BULLYING
It is the policy of this school district that bullying of students by other students, personnel, or the public will not be tolerated. Students are expected to be civil, polite, and fully engaged in the learning process. Students who act inappropriately are not fully engaged in the learning process. This policy is in effect while the students are on school grounds, in school vehicles, at designated bus stops, at school-sponsored activities, or at school-sanctioned events, and while away from school grounds if the misconduct directly affects the good order, efficient management, and welfare of the school district. Bullying of students by electronic communication is prohibited whether or not such communication originated at school or with school equipment, if the communication is specifically directed at students or school personnel and concerns harassment, intimidation, or bullying at school. The school district is not required to provide educational services in the regular school setting to any student who has been removed from a public school or private school in Oklahoma or another state by administrative or judicial process for an act of using electronic communication with the intent to terrify, intimidate or harass, or threaten to inflict injury or physical harm to faculty or students.
As used in the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act, "bullying" means any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, physical acts, verbal or electronic communication directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school's educational mission or the education of any student. Isolated action does not meet the state’s definition of bullying. However, the administration will investigate isolated incidents or actions and apply appropriate discipline under the student discipline code. This policy addresses bullying which is specifically prohibited.
In administering discipline, consideration will be given to alternative methods of punishment to ensure that the most effective discipline is administered in each case. In all disciplinary action, teachers and administrators will be mindful of the fact that they are dealing with individual personalities. The faculty may consider consultation with parents to determine the most effective disciplinary measure.
In considering alternatives of corrective actions, the faculty/administration of the school district will consider those listed below. However, the school is not limited to these alternative methods, nor does this list reflect an order or sequence of events to follow in disciplinary actions. The board of education will rely upon the judgment and discretion of the administrator to determine the appropriate remedial or corrective action in each instance.
1. Conference with student
2. Conference with parents
3. In-school suspension
4. Detention
5. Referral to counselor
6. Behavioral contract
7. Changing student's seat assignment or class assignment
8. Requiring a student to make financial restitution for damaged property
9. Requiring a student to clean or straighten items or facilities damaged by the student's behavior
10. Restriction of privileges
11. Involvement of local authorities
12. Referring student to appropriate social agency or to a delinquency prevention and diversion program administrated by the office of Juvenile Affairs
13. Suspension
14. Performing Campus-site services for the school district
15. Other appropriate disciplinary action as required and as indicated by the circumstances which may include, but is not limited to, removal from eligibility to participate or attend extracurricular activities as well as removal
HARASSMENT (Cont.)
from the privilege of attending or participating in the graduation ceremony, school dances, prom, prom activities, and/or class trips.
Harassment set forth above may include, but is not limited to, the following:
1. Verbal, physical, or written harassment or abuse.
2. Repeated remarks of a demeaning nature.
3. Implied or explicit threats concerning one’s grades, achievements, etc.
4. Demeaning jokes, stories, or activities directed at the student.
5. Unwelcome physical contact.
The superintendent shall develop procedures providing for:
1. Prompt investigation of allegations of harassment.
2. The expeditious correction of the conditions causing such harassment.
3. Establishment of adequate measures to provide confidentiality in the complaint process.
4. Initiation of appropriate corrective actions.
5. Identification and enactment of methods to prevent reoccurrence of the harassment.
6. A process where the provisions of this policy are disseminated in writing annually to all staff and students.
All school employees at each school site shall be required to complete professional development training in school bullying prevention, identification, response and reporting that meets the requirements of Oklahoma law and shall include recommendations from each school site’s Safe Schools Committee.
Students will receive annual training regarding identifying, preventing, addressing, and reporting incidents of bullying via educational programs. These programs may include, but are not limited to, classroom discussions, assemblies, multimedia and presentations. The purpose of the educational programs are to assist students in the identification of bullying behaviors, reporting procedures and the consequences for violation of school policy.
The district will implement a research-based educational program as designed and developed by the Oklahoma State Department of Education for students and parents to prevent, identify, respond to and report bullying.
A copy of this policy will be furnished to each student and teacher in this school district.
HARASSMENT/BULLYING INCIDENT REPORT FORM
Date: Time: Room/Location:
Student(s) Initiating Bullying/Harassment:
Grade: Class:
PROHIBITING BULLYING
(INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES)
The following procedures will be used by any person for the filing, processing, and resolution of a reported incident of harassment, intimidation, bullying, or threatening behavior. The procedures are to be followed by the administration of the school district in an effort to determine the severity of the incident and the potential to result in future violence.
Definitions
1. “Bullying” means any pattern of harassment, intimidation, threatening behavior, physical acts, verbal or electronic communication directed toward a student or group of students that results in or is reasonably perceived as being done with the intent to cause negative educational or physical results for the targeted individual or group and is communicated in such a way as to disrupt or interfere with the school's educational mission or the education of any student.
“Electronic communication” means the communication of any written, verbal, or pictorial information or video content by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, a mobile or cellular telephone or other wireless communication device, or a computer.
“Threatening behavior” means any pattern of behavior or isolated action, whether or not it is directed at another person, that a reasonable person would believe indicates potential for future harm to students, school personnel, or school property.
Procedures
The procedure for investigating reported incidents of harassment, intimidation, and bullying or threatening behavior is as follows:
1. The matter should immediately be reported to the building principal who will serve as the site district bullying incident coordinator. If the bullying involved an electronic communication, a printed copy of the communication as well as any identifying information such as email address or web address shall be provided to the building principal. As much detailed information as possible should be provided to the building principal in written form to allow for a thorough investigation of the matter.
2. Upon receipt of a written report, the building principal shall contact the superintendent and begin an investigation to determine the severity of the incident and the potential for future violence.
3. If, during the course of the investigation, it appears that a crime may have been committed the building principal and/or superintendent shall notify local law enforcement and request that the alleged victim also contact law enforcement to report the matter for potential criminal investigation.
4. If it is determined that the school district’s discipline code has been violated, the building principal shall follow district policies regarding the discipline of the student. The building principal shall make a determination as to whether the conduct is actually occurring.
PROHIBITING BULLYING, INVESTIGATION PROCEDURES (Cont.)
5. Upon completion of the investigation, the principal or superintendent may recommend that available community mental health care substance abuse or other counseling options be provided to the student, if appropriate. This may include information about the types of support services available to the student bully, victim, and any other students affected by the prohibited behavior. If such a recommendation is made, the administration shall request disclosure of any information that indicates an explicit threat to the safety of students or school personnel provided the disclosure of information does not violate the provisions or requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, Section 2503 of Title 12 of the Oklahoma Statutes, Section 1376 of Title 59 of Oklahoma Statutes, or any other state or federal laws relating to the disclosure of confidential information.
6. Upon completion of an investigation, timely notification shall be provided to the parents or guardians of a victim of documented and verified bullying. This information should be provided within ___ days of the conclusion of the investigation.
7. Upon completion of an investigation, timely notification shall be provided to the perpetrator of the documented and verified bullying. This information should be provided within ___ days of the conclusion of the investigation.
Reports may be made anonymously. However, no formal disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report. Reports should be made immediately to the building principal by any school employee that has reliable information that would lead a reasonable person to suspect that a person is a target of bullying.
The Superintendent shall be responsible for enforcing this policy. The building principal should notify the superintendent within twenty-four (24) hours of any report of bullying. Upon completion of an investigation, the building principal should notify the superintendent of the findings of the investigation. Documentation should also be provided to the superintendent to establish that timely notification was provided to the parents of the victim and the parents of the perpetrator.
Students who report bullying or other inappropriate behavior in good faith, or who participate as witnesses in an investigation, are protected from retaliation. Retaliation of any kind—including threats, intimidation, exclusion, harassment, cyberbullying, spreading rumors, or any other adverse treatment intended to discourage or punish a student for reporting a concern—is strictly prohibited. Any student found to have engaged in retaliatory behavior will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with school policy. Students who believe they have experienced retaliation should report it immediately to a teacher, school counselor, administrator, or other trusted school employee so that the matter can be promptly investigated and addressed. If an employee of the district is found to have engaged in retaliatory action against a student who has reported bullying, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken which could include termination of employment.
Any person who knowingly makes a false report shall receive disciplinary consequences and any accusations found to be false will be removed from the falsely accused student’s records.
Grade: Class:
Student(s)
Affected:
Grade: Class:
Grade: Class:
Type of
Harassment Alleged:
Racial
Sexual Religious Other
Check
all spaces below that apply. Adult
stated or identified inappropriate behaviors as:
Name Calling Spitting
Stalking Demeaning Comments
Inappropriate Gesturing Stealing
Staring/Leering Damaging Property
Writing/Graffiti Shoving/Pushing
Threatening Hitting/Kicking
Taunting/Ridiculing Flashing a Weapon
Inappropriate Touching Intimidation/Extortion
Other
Describe the
incident:
Witnesses Present:
Physical evidence: Graffiti _____ Notes _____ E-mail _____ Web
sites _____ Video/audio tape _____
Other
Staff signature
Parent(s)
contacted: Date Time
Administrative
response taken:
Date: Time: Room/Location:
Student(s) Initiating Bullying/Harassment:
Grade: Class:
Grade: Class:
Student(s) Affected:
Grade: Class:
Grade: Class:
Type of Harassment Alleged:
Racial Sexual Religious Other
Check all spaces below that apply. Adult stated or identified inappropriate behaviors as:
Name Calling Spitting
Stalking Demeaning Comments
Inappropriate Gesturing Stealing
Staring/Leering Damaging Property
Writing/Graffiti Shoving/Pushing
Threatening Hitting/Kicking
Taunting/Ridiculing Flashing a Weapon
Inappropriate Touching Intimidation/Extortion
Other
Describe the incident:
Witnesses Present:
Physical evidence: Graffiti _____ Notes _____ E-mail _____ Web sites _____ Video/audio tape _____
Other
Staff signature
Parent(s) contacted: Date Time
Administrative response taken:
PROHIBITING BULLYING
(REGULATION)
The Olustee-Eldorado Public Schools’ student conduct code prohibits bullying. This regulation further explains the negative effects of that behavior and seeks to promote strategies for prevention.
Statement of Board Purpose in Adopting Policy
The board of education recognizes that bullying of students causes serious educational and personal problems, both for the student-victim and the initiator of the bullying. The board observes that this conduct:
1. Has been shown by national and state studies to have a substantial adverse effect upon school district operations, the safety of students and faculty, and the educational system at large.
2. Substantially disrupts school operations by interfering with the district’s mission to instruct students in an atmosphere free from fear, is disruptive of school efforts to encourage students to remain in school until graduation and is just as disruptive of the district’s efforts to prepare students for productive lives in the community as they become adults.
3. Substantially disrupts healthy student behavior and thereby academic achievement. Research indicates that healthy student behavior results in increased student academic achievement. Improvement in student behavior through the prevention or minimization of intimidation, harassment, and bullying towards student-victims simultaneously supports the district’s primary and substantial interest in operating schools that foster and promote academic achievement.
4. Substantially interferes with school compliance with federal law that seeks to maximize the mainstreaming of students with disabilities and hinders compliance with Individual Educational Programs containing objectives to increase the socialization of students with disabilities. Targets of bullying are often students with known physical or mental disabilities who, as a result, are perceived by bullies as easy targets for bullying actions.
5. Substantially interferes with the district’s mission to advance the social skills and social and emotional well-being of students. Targets of intimidation, harassment, and bullying are often “passive-target” students who already are lacking in social skills because they tend to be extremely sensitive, shy, display insecurity, anxiety and/or distress; may have experienced a traumatic event; may try to use gifts, toys, money, or class assignments or performance bribes to protect themselves from intimidation, harassment, or bullying; are often small for their age and feel vulnerable to bullying acts; and/or may resort to carrying weapons to school for self-protection. Passive-target victims who have been harassed and demeaned by the behavior of bullies often respond by striving to obtain power over others by becoming bullies themselves and are specifically prone to develop into students who eventually inflict serious physical harm on other students, or, in an effort to gain power over their life or situation, commit suicide.
6. Substantially disrupts school operations by increasing violent acts committed against fellow students. Violence, in this context, is frequently accompanied by criminal acts.
7. Substantially disrupts school operations by interfering with the reasonable expectations of other students that they can feel secure at school and not be subjected to frightening acts or be the victim of mistreatment resulting from bullying behavior.