National

Mother Alleges Bullying And Unfair Expulsion At Grand Bahama School

GRAND BAHAMA, BAHAMAS – A Grand Bahama mother is speaking out, claiming her 9-year-old daughter was bullied, neglected and ultimately expelled from a local primary school on the island under troubling circumstances.

Published

8 months ago

May 23, 2025

Italia Hall

Now she’s demanding answers, Phylicia Johnson says her daughter, Milan Russell.

A fourth-grade student at a local school in Grand Bahama, has been facing emotional distress since enrolling in September of 2024.

She claims, within weeks, Milan complained of being bullied.

Sometimes hiding in the bathroom for safety.

But, Johnson alleges her daugther’s teacher dismissed the complaints, saying Milan was making it up.

That’s when she visited the principal’s office and explained the situation.

Phylicia Johnson – Mother

“Her response to me was, well, you know, we don’t have bullying in our school and these things only started happening since your daughter came to the school.”

Johnson alleges the situation escalated earlier this month when, she claims, her daughter was placed outside as punishment for two consecutive days, alongside other students.

Shortly after, Milan reportedly began experiencing chest pains.

Phylicia Johnson – Mother

“That is when I rushed her to the hospital. We got to the hospital, they did blood work, they did an ECG exam, she did an X-ray, and then they placed her on oxygen. When the blood work came back, the doctor had said to me that Milan had experienced a respiratory spasm, and then as a result of that, Milan was placed on Ventolin, which is asthma medicine, and Milan has no record or history of any health issues or asthma.”

The mother says she then went to the school to speak with the principal about the matter the next day, eventually meeting was scheduled.

Phylicia Johnson – Mother

“I said, all I’m coming here for is I’m not coming here to create an issue, as if all I want is accountability and for an apology. I said, because this could have ended up worse, my child could have died. And the principal response to me was, you know, we’ve been having behavioral issues with Milan, and Milan is always talking and she’s not respectful. So I said to her, I said, I have gotten only one call from the school to say that you guys had an issue with Milan, and that was dealt with and basically what it was that the principal was trying to do was justify their actions as to why they placed her in the sun, and that punishment was enforced because the children were bickering or talking in the class.”

She claims the principal says the punishment is a long-standing practice at the school.

She admits her daughter is vocal, but, Johnson believes her daughter’s treatment may be personal as she notes.

She graduated from the same school, she further alleges a comment was made.

That the school has been dealing with her mother for a long time.

Phylicia Johnson – Mother

“The teacher that initiated the punishment for Milan was actually my sixth grade teacher. So I am no stranger to the school or, you know, to the teachers. And for me as a parent, I’ve been from Milan brought the first issue to me, I just kept trying to figure out, like i wonder if i did something to offend a teacher when i was at the school.”

She alleges the school’s board chairman expelled Milan following a family member’s confrontation on campus and for what the school says are false allegations Milan made about a teacher Allegations Johnson claims, led to Milan being hit on the hand 20 times in one day.

The mother says it was important for her to speak out.

Phylicia Johnson – Mother

“I believe that the most dangerous place a bigger place, our children, is not to have them see or understand or feel that they have the support of others.”