JICK-R ©

REGULATION

STUDENT  BULLYING / HARASSMENT /
INTIMIDATION

The District does not tolerate bullying, harassment, or intimidation in any form.  Further, the District shall investigate each complaint of bullying, harassment, or intimidation and will take appropriate, timely, and responsive action. 

Bullying:  Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engages in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that

A.  has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,

B.  is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment in the form of physical or emotional harm,

C.  occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or

D.  may constitute a violation of law.

Any student who feels he or she has been the victim of bullying, harassment, or intimidation or suspects other students of being bullied, harassed, or intimidated should file a complaint with the principal or the principal's designee or other school employee.  The student's report may be provided verbally or in writing.  A student's verbal report will be documented in writing by the employee receiving the report. 

Any staff member who becomes aware of or suspects that a student is experiencing bullying, harassment, or intimidation shall immediately notify the principal or the principal's designee.  Employees may initially give verbal notice to the principal or the principal's designee but shall submit a written report to the principal or the principal's designee within one (1) school day of the verbal report. 

Reprisal directed toward a student or employee for the reporting of a case of bullying, harassment, or intimidation or a suspected case of bullying, harassment, or intimidation will not be tolerated.  Students involved directly or indirectly in reprisal will be disciplined pursuant to Board Policies JK, JKD, and JKE.  Any suspected violation of the law will be reported to law enforcement authorities.

Investigation of submitted complaints shall be initiated by the principal or the principal's designee as soon as is feasible, but not later than two (2) school days after the initial report.  Each investigation will be comprehensive to the extent determined appropriate by the principal or the principal's designee.  In investigating the complaint, the principal or the principal's designee will maintain confidentiality to the extent reasonably possible, subject to the restrictions pertaining to disclosure of personally identifiable student information established in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). 

Each investigation will be documented by the principal or the principal's designee.  Documentation will be maintained by the District for at least six (6) years.  In the event the District must report incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

Should the principal or the principal's designee determine 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 the principal's designee will meet with the student who reported or was reported as being bullied, harassed, or intimidated to review the findings of the investigation.  Additionally, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the involved students will be informed of the findings of the investigation.

The Superintendent is responsible for determining the methods of information delivery to employees and students.  The Superintendent shall provide to the school principals, supervisors, and all other District employees, the information necessary to comply with Governing Board Policy JICK.  The information related to bullying, harassment, or intimidation is to include but not be limited to preventive measures, incident reporting, related support services available (proactive and reactive), student rights, employee responsibilities, and the ramifications of not reporting a bullying, harassment, or intimidation incident or suspicion of bullying, harassment, or intimidation.  The information shall be disseminated to District personnel at the beginning of each year and as the Superintendent otherwise determines to be appropriate.

The principal or the principal's designee is responsible to ensure information related to bullying, harassment, or intimidation is disseminated to students, and parents and guardians.  The information shall include but not be limited to Governing Board policy, incident reporting, support services (proactive and reactive), and student's rights.  The dissemination of this information will

A.  occur during the first (1st) week of each school year,

B.  be posted in each classroom and in common areas of the school,

C.  be summarized in the student handbook and on the District website, and

D.  be provided to each incoming student during the school year at the time of registration.

The principal or the principal's designee is also responsible to ensure information is disseminated to all students who report bullying, harassment, or intimidation, including, at the time the incident is reported, a written copy of student rights, protections and support services available to the student; a copy of the report shall also be given to the student's parent(s)/guardian(s).

The principal or the principal's designee is responsible for the maintenance of documentation related to bullying, harassment, or intimidation.