Bullying, intimidation, and harassment diminish a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate. Preventing students from engaging in these disruptive behaviors and providing all students equal access to a safe, non-hostile learning environment are important District goals.
Definition
Bullying includes cyber-bullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
- Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property;
- Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health;
- Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or
- Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
Prohibition
Bullying is prohibited in each of the following situations:
- During any school-sponsored education program or activity.
- While in school, on school property, on school buses or other school vehicles, at designated school bus stops waiting for the school bus, or at school-sponsored or school-sanctioned events or activities.
- Through the transmission of information from a school computer, a school computer network, or other similar electronic school equipment.
- Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school-related location, activity, function, or program, or from the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the District or school, if the bullying causes a substantial disruption to the education process or orderly operation of a school.
Reporting Bullying
Anyone, including students, staff members, and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it immediately. Reports may be made using the Report Form for Bullying, Safe2Help, or verbally to the District Nondiscrimination Coordinator, a Complaint Manager, Building Principal, Associate Building Principal, Assistant Building Principal, or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. For more information, see Board Policy 7.180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment.
