SOUTH HADLEY - Special needs students at South Hadley High School need more help from school administrators in combating bullies, according to the mother of a former student there.

But the school principal says administrators are working closely with special needs students, building bullying remedies into their individual education plans, known as IEPs.

Jennifer Kalvinek told the School Committee Tuesday that her daughter, Payton Spinney, 16, did not receive the necessary help to end relentless bullying she encountered at the school.

Spinney now refuses to attend classes at South Hadley High, said Kalvinek, and is enrolled in a special program of studies at Holyoke Community College. Kalvinek described her daughter as having autism and an I.Q. of 168, which is classified on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale as "very superior intelligence."

"She seems to be one they let slip through the cracks," Kalvinek said during Tuesday's school board meeting in the high school library, which is televised by South Hadley Community Television.

"You've got to accommodate students with special needs," she said.

School Superintendent Gus Sayer said Tuesday that students with "differences" are more likely to be bullied.

School Principal Sean McNiff said Friday that special needs students at SHHS have anti-bullying plans built into their IEPs and that school administrators work with parents and teachers to ensure those students get the help they need.

McNiff declined to discuss the Spinney case, saying he did not "feel comfortable" discussing details about a specific student.

"I do feel comfortable that we are acknowledging the population of students who may be more susceptible (to bullying)," he said. "It's very difficult for us to make comments about individual students."

Kalvinek said the issue of bullying "was barely addressed" during her daughter's IEP meeting.

"This school completely trashed my daughter," she told the Gazette. Administrators failed to protect Spinney, Kalvinek said in a separate conversation.

"I feel alone," Kalvinek said. "I shouldn't have to feel this way."

McNiff said Friday that school officials conduct "a pretty extensive" investigation of bullying reports. Vice Principal William Evans probes reports involving freshmen and senior students, while Vice Principal Ted McCarthy handles those involving sophomores and juniors at the 650-student school, the principal said.

Kalvinek said although reports of bullying incidents have been reduced significantly at the school, her daughter doesn't want to return because she doesn't feel safe.

"Obviously, not much has been done," Kalvinek said. She said she wants to press school officials to do more to protect students, especially special education students, who have difficulty responding to and reporting incidents of bullying.

"Anti-bullying laws don't help," she said. "These kids need someone to help them stand up to bullies. Something needs to happen. Advocacy is a start."

"I appreciate you bringing it forward," school board Chairman Dale Carey told Kalvinek.

"I'd like to see more follow-up on this issue," said board member Kevin McAllister.

Kalvinek said she wants reassurance that her youngest child, who will be attending the school, will not face harassment from other students. She vowed to continue pressuring school officials to do more to prevent bullying.

"They have a mommy who's not going to shut up," she said.

Etta Walsh can be reached at ewalsh@gazettenet.com.