Bullying Prevention
Bristol Township School District is committed to providing a physically safe and emotionally secure environment for all students and staff. Local school policies assist school personnel in identifying bullying, intimidation, and harassment, and provide a framework for an appropriate response that reinforces positive conduct. The district defines positive behaviors as those which evoke non-violence, cooperation, teamwork, understanding, and acceptance toward all students and staff in the learning and teaching environment. It takes a community to prevent bullying of children--stopping bullying behavior needs a team of school people, students, and families. Together we can intervene to stop bullying behaviors.
Reporting Procedures
Victims: - All students who believe they have been the victim of bullying shall promptly report the bullying incident to a teacher, counselor or building administrator.
Parents/Guardians: - All parents/guardians who become aware of any bullying are encouraged to report the bullying incident to a building administrator.
Witness(es): - All students who witness bullying shall immediately report the bullying incident to a teacher, counselor or administrator. Any teacher, counselor or administrator who witnesses bullying shall immediately intervene and take appropriate action to stop the bullying.
Teachers/Counselors: - Any teacher/counselor who witness bullying or receives a report of bullying shall document such incident and promptly investigate the matter. Administrators shall seek to discuss the bullying incident with the victim in a place where the victim feels secure. The initial discussion with the victim shall not take place in the presence of the offending student. If more than one (1) student is involved in perpetrating the bullying, the administrator shall talk to each of the offending students separately. After the investigation has been completed, the building principal shall take appropriate actions consistent with this policy.
Forms
Anyone who is the victim of or has witnessed bullying please submit the incident form to building administration.
Incident Reporting Form
BTSD Bullying Policy
Disciplinary and other action
Disciplinary action shall be in accordance with Board approved district procedures and guidelines. Depending on the severity of the offense, the disciplinary action for bullying may include loss of privileges, removal from class, suspensions, and a Board expulsion hearing. If the investigation has determined that the conduct rises to the level of a crime, disciplinary action may also include referral to law enforcement officials. In addition to imposing and disciplinary action, the building administrator will discuss the bullying behavior with the offending student and the parent/guardian and review why the behavior was inappropriate.
In some circumstances, mediation may be used as a viable alternative or in addition to disciplinary action when addressing a first offense of bullying. The building administrator shall consider the nature and sensitivity of the offense in determining whether mediation is appropriate. Mediation shall not be used without the consent of the victim and their parent/guardian or where the building administrator has a concern about retaliation being perpetrated against the victim. Victims shall not be pressured into participating in mediation.
All incidents of confirmed bullying, including those that are mediated, shall be recorded in writing and placed in the offending student's discipline file.
The penalties and prohibitions in this policy are in addition to, and do not replace or supersede, any related provisions in district policy prohibiting conduct such as harassment, violence, assault, and hazing.
What is bullying?
Bullying implies an imbalance in strength or power. The student who is bullied may have difficulty defending him/herself.
Bullying shall mean an intentional electronic, written, verbal or physical act or series of acts directed at another student or students which occurs in a school setting that is severe, persistent or pervasive, and that has the effect of doing any of the following:
Substantially interfering with a student's education;
Creating a threatening environment; or
Substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
[School setting shall mean in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles, at a designated bus stop or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned by the school.]