Bully Prevention

The Board recognizes that bullying behavior can have a negative effect on the school climate and can lead to more serious behaviors affecting the health, safety, and welfare of students. The Board supports a secure school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment and any type of bullying behavior. The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable.

Bullying is the use of coercion to obtain control over another person or to be habitually cruel to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited on district property, at district or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the district or one of its schools, or off school property when such conduct has a connection to school or any district curricular or non-curricular activity or event.

A student who engages in any act of bullying is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. The severity and pattern of the bullying behavior, if any, shall be considered when disciplinary decisions are made.

Teachers who observe or become aware of bullying shall take appropriate steps to intervene and/or report such behavior to the school principal. Parents and students who become aware of bullying are encouraged to report it to the school principal.

School principals shall take appropriate steps to educate students about ways to prevent bullying.

The superintendent shall develop a comprehensive program to address bullying at all school levels. The program shall be aimed toward accomplishing the following goals:

To send a clear message to students, staff, parents and community members that bullying will not be tolerated.
To train staff and students in taking pro-active steps to prevent bullying from occurring.
To implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation of students engaged in bullying behavior.
To initiate efforts to change the behavior of students engaged in bullying behaviors through re-education on acceptable behavior, discussions, counseling, and appropriate negative consequences.
To foster a productive partnership with parents and community members in order to help maintain a bully-free environment.
To support victims of bullying by means of individual and peer counseling.
To help develop peer support networks, social skills and confidence for all students.
To recognize and praise positive, supportive behaviors of students toward one another on a regular basis.