RALEIGH (WTVD) -- A Wake County mother says she was horrified when she picked up her son from his first day of school after moving to the area. His face was bloodied with scratches.
Paula Nolan claims her son was bullied by classmates, and now she refuses to send him back to the Wildwood Forest Elementary School. She not only reached out to ABC11, but to one of the state's top educators for help.
Nolan was supposed to meet with school administrators Wednesday morning, but decided not to go. She says there's really no point. She has absolutely no intention of sending her son back to the school after what happened on his first day.
'I don't think anybody should have to be in an environment where they're assaulted," said Nolan. "He didn't do anything wrong."
When Nolan picked up her son from school last Wednesday, she said there was blood dripping down his face, and he had scratches all over. He was quiet in the car at first but eventually the fifth grader explained he was bullied and attacked at school.
"I was angry. I was upset," said Nolan. "Mostly, I was sad. You drop your kid off to think they're in safe hands."
David Calross told his mom that he was bullied by a small crew of kids after he stuck up for a physically disabled classmate. The 11-year-old went on to say the bullies used racial slurs and started a fight on the playground.
"If that's the types of things that are going on and nobody is addressing it, then that's a major problem," said Nolan.
Nolan was so mad she reached out to the state Superintendent of Public Instruction. June Atkinson replied, "The expectation of the state Board of Education and the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction is to have all students attend school where they feel physically and emotionally safe."
Atkinson forwarded the email to Wake Schools, but they would not comment to ABC11.
Nolan says her son's first day at Wildwood Forest Elementary was his last.
"From what I hear, he might be left back, and if that's the case, so be it," said Nolan. "I don't think that I should have to put him in such an uncontrolled environment."
Once Nolan figures out how David will finish out this academic year, she plans to send him to private school in the fall.