at school with us. They might be concerned about potential ridicule or being perceived as weak. However, our commitment to safeguarding their well-being remains unwavering.
While bullying has always been a concern, it appears to have intensified in our district in recent years. This increase may stem from various factors—administrative challenges, outdated policies, or insufficient follow-through at home. Although the precise cause may elude us, it is clear that change is necessary. It is imperative that we come together in our efforts to advocate for our student's safety and well-being.
We kindly invite you to consider sharing your experiences as victims of bullying or those of your student. This could involve past incidents that continue to resonate or current situations that warrant attention.
We are committed to advocating for change, but we need your collaboration. The more narratives we collect, the more potent our message will be. Our intention is not to target any specific individual, but to foster meaningful change within the district. Should you have experienced multiple incidents, even those involving the same individual, we encourage you to share.
If you decide to recount your experiences, we recommend including any documentation of communication with the school, including interactions with administration, staff, or the superintendent. We assure you that requests for anonymity will be honored unless disclosure is mandated by law. Please send your accounts to: nvnyfab@gmail.com
We are dedicated to enacting change, and we will persist in our advocacy efforts. Each story shared reinforces our mission and underscores the urgent need for action.
Warm regards,
Jamie C. Miller-Welch, Founder
for and on behalf of Families Against Bullying Newark Valley
