Schools start anti-bully training as Walker suspects appear in court

As the four defendants in a high-profile middle school rape case appeared in court Tuesday morning, the Hillsborough County school district worked to train school staff and security on its new anti-bully program.

Before four students were charged with the locker room rape of a football player, the district had been crafting policy to address bullies and the reporting of such abuse.

The goal, officials say, is for parents to feel safe sending their children to school.

"I think the big issue for us is parents and the schools need to work together to support the students as they're in those schools," Hillsborough County School Superintendent Mary Ellen Elia said.

Elia, speaking at a press conference to discuss the district's swine flu policy, also answered questions about the Walker Middle School case, assuring parents the district is taking bullying seriously, she said.

Elia said her staff is working closely with staff at Walker Middle School to ensure a smooth transition into the new academic year.

"We have reviewed everything in that situation. We're working very closely with the staff there," Elia said.

Four former Walker Middle School students are accused of sexually assaulting a flag-football teammate with a hockey stick and broom in a school locker room in May.

Diemante Roberts, 15, and Raymond Price-Murray, Lee Myers and Randall Moye, all 14, each are charged with four counts of sexual battery and have pleaded innocent. They have been charged as adults.

Over the summer, principals were trained in the district's new anti-bully program, which includes a new district-wide anonymous hotline for reporting incidents. The program helps educate students about the need for mutual respect and encourages school administrators and teachers to ask students where bullying is taking place, so they can look for it.

This week principals are training building staff on the program, according to Linda Cobbe, district spokesperson.

Dr. Tracy Schatzberg, supervisor of psychological services for the district, spent the afternoon helping train school resource officers and deputies on new policies.

The training took place at the Seffner Fraternal Order of Police, 9001 N. Taylor Road. Student resource officers, deputies and security officers attended the day-long program.

"It is a big problem in the schools," said Sgt. Patti Vidal, supervisor of school resource deputies for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office.

Vidal said deputies stationed at each school building will be holding presentations for students in the first few weeks of schools with a primary emphasis on preventing and reporting bullying.

"We're going to let the students know that bullying won't be tolerated and they can speak up about