Ganging up on bullying

Dr. lisa Kovach (from left), David Smigelski, Detective Patrick Jones, and Robin Laird listen intentlt as they take questions from the audience during the Anti-Bullying Summit at the Commodore Building Theatre in Perrysburg Thursday night. (Photo: Shane Hughes/Sentinel-Tribune)

PERRYSBURG - It can be physical or emotional, in-person or online. And it can sometimes lead to violence, even suicide.
Bullying was the topic as the Perrysburg school district and Wood County Prosecutor Paul Dobson presented a panel discussion on the issue Thursday night at the Commodore Building. While the district has made strides to fight what seems to be a national epidemic, some parents felt the schools could be doing more.
Superintendent Tom Hosler, in his opening remarks to the approximately 50 audience members, recounted his own run-ins with bullies as a child.
"Bullying was something that happened, was something where you got called names and got picked on" but it was nevertheless dealt with and moved on.