ANDERSONVILLE — The father of Mckenzie Phlipot said Friday morning that her relatives were in fact contacted by an investigative team from the school district looking into whether bullying at Peirce Elementary School contributed to his daughter's suicide in May, but that they declined to be interviewed.
Travis Phlipot, 12-year-old Mckenzie's father, said on the advice of legal counsel, he and the girl's mother declined to speak with CPS lawyers conducting the investigation when it began shortly after Mckenzie's death.
"We were told there was going to be an investigation, but we were surprised to get a call from the law department," said Travis Phlipot, clarifying his earlier statements. "We were advised not to sit down without an attorney present."
On Thursday, however, he told DNAinfo, "no, they did not contact us during this investigation whatsoever."
Some in the Peirce community, including friends of Mckenzie and classmates who witnessed the bullying but complained they weren't interviewed, have criticized the results of the investigation, which found no credible evidence bullying contributed to her death and was conducted by Chicago Public Schools' law department.
The girl's grandmother, Judy Phlipot, also criticized the probe's finding, saying Tuesday, "I do not agree with that at all."
CPS spokesman Bill McCaffrey said the investigation "was initiated based on the flier that Mr. Phlipot distributed, which included allegations that the school was aware of bullying/unfair treatment and failed to address it."
The flier, which Mckenzie's parents passed out at the end of the previous school year, accused the school of ignoring the family's "cries for help" regarding Mckenzie's alleged troubles.
CPS did not say who was interviewed for the report.
At a Local School Council meeting Thursday night, LSC members and teachers at Peirce reiterated various programs the school is implementing related to discipline and emotional and social health at the school.
Vice principal Colin Murphy said that some of the measures being implemented were spurred by Mckenzie's suicide last school year.
One LSC member, who declined to be named, was "disappointed" that the investigation hadn't been discussed more Thursday night.
"Bullying is always going to exist no matter what, no matter where you go, but this school needs to do something about the discipline," the LSC member said.
CPS along with Lurie Children's Hospital, Illinois Sen. Heather Steans, Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) and other elected officials has scheduled a "Community Town Hall on Bullying Prevention" Tuesday night at Senn High School, 5900 N. Glenwood.
The event, scheduled 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., will offer parents the opportunity to learn how to "identify potential problems and help their children," and provide other resources.
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