The recent suicide of a Santa Clara teen has left many reeling, trying to untangle the circumstances that led to his death.
Last week, 14-year-old Jose Zamora took his own life. Since then, school officials and police have been trying to get to the bottom of the boy’s death. Zamora’s father, Jose Bautista, has claimed his son’s teammates on the football team bullied him for being homeless and motherless, spitting on him and hitting his helmet.
After being evicted from their apartment earlier this year, the boy and his father were staying at the Bill Wilson Center, 3490 The Alameda, in Santa Clara. Zamora has only been a freshman at Santa Clara High School for a few months prior to his death. His father has said Zamora was struggling with mental health issues.
Pilar Furlong, a spokesperson for the Bill Wilson Center, said the organization is “aware of the situation and are cooperating with the investigation currently underway.” A followup email attempting to get in contact with Baustista went unanswered.
In a statement, Dr. Gary Waddell, Santa Clara Unified School District (SCUSD) superintendent, wrote that the district has received reports of bullying at Santa Clara High School and has started an investigation, adding that SCUSD “takes such allegations seriously.”
Toward that end, “administrators have already taken initial actions in response,” he wrote, but the statement does not detail what those actions are.
“The health and safety of our students are our primary concern, so SCUSD offers multiple systems of support to you, your children, and their friends to ensure the physical, social, emotional, and academic well-being of our students,” Dr. Waddell wrote.
SCUSD has “compassionate, professionally-trained” teachers, mental health counselors, psychologists, social workers and administrators, Dr. Waddell wrote.
Additionally, the district’s Mental Health and Wellness Resources webpage contains information to help families. Anyone needing immediate assistance should call the three-digit National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 9-8-8, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or text “START” to 741741.
SCUSD also offers students a 24/7 virtual counseling service called To Be Honest.
An email to Lt. Mike Crescini, the public information officer for Santa Clara Police Department, inquiring about any possible criminal investigation also went unanswered.
Bautista has started a fundraiser to pay for the cost of Zamora’s funeral.
View Comments (6)
This is shameful!
The immaturity of these questionable individuals ( with zero soul)should be punished with related community service for their actions at a minimum of their time in high school. Counseling is obviously needed as well as these questionable individuals AND their parents!
Up and down the entire school system people should be held accountable and fired. The football coach, the principal, the superintendent and the entire school board.
This is the same school and school board that oversaw the sex predator named Dominic Caserta even after having multiple reports of sexual harassment from female students. It's the same school that leaked his personnel file, and the same school board that settled with him at the expense of taxpayers to the tune of millions of dollars.
The school and the school board is rotten to its core. A bunch of has-beens that take no accountability for their mismanagement and keep getting elected over and over with no term limits. The only reason they're not in the limelight is because our City Council is that much more rotten so by comparison the SCUSD board look like angels.
Pink slips should be in order as are resignations from the board.
I hope the Jose's father sues them to hell and back. RIP.
This is a tragedy and as a parent of children in the district I would like to see some accountability for those who have been entrusted with the safety of ALL students. The board can say all they want that bullying isn’t tolerated yet have they shared what steps and practical measures they have taken to protect our kids? Cracking down on bullies at the administration level would be the first step. “I can't believe what you say, because I see what you do” - James Baldwin
Speaking as a parent of a young man at SCHS.
There is nothing on the school website or District website even offering mental health resources or any words speaking against bullying! SCHS and the district have to be held accountable. Speak on what you have done to hold those involved accountable!! Spitting on someone is a criminal offense and it should be treated as so! If there is no stop to this now and these kids aren’t held accountable, it sends a message to bullies, victims, families and community members everywhere.
Everyone involved should receive mental health treatment. Hurt people hurt people!!! Wake up parents of SCHS! Stand up for your children!
The system failed again, school district, police, bill willson center, child protection services, the courts,all of them. But parents too!!
Get rid of all administration at the school including football coaches for allowing the football thugs to cause the death of a fellow student.These football players obviously have horrible parents !very sad