The Board of Education prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts both a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment; and since students learn by example, school administrators, faculty, and staff have all received mandated training regarding the State’s new H.I.B (Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying) law, and will continue to demonstrate appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

The district will also continue to promote character education, positive behavior, and anti-bullying through curricular, instructional, and staffing decisions. Some examples of work currently being done in our elementary schools include the following:

• In the last two years, the district has created the positions of K-5 Elementary Guidance Counselor, District Behaviorist, and Elementary School Psychologist, all of which help to drive anti-bullying initiatives at the elementary schools.

• All students in grades 4-5 will receive explicit instruction in anti-bullying and social skills via a program called Second Step, and all students K-5 via a program called Cybersmart.

• District schools will continue to work with building-based PSOs to schedule assemblies that focus on character education.

• The district has improved the I&RS (Intervention & Referral Service) process for students who exhibit behavioral and social challenges.

On this page you will notice the district’s revised Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying policy, which aligns to the State’s new regulations, as well as copies of our forms used to document allegations and/or complaints regarding bullying, as well as investigations.

Please also note that information regarding your school’s Anti-bullying Specialist, and the District Anti-bullying Coordinator has also been included.