Superintendent Khris Thexton released a statement Wednesday in response to comments made by USD 428 Board of Education member Chris Umphres. The board member raised questions about student safety and administrative response to incidents of bullying.

“We’ve had some instances at some of the schools not only with battery but some threats that are pretty serious,” Umphres said. “I think that parents want to know that things are safe and things are getting taken care of.”

Thexton’s response reads:

“Our top priority at USD 428 is to create a safe environment where students can learn. While we are looking into the procedural concerns raised at Monday’s Board of Education meeting, we want to remind families that our staff, principals, and district administrative team are readily available.

“No policy or procedure is set in stone, which gives us an opportunity to learn and improve. It is our goal to be thorough and responsive in every incident of bullying or harassment, including those that are submitted anonymously. Protecting student privacy is also our legal obligation and an integral part of fostering a safe learning environment. 

“More information about our USD 428 Anti-Bullying Plan can be found on our website at https://www.greatbendschools.net/parents-students/bullying. There is also a link to report bullying and harassment at the bottom of every page on our website that is available 24 hours a day.”

The Great Bend Tribune’s report of Umphres’ comments appears in Wednesday’s edition of the newspaper and was posted online Tuesday. The story reached over 16,000 people on Facebook, resulting in 3,598 engagements by Wednesday morning.