Suffolk County principals who ignore a student’s complaints of bullying could be hit where it hurts — in the wallet, with a $1,000 fine, under a proposed law meant to hold school officials’ feet to the fire.
The bill, if passed this summer, would be the first law in the nation that penalizes administrators for failing to investigate reports of bullying at school. It drew howls of protest from education officials at a public hearing yesterday on Long Island.
“This is an assault on the school leaders of Suffolk County,” said Thomas O’Brien, principal of Brentwood HS.
“Do each and every one of you feel that your school leaders have failed our children? I hope that’s not the case,” O’Brien told county lawmakers.
There will be several public hearings, but proponents hope to pass the bill by next school year.