Hadley Public Schools - official web site for the Hadley Public School District, Hadley, Massachusetts: Hadley Public Schools Bullying Policy

I. Policy Statement

The Hadley Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, positive and productive educational environment where students and employees can achieve the highest academic standards. No student or employee shall be subjected to harassment, intimidation, bullying, or cyber-bullying.

The Plan was developed in consultation with all district stakeholders, which may include teachers, school staff, professional support personnel, school volunteers, administrators, community representatives, local law enforcement agencies, students, parents and guardians, consistent with the requirements of this policy, as well as state and federal laws. The bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be reviewed and updated at least biennially.

The Principal is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the bullying prevention and implementation plan within his or her school. The Principal will also serve as the school official responsible for receiving all bullying reports.

II. Training and Professional Development

A. The professional development of staff and training for students is a critical part of this policy. Al staff and students will receive annual trainings on this policy.

B. Ongoing professional development to build the skills of all members, including educators, administrators, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors, and paraprofessionals, will be offered annually.

C. The content of professional development for this policy shall include, but not limited to, (i) developmentally appropriate strategies to prevent bullying incidents; (ii) developmentally appropriate strategies for immediate, effective interventions to stop bullying incidents; (iii) information regarding the complex interaction and power differential that can take place between and among a aggressor, target and witnesses to the bullying; (iv) research findings on bullying, including information about specific categories of students who have been shown to particularly at risk in the school environment; (v) information on the incidence and nature of cyber-bullying; and (vi) internet safety issues as they relate to cyber-bullying.

D. Each school shall provide age-appropriate instruction at each grade level on bullying prevention annually.

E. Each school shall update their bullying prevention and intervention plans annually, in consultation with teachers, school staff, professional support personnel, administrators, community representatives, local law enforcement agencies, students, parents, and guardians.

III. Access to Resources and Services

The Hadley Public Schools shall provide counseling or referral to appropriate services, including guidance, academic intervention, and protection to students and employees and appropriate family members of the involved students or employees, both targets and perpetrators, affected by bullying, as necessary. Administration and Student Services will work in conjunction with local police.

Whenever the IEP Team evaluation indicates that a student’s disability affects social skills development, or when the student’s ability makes him or her vulnerable to bullying, harassment, or teasing, the IEP must address the skills and proficiencies needed to avoid and respond to bullying, harassment, or teasing. (See M.G.L. c. 71B, §3, as amended by chapter 92 of the Acts of 2010.)

IV. Academic and Non-academic Activities

A. Specific bullying prevention approaches. Bullying prevention curricula will be informed by current research which, among other things, emphasizes the following approaches:

using scripts and role-plays to develop skills;
empowering students to take action by knowing what to do when they witness other students engaged in acts of bullying or retaliation, including seeking adult assistance;
helping students understand the dynamics of bullying and cyber bullying, including the underlying power imbalance;
emphasizing cyber safety, including safe and appropriate use of electronic communication technologies;
enhancing students’ skills for engaging in healthy relationships and respectful communications;
engaging students’ in safe, supportive school environment that is respectful of diversity and difference.

B. General teaching approaches that support bullying prevention efforts. The following approaches are integral to establishing a safe and supportive school environment. These underscore the importance of our bullying intervention and prevention initiatives:

setting clear expectations for students and employees and establishing school and classroom routines;
creating safe school and classroom environments for all students and employees, including for students and employees with disabilities, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and homeless students persons;
use appropriate and positive responses and reinforcement, even when students/employees require discipline;
using positive behavioral supports;
encouraging adults to develop positive relationships with students and each other;
modeling, teaching, and rewarding pro-social, healthy, and respectful behaviors;
using positive approaches to behavioral health, including collaborative problem solving, conflict resolution training, teamwork, and positive behavioral supports that aid in social and emotional development;
using the internet safely;
sup porting students’ interest and participation in non-academic and extracurricular activities, particularly in their areas of strength.

V. Procedures for Reporting and Responding to Bullying and Retaliation

Reporting

Students or employees, who believe that they are a target of bullying, observe an act of bullying, or who have reasonable grounds to believe that these behaviors are taking place, are obligated to report incidents to a member of the school staff/school principal. The target shall, however, not be subject to discipline for failing to report bullying. Each school shall have a means for anonymous reporting by students and employees of incidents of bullying. Reporting forms are readily available on the district's website and in each school's main office. Students, parents or employees that witness or become aware of a bullying incident of any kind are strongly encouraged to either report the incident directly to a school official or anonymously through completing the required form by downloading and mailing the bullying reporting form on the district website to the respective school principal. No formal disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report. Any student or employee who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action. Parents or guardians, or members of the community, are encouraged to report an incident of bullying as soon as possible. A member of a school staff shall immediately report any instance of bullying the staff member has witnessed or become aware of to the school principal or their designee.

Investigation Procedures

The Principal or designee, upon receipt of a viable report of bullying or retaliation, shall promptly contact the parents or guardians of a student/employee who has been the alleged target and the parents of the alleged aggressor, if a student is involved. The actions being taken to prevent further acts of bullying shall be discussed.

The school principal or a designee shall promptly investigate the report of bullying, using a Bullying/Cyber-bullying Report form, which may include interviewing the alleged target, alleged perpetrator, staff members, students and/or witnesses.

Support staff shall assess an alleged target’s needs for protection and create and implement a safety plan that shall restore a sense of safety for that student.

Confidentiality shall be used to protect a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable information about an act of bullying.

If the principal or a designee determines that bullying has occurred he/she shall take appropriate disciplinary action and if it is believed that criminal charges may be pursued against the perpetrator, the principal shall consult with the Superintendent to determine that criminal charges are warranted. If it is determined that criminal charges are warranted, the local law enforcement agency shall be notified.

The investigation shall be completed within fourteen days from the date of the report. The involved employee or parents or guardians shall be contacted upon completion of the investigation and informed of the results, as applicable, including whether a violation of this policy was found, and whether disciplinary action has or shall be taken. Furthermore, the employee or parents or guardians, when a student is involved, will also be apprised of the actions taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation. At a minimum the Principal or his/her designee shall contact the employee or parents or guardians as to the status of the investigation on a weekly basis, if a student was involved.

Disciplinary actions for the students or employee who have committed an act of bullying or retaliation shall be in accordance with district disciplinary policies.

Each school shall document any incident of bullying that is reported per this policy and the Principal or designee shall maintain a file. A monthly report shall be provided to the Superintendent.

Confidentiality shall be maintained to the extent consistent with the school’s obligations under law.

Retaliation

Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying shall be prohibited.

VI. Collaboration with Families

Parents share the responsibility to (i) reinforce the curriculum at home and support the district plan; (ii) learn the dynamics of bullying; and (iii) reinforce proper online safety and cyber-bullying.

Parents will be informed about the district’s Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan, anti-bullying curricula and trainings. The district will offer annual parental presentations pertaining to anti-bullying in collaboration with Hadley PTO and School Councils.

VII. Prohibition Against Bullying and Retaliation

The district is committed to providing all students and employees with a safe learning environment that is free from bullying and cyber-bullying. This commitment is an integral part of our comprehensive efforts to promote learning, and to prevent and eliminate all forms of bullying and other harmful and disruptive behavior that can impede the learning process. Acts of bullying, which include cyber-bullying, are prohibited: (i) on the grounds and property immediately adjacent to school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function, or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased, or used by a school district or school; or through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased, or used by a school district or school, and (ii) at a location, activity, function, or program that is not school-related through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by a school district or school, if the acts create a hostile environment at school for the target or witnesses, infringe on their rights at school, or materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying is also prohibited. As stated in M.G.L. c. 71, § 370, nothing in this Plan requires the district or school to staff any non-school related activities, functions, or programs.

VIII. Definitions

Aggressor is a student or adult who engages in bullying, cyber-bullying, or retaliation. Bullying, as defined in M.G. L. c. 71,§ 370, is the repeated use by one or more students or adults of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at the target that:

causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target’s property;
places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself or of damage to his or her property;
creates a hostile environment at school for the target;
infringes on the rights of the target at school;
materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

Cyber-bullying is bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted to whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including but not limited to, electronic mail, internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communication. Cyber-bullying shall include [ (i) the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or (ii) the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creator or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the clauses (i) to (v), inclusive, of the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of communicating to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the clauses (i) or (v) inclusive, of the definition of bullying.]

(to include:)

Cyber-bullying may occur through the use of data, telephone, or computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network or any public education institute.
As used in this Section, “electronic communication” also means any communication through an electronic device including, but not limited to a telephone, cellular phone, computer or pager.

Hostile Environment is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule and/or insult that is sufficiently sever or pervasive to alter the condition of a student’s education.

Hazing is any conduct or method of initiation, even if consented to, into any student organization, whether on public or private property, which willfully or recklessly endangers the physical or mental health of any student or other persons.

Such conduct shall include, but is not limited to, whipping, beating, forced calisthenics, exposure to the weather, forced consumption of food, liquor, beverage, drug, or other substance, or any other brutal treatment or forced physical activity which is likely to adversely affect the physical health or safety of any such student or person, or which subjects such student or other person to extreme mental stress, including extended deprivation of sleep, rest, or extended isolation.

Involvement: If an incident of bullying or retaliation involves students or staff from more than one school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private day, residential school, or collaborative school, the school district or school first informed of the bullying or retaliation shall, consistent with state and federal law, promptly notify the appropriate administrator of the other school district or school so that both may take appropriate action. If an incident of bullying or retaliation occurs on school grounds and involves a former student under the age of 21 who is no longer enrolled in the local school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private day, residential school, or collaborative school, the school district or school informed of the bullying or retaliation shall contact law enforcement officials consistent with the provisions of state law.

Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment, directed against a person(s) who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or provides reliable information about bullying.

Staff: Includes, but is not limited to, educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to extracurricular activities, support staff or paraprofessionals.

Target is a person(s) against whom bullying, cyber-bullying, or retaliation has been perpetrated.

IX. Related Laws

A. REFERENCES:

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education’s Model Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan

B. LEGAL REFERENCES:

Title VII, Section 703, Civil Rights Act of 1964 as Federal
Regulation 74676 issued by EEO Commission
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
Board of Education 603 CMR 26.00
MGL 71:370
MGL 265:43,43A
MGL 268:13B
MGL 269:14A

C. CROSS REFERENCES:

AC, Nondiscrimination
ACAB, Sexual Harassment
JBA, Student-to-Student Harassment
JICFA, Prohibition of Hazing
JK, Student Discipline Regulations

Publications & Notice

The bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be posted on the Hadley Public Schools Website.

Annual written notice of the relevant sections of the bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be provided to students and their parents of guardians, in age-appropriate terms.

Annual written notice of the bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be provided to all school staff. The faculty and staff at each school shall be trained annually on the bullying prevention and intervention plan applicable to the school.

Relevant sections of the bullying prevention and intervention plan relating to the duties of faculty and staff shall be included in the school employee handbook.

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