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RANDOLPH, NY (WNY News Now) – Parents of students who claim their gym teacher has subjected them to verbal abuse, including alleged body shaming, are petitioning the district’s School Board of Education for answers.
On Monday, a group of Randolph High School students spoke out exclusively to WNY News Now about their gym teacher, Mrs. Nickelson’s, alleged abuse.
Since then, more students have stepped forward including past graduates of the institution who indicate the allegations are part of a multigenerational problem persisting for decades.
Virginia Miller has three daughters at Randolph Central School. She tells us her twins have had run in with Nickelson.
“Rosie has been out of school a few times, she is a transport patient and can not play gym off and on become of medical reasons. One time she was out, she had to write essays and I told them she wasn’t going to write them, she is an IEP child that has criteria that doesn’t allow her to write long essays,” explained Miller. “She told her sister the one day in school when she was not there, that her sister is a baby and needs to hide behind her mother to fight her battle.”
Miller hopes the School Board of Education will be able to provide clarity on the issue. She has sought assistance from Starbridge, a legal group that helps advocate for people with disabilities, who will also be in attendance.
The School Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the High School Library at Randolph Central School. Miller encourages other parents with grievances to attend.
When reached for comment, the school’s administrator was unable to speak specifically to allegations outlined by parents and students, but says the district does their due diligence in investigating claims.
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