Cyber Bullying

The Board of Education recognizes the harmful effects of bullying on student learning and school attendance and desires to provide a safe school environment that protects students from physical and emotional harm. District employees shall establish student safety as a high priority and shall not tolerate bullying of any student. No individual or group shall, through physical, written, verbal,
or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, retaliate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any student or school personnel. Students may submit a verbal or written complaint of conduct they consider to be bullying to a teacher or administrator and may also request that their name be kept in confidence. The Superintendent or designee may establish other processes for students to submit anonymous reports of bullying, including the use of the StopIT app. Complaints of bullying or harassment shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with site level grievance procedures specified in law and practice. When a student is suspected of or is reported to be using electronic or digital communications to engage in cyberbullying against other students or staff or to threaten district property, the investigation shall include documentation of the activity, identification of the source, and a determination of its impact.

Students are encouraged to save and print any messages sent to them that they feel constitute cyberbullying and to notify a teacher, the principal, or other employee so that the matter may be investigated. Any student who engages in cyberbullying using district-owned equipment, on school premises, or off-campus in a manner that impacts a school activity or school attendance will be subject to discipline in accordance with district policies and regulations. If the student is using a social-networking site or service that has terms of use that prohibit posting of harmful material, the Superintendent or designee may file a complaint with the Internet site or service to have the material removed. For a copy of the district’s anti-discrimination, anti- harassment, anti-intimidation, and anti-bullying policies or to report incidences of bullying please contact the district office. These policies shall be posted in schools and offices.