District Bullying/Harassment Policy #8086

The School District recognizes that bullying/harassment can have a negative effect on school climate. This can also lead to more serious violence. Students who are fearful cannot give their education the single-minded attention they need for success. Every student has the right to an education without substantial interference and to be safe in and around school and school functions

1. Definition- Bullying/Harassment is the creation of a hostile environment by conduct or verbal threats, menacing, intimidation or abuse that has or would have the effect of unreasonably and substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities or benefits, or physical, emotional or mental well-being; or conduct, verbal threats, intimidation argues that reasonably causes or would reasonably be expected to cause a student to fear for his or her physical safety;such conduct, verbal threats and intimidation or abuse includes but is not limited toconduct, verbal threats, intimidation or abuse based on a person’s actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender or sex physical intimidation or assault; extortion; oral or written threats, teasing; putdowns; name-calling; threatening looks, gestures, or actions; cruel rumors, false accusations; and social isolation.

2. Bullying/Harassment is prohibited. No student shall be subjected to bullying/harassment by employees or students on school property or any school functions; nor shall any student be subjected to discrimination based upon the persons actual or perceived race, color, weight, national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, or sex by school employees or students on school property or at a school function..

3. Staff intervention. The district expects school employees who observe or become aware of an act of bullying/harassment to take immediate, appropriate steps to intervene unless intervention would be a serious immediate threat to staff members’ safety. If a staff member believes that his/her intervention has not resolved the matter, or if the bullying/harassment persists, he/she shall report the bullying/harassment to the school principal or designee for further investigation. The staff member shall also document the incident in order to provide a history if further incidents occur involving the same students.

At least one staff member at each school shall be identified and thoroughly trained to handle human relations in the areas of race, color, weight, and national origin, ethnic group, religion, religious practice, disability, sexual orientation, gender, and sex.

4. Students and parents shall report bullying/harassment. The district expects students and parents who become aware of an act of bullying/harassment to report it to the appropriate school personnel for further investigation. Any student who retaliates against another for reporting bullying may be subject to the consequences listed below in paragraph 6.

5. Investigation procedures. Upon learning about a bullying/harassment incident, the principal or designee shall contact the parents of both the alleged aggressor and the victim, interview both students, and investigate the incident. This investigation may include interviews with other students, parents, and school staff, review of school records, and identification of parent and family issues.

6. Consequences/intervention. Consequences for students who bully/harass others shall depending on the results of the investigation and prior history and may include counseling, training, instruction, parent conference; detention; suspension and/or expulsion; or involuntary transfer to another district school or any sanctions set forth in the Code of Conduct. Depending on the severity of the incident, the principal may also take appropriate steps to ensure student safety. These may include implementing a safety plan; separating and supervising the students involved; providing staff support, counseling services for students as necessary; reporting incidents to law enforcement if appropriate; and developing a supervision plan with the parents.

7. The administration shall create guidelines to be used: a. In school training programs to discourage the development of discrimination or harassment and that are designed:
(1). To raise the awareness and sensitivity of school employees to potential discrimination or harassment, and
(2). To enable employees to prevent and respond to discrimination or harassment; and
b. Relating to the development of nondiscriminatory instructional and counseling methods.