JICKSTUDENT BULLYING / HARASSMENT /
INTIMIDATION
JICKThe Governing Board believes it is the right of every student to be educated in a positive, safe, caring, and respectful learning environment. The Board further believes a school environment inclusive of these traits maximizes student achievement, fosters student personal growth, and helps students build a sense of community that promotes positive participation as members of society.
The District, in partnership with parents, guardians, and students, shall establish and maintain a school environment based on these beliefs. The District shall identify and implement age-appropriate programs designed to instill in students the values of positive interpersonal relationships, mutual respect, and appropriate conflict resolution.
To assist in achieving a school environment based on the beliefs of the Governing Board, bullying, harassment or intimidation as defined by this policy will not be tolerated.
Definitions
Bullying: Bullying is any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths, who are not siblings or current dating partners, that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance, and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated.
Bullying inflicts harm or distress on the targeted youth including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. (CDC)
Types of Bullying (Arizona Department of Education):
Verbal Bullying: saying or writing things that could be mean or hurtful. Things like: name-calling, threats, taunting, teasing, and inappropriate sexual comments.
Social Bullying: Involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships. Making someone feel like they don’t belong to a group. Some examples: leaving someone out on purpose, spreading rumors, embarrassing someone in public, or preventing someone from being friends with someone else.
Physical Bullying: Involves hurting a person’s body or things that belong to them. Physical bullying includes: hitting, kicking, punching, spitting, pinching, pushing, damaging someone’s belongings, or making rude gestures.
Cyberbullying: Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying can occur through Short Message Service (SMS), Text, and apps, or online in social media, forums, or gaming where people can view, participate in, or share content. Cyberbullying includes sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else. It can include sharing personal or private information about someone else causing embarrassment or humiliation. Some cyberbullying crosses the line into unlawful or criminal behavior.
Harassment: Harass means conduct that is directed at a specific person and that would cause a reasonable person to be seriously alarmed, annoyed, humiliated or mentally distressed and the conduct in fact seriously alarms, annoys, humiliates or mentally distresses the person (A.R.S 13-2921). Harassment may be related, but not limited to, race, religious orientation, sexual orientation, gender expression, gender identity, cultural background, economic status, size, or personal appearance. Harassing behaviors can be direct or indirect and by use of social media.
Intimidation: A person commits intimidation if the person intimidates by word or conduct:
A. To cause physical injury to another person or serious damage to the property of another; or
B. To cause, or in reckless disregard to causing, serious public inconvenience including, but not limited to, evacuation of a building, place of assembly or transportation facility, or
C. To cause physical injury to another person or damage to the property of another in order to promote, further or assist in the interests of or to cause, induce or solicit another person to participate in a criminal street gang, a criminal syndicate or a racketeering enterprise.
Prohibitions and Discipline
Students are prohibited from bullying, harassment, or intimidation on school grounds, school property, school buses, at school bus stops, at school-sponsored events and activities, and through the use of electronic technology or electronic communication equipment on school computers, networks, forums, or mailing lists.
Reporting Incidents of Bullying/
Harassment/Intimidation
A student who is experiencing bullying, harassment, intimidation or believes another student is experiencing bullying, harassment, or intimidation is to report the situation to the principal or another school employee. A school employee who becomes aware of or suspects a student is being bullied, harassed or intimidated shall immediately notify the school administrator. School personnel shall maintain confidentiality of the reported information.
The initial notification of an alleged incident may be provided verbally. A detailed written description of the incident and any other relevant information must be provided on form(s) made available by the school and submitted to the principal within one (1) school day of the verbal report. Should the principal be the employee who observes, is informed of, or suspects a student is experiencing bullying the principal shall document the incident or concern in writing. Failure by an employee to report a suspected case of bullying may result in disciplinary action up to suspension without pay or dismissal pursuant to Board Policies GCQF and GDQD.
Reprisal by any student or staff member directed toward a student or employee related to the reporting of a case of bullying, harassment, or intimidation or a suspected case of bullying, harassment, or intimidation shall not be tolerated, and the individual(s) will be subject to the disciplines set out in applicable District policies and administrative regulations.
At the time a student reports alleged bullying, harassment, or intimidation the principal shall provide to the student who has allegedly been bullied, harassed, or intimidated a written copy of student rights, protections and support services available to the student and shall notify the student's parent(s)/guardian(s) of the suspected incident of harassment, intimidation or bullying.
The principal or designee shall investigate all reports of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. If the principal or designee determines that bullying, harassment, or intimidation has occurred, discipline will be administered pursuant to Board Policies JK, JKD, and JKE. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation the principal or designee will meet with the involved students to review the findings of the investigation. Subject to the restrictions of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) set out in Policy JR, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the involved students shall also be informed of the findings of the investigation.
Documentation related to reported bullying, harassment, or intimidation and subsequent investigation shall be maintained by the District for not less than six (6) years. In the event the District reports incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement all individually identifiable information shall be redacted. Restrictions established by FERPA on disclosure of personally identifiable student information must be observed at all times.
The Superintendent shall establish procedures for the dissemination of information to students, parents and guardians. The information will include, but not be limited to, Governing Board policies, incident reporting, support services (proactive and reactive) and student's rights. The dissemination of this information shall
A. occur during the first (1st) week of each school year,
B. be provided to each incoming student during the school year at the time of the student's registration,
C. be posted in each classroom and in common areas of the school, and
D. be summarized in the student handbook and on the District website, and
the Superintendent shall establish procedures for the dissemination of information to District employees.
Information will be provided to staff members at the beginning of each instructional year and on the first day of employment for new employees.
The Superintendent shall establish procedures designed to protect the health and safety of students who are physically harmed as the result of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. These will include, when appropriate, procedures for contacting emergency medical services, law enforcement agencies, or both.
Knowingly submitting a false report under this policy shall subject the student to discipline. Where disciplinary action is necessary pursuant to any part of this policy, relevant District policies shall be followed.
Law enforcement authorities shall be notified any time District officials have a reasonable belief that an incidence of bullying is a violation of the law.
Adopted: June 11, 2024
LEGAL REF.:
A.R.S.
13-1202
13-1203
13-1204
13-2321
13-2916
13-2921
13-3506.01
15-341
A.A.C.
R7-2-1308
CROSS REF.:
IJNDB - Use of Technology Resources in Instruction
JI - Student Rights and Responsibilities
JIC - Student Conduct
JII - Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances
JK - Student Discipline
JKD - Student Suspension
JKDA - Removal of Students from School-Sponsored Activities
JKE - Expulsion of Students
JR - Student Records