ADEL, Iowa — Pity and fear contended with grief and rage Monday night as the local community confronted the ADM School Board in the wake of last week’s suicide by ADM freshman Caelen Peterson of Adel.
The overflow crowd erupted in applause when Michael Walrod of De Soto, a 1975 ADM graduate who said his son committed suicide in 2002 due in part to bullying, called for the firing of ADM High School Principal Lee David Griebel, an 18-year employee of the school district.
Walrod was one of some 30 speakers who composed the 90-minute litany of public comments, most focusing on the problem of bullying within the schools, which some claimed begins in the elementary grades.
Several of the speakers were current or former ADM students who were victims of bullying, and their stories appeared to be deeply troubling to the audience. They described ongoing physical, psychological and even racist harassment, often across social media but also in person.
Other speakers were school district employees, but most of the comments came from parents with students in the ADM system.
“I see the bullying every day,” said Genevieve Spintznagle of Adel, a staff member in the school district. “It gets addressed, but there are no consequences.”
Emily Gibson of Adel, a 2018 graduate who said she transferred from ADM High School to Dowling Catholic High School because “something’s really wrong” at ADM, said the authorities need to “start prosecuting.”
Amanda Grems of De Soto said she runs a daycare center and has seen suicidal 8-year-olds.
ADM School Board President Tim Canney chaired the emotionally charged meeting, which remained orderly and decorous. He was joined by Vice President Bart Banwart and Directors Melissa Dohlman and Heith Hockenberry. ADM Business Manager Eric Brown also attended. Director Nikki West was absent.
“These students need hope,” Canney said at the start of the meeting. “They need the ADM school board, administration, staff, parents and caring adults from our communities all working together to accomplish effective and lasting change.”
ADM Superintendent Greg Dufoe also attended the meeting.
“We are committed to ongoing conversations with parents and students about these important issues, including the impact of social media and use of technology,” said Dufoe. “We have a committed and caring staff and highly supportive parents at ADM. Together we can effectively partner in this important work.”
The final speaker, Kirsten Abbas of Adel, a 2017 ADM graduate, left the board with a stark challenge: “Prove you give a shit, or get out.”
