BERKELEY TOWNSHIP, NJ – In New Jersey, school districts make a big deal about zero-tolerance for harassment, bullying and intimidation, but anyone with a child who experienced bullying in school, know that’s not the reality on the ground.
Unfortunately, for one Ocean County family, a soft stance on bullying led to a young girl taking her own life and today, the superintendent of the Central Regional School District announced his resignation over the district’s mishandling of the incident.
14-year-old Adriana Kuch took her own life 48 hours after a video of her being brutally beaten inside a hallway at Central Regional High School. Her father, Michael Kuch, lashed out at school officials, alleging school officials did not act accordingly.
The four girls involved in Kuch’s attack were suspended by school officials after the violent attack. They released a video of the beating.
In the video, a voice can be heard saying, “That’s what you get you stupid a– b—h.”
The assault against Kuch was unprovoked as seen in the video. She appeared to be sucker punched, sending her to the ground.
As was being beaten, a female student off-camera laughed, “F–k her up bro. F–k that b—h up!”
Superintendent Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides instead blamed Adriana Kuch for her own problems, alleging behavioral problems. Parlapanides even went as far as telling a foreign newspaper that Ms. Kuch engaged in possible drug use, a claim unsubstantiated.
“Her father was having an affair at the end of her 6th grade. Her father married the woman he had an affair with and moved her into the house,” he told the Daily Mail, a UK tabloid. “Parlapanides continued, ‘Her grades and choices declined in 7th and 8th grade. We offered her drug rehab and mental services on five occasions but the father refused every time.”
“I don’t know why that man still has a job,” Mr. Kuch responded. He is now calling for Parlapanides to be criminally charged with obstruction of justice.
In Ocean County, that may not happen, as Parlapanides is a deep political insider with ties to all levels of county government.
The board convened an emergency meeting and announced Parlapanides would be resigning over those remarks.
“The Central Regional School District Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides. The Central Regional family continues to mourn the loss of one of our children. We are all praying for the family and loved ones and our entire community. The Central Regional School District is evaluating all current and past allegations of bullying,” the district said in a statement. “The District has contacted the Department of Education and will undergo an independent assessment of the District’s anti-bullying policies and ensure every necessary safeguard is in place to protect our students and staff. Dr. Douglas Corbett is acting Superintendent effective immediately.”
Parlapanides maintained that the school district followed policy in the handling of the bullying and assault matter.
On Friday, students at the school staged a walkout in support of Kuch.
The Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office has charged one of the attackers with aggravated assault. Two others were charged with conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and a fourth was charged with harassment.
The students’ names were not released by the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office due to their age.
Response to harassment, intimidation, and bullying, once a spotlight issue for New Jersey school districts in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has been backburnered in many districts, and school officials simply try to find the most amicable path forward and rarely are the bullies punished for their actions.
Before taking her own life, Kuch posted photos of herself, her face swollen, her lip cut and multiple contusions and abrasions were clearly visible on her entire body.
Her father, Michael referred to the Central Regional School District administrators as a ‘cancer’ and is calling for a shakeup within the district.