A NEW Jersey school superintendent has resigned just a day after the funeral of a 14-year-old student who died by suicide following a video that showed her being attacked by classmates.
Adriana Kuch, a freshman at Central Regional High School, took her life after a horrific video of her being physically abused surfaced online. The four students involved in the alleged bullying have been charged.
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The attack was allegedly a premeditated bullying incident.
The group of classmates physically beat Kuch and recorded the abuse for social media sharing.
Schoolgirls kicked, punched, and pulled Adriana’s hair and she was seen lying on the floor in the hallway.
Kuch’s father has shared stills from the attack online.
He characterized the gruesome attack as “meaningless bullying” and has vowed to get justice for his daughter.
Parlapanides resigned after he brought to attention Kuch’s past behavior and alleged drug use in a series of interviews.
Parlapanides also told the Daily Mail that the young girl was troubled with issues at home.
“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 said.
He also added that her school performance was below satisfactory.
“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,” he continued.
The comments were brought to attention by members of the school board as well as the Daily Mail.
The disgraced Superintendent said he had “nothing more to say” after being asked whether his comments were an attempt to blame the victim.
Parents are demanding that the school district takes responsibility for allowing a ‘culture of violence.’
Rachael O’Dea is one of those who has come forward, as her own 14-year-old daughter endured an almost identical attack at the school last year.
O’Dea described the school as being “uncooperative” and accused officials of attempting to “cover-up” the incident to prevent criminal charges from being filed.
On Friday, students and parents stood outside of the school to protest what they felt was a shocking lack of sensitivity and action from the administration.
Parlapanides stepped-down just after the display.
“The Central Regional School District Board of Education has accepted the resignation of Dr. Triantafillos Parlapanides,” the board said in a statement on Saturday evening.
