Policy 5131.92
Students
Bullying
The Ledyard Board of Education promotes a secure and happy school climate that is conducive to teaching and learning and is free from threat, harassment, teen dating violence, and any type of bullying behavior.
Definitions
“Bullying” means (1) the repeated use by one or more students of a written, oral or electronic communication, such as cyberbullying, directed at or referring to another student attending Ledyard Public Schools, or (2) a physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at or referring to another student attending Ledyard Public Schools, that:
- Causes physical or emotional harm to the student or damage to the student’s property;
- Places the student 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 student;
- Infringes on the rights of the student at school; or
- Substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Bullying shall include, but not be limited to, a written, oral or electronic communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of these characteristics.
“Cyberbullying” means any act of bullying through use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone or other mobile electronic devices or any electronic communications.
“Teen dating violence” means any act of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, including stalking, harassing and threatening, that occur between two students who are currently in or who have recently been in a dating relationship.
“Mobile electronic device” means any hand-held or other portable electronic equipment capable to providing data communication between two or more individuals, including, but not limit to, a text messaging device, a paging device, a personal digital assistant, a laptop computer, equipment that is capable of playing a video game or a digital video disk, or equipment on which digital images are taken or transmitted.
“Electronic communication” means any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo-electronic or photo-optical system.
“Hostile environment” means a situation in which bullying among students is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the school climate.
“School climate” means the quality and character of school life with a particular focus on the quality of the relationships within the school community between and among students and adults.
“Outside of the school setting” means at a location, activity or program that is not school-related, or through the use of an electronic device or a mobile electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by Ledyard Public Schools.
“School employee” means: (1) a teacher, substitute teacher, school administrator, the Superintendent, guidance counselor, psychologist, social worker, nurse, physician, school paraprofessional or coach employed by or working in Ledyard Public Schools; or (2) any other individual who, in the performance of his or her duties, has regular contact with students and who provides services to or on behalf of students in Ledyard Public Schools pursuant to a contract with the Board.
Bullying Prohibited
Bullying of any form will not be tolerated in Ledyard Public Schools. The Board prohibits bullying:
- On 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 Ledyard Public Schools, or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile device owned, leased or used by Ledyard Public Schools; and
- Outside the school setting if such bullying: (1) creates a hostile environment at school for the student against whom such bullying was directed; (2) infringes on the rights of the student against whom such bullying was directed at school; or (3) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Disciplinary Actions
Students who engage in any verified act of bullying that falls under the scope of this policy will be subject to disciplinary action up to and including suspension, expulsion and/or referral to the Ledyard Police. Additionally, any acts of cyberbullying that involve school computers or other technology may result in the loss of privileges to use such school equipment.
Safe School Climate Plan
The Board believes that a comprehensive program involving both staff and students of Ledyard Public Schools is essential to reducing incidents of bullying. To this end, the Board directs the Superintendent to promulgate such administrative rules and procedures as is necessary to implement the following Safe School Climate Plan elements in each school:
- Enable students to anonymously report acts of bullying to school employees and require that students and their parents/guardians be notified at the beginning of each school year of the process by which students may make such reports.
- Enable the parents/guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying.
- Require school employees who witness acts of bullying or receive reports of bullying to orally notify the Safe School Climate Specialist, or another school administrator, not later than one school day after such school employee witnesses or receives a report of bullying and to file a written report not later than two school days after making the oral report.
- Require the Safe School Climate Specialist to investigate or supervise the investigation of all reports of bullying and ensure that such investigation is completed promptly after receipt of any written reports made regarding bullying. Require that the Safe School Climate Specialist give prompt notice that the investigation has commenced to the parents or guardians of the student alleged to have committed an act or acts of bullying and to the parents or guardians of the student against whom such alleged act or acts were directed.
- Require the Safe School Climate Specialist to review any anonymous reports of bullying, except that no disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.
- Include a prevention and intervention strategy, as outlined later in this policy, for school employees to deal with bullying.
- Require each school to include language in student codes of conduct concerning bullying.
- Require each school to notify the parents/guardians of students who commit any verified acts of bullying and the parents/guardians of students against whom such acts were directed not later than forty-eight hours after the completion of the investigation described in step 4, above. These notifications shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.
- Require each school to invite the parents or guardians of the student against whom such act was directed to a meeting to communicate to such parents or guardians the measures being taken by the school to ensure the safety of the student against whom such act was directed and the policies and procedures in place to prevent further acts of bullying. These invitations shall include a description of the response of school employees to such acts and any consequences that may result from the commission of further acts of bullying.
- Require each school to invite the parents or guardians of a student who commits any verified act of bullying to a meeting, separated and distinct from the meeting described in step 9, above, to discuss specific interventions undertaken by the school to prevent further acts of bullying.
- Require each school to document and maintain records relating to reports and investigations of bullying in the school, maintain a list of the number of verified acts of bullying in the school, make such list available for public inspection, and annually report that number to the Department of Education in such manner as is prescribed by the Commissioner of Education.
- Direct the development of case-by-case interventions for addressing repeated incidents of bullying against a single individual or recurrently perpetuated bullying incidents by the same individual. Such interventions may include both counseling and discipline.
- Prohibit discrimination and retaliation against an individual who reports or assists in the investigation of an act of bullying.
- Direct the development of student safety support plans for students against whom an act of bullying was directed that address safety measures the school will take to protect such students against further acts of bullying.
- Require the school Principal, or his/her designee, to notify Ledyard Police when the Principal, or his/her designee, believes that any acts of bullying constitute criminal conduct.
- Require that, at the beginning of each school year, each school to provide all school employees with a written or electronic copy of the District’s Safe School Climate Plan.
- Require that all school employees annually complete training on (1) the prevention of and response to youth suicide, and (2) the identification and prevention of and response to bullying. This training should specifically cover District-wide and school-specific procedures regarding these topics. Additionally, all school employees shall complete the annual training provided by the Department of Education on these topics.
Prevention and Intervention Strategy
Each school shall implement a prevention and intervention strategy for school employees to deal with bullying and teen dating violence that may include, but is not limited to:
- Implementation of a positive behavioral intervention and supports process or another evidence-based model approach for safe school climate or for the prevention of bullying and teen dating violence identified by the Department of Education.
- School rules prohibiting bullying, teen dating violence, harassment and intimidation and establishing appropriate consequences for those who engage in such acts.
- Adequate adult supervision of outdoor areas, hallways, the lunchroom and other specific areas where bullying or teen dating violence is likely to occur.
- Inclusion of grade-appropriate bullying and teen dating violence education and prevention curricula in kindergarten through high school.
- Individual interventions with the bully, his/her parents/guardians and school employees, and interventions with the bullied child, his/her parents/guardians and school staff.
- School-wide training related to safe school climate.
- Student peer training, education and support.
- Promotion of parent/guardian involvement in bullying prevention through individual or team participation in meetings, trainings and individual interventions.
- Culturally competent school-based curriculum focusing on social-emotional learning, self-awareness and self-regulation. Funding for the school-based bullying intervention and school climate improvement strategy may originate from public, private, federal, or philanthropic sources. For the purposes of this policy, “interventions with the bullied child,” includes referrals to a school counselor, psychologist, or other appropriate social or mental health service, and periodic follow-up by the safe school climate specialist with the bullied child.
District Safe School Climate Coordinator
The Board appoints the Assistant Superintendent as the District Safe School Climate Coordinator who shall:
- Be responsible for implementing the District’s Safe School Climate Plan;
- Collaborate with the Safe School Climate Specialists from each school, the Board and the Superintendent to prevent, identify and respond to bullying and teen dating violence in Ledyard Public Schools;
- Provide data and information, in collaboration with the Superintendent, to the Department of Education regarding bullying and teen dating violence; and
- Meet with the Safe School Climate Specialists at least twice during the school year to discuss issues relating to bullying and teen dating violence in the District and to make recommendations concerning amendments to the District’s Safe School Climate Plan.
Safe School Climate Specialists
The Principal of each school, or his/her designee as approved by the Superintendent, shall serve as the Safe School Climate Specialist and shall:
- Investigate or supervise the investigation of reported acts of bullying in the school in accordance with the District’s Safe School Climate Plan;
- Collect and maintain records of reports and investigations of bullying in the school; and
- Act as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying and responding to reports of bullying in the school.
School Climate Assessments
Starting July 1, 2012, and biennially thereafter, each school shall complete an assessment using the school climate assessment instruments, including surveys, approved and disseminated by the Department of Education. The District Safe School Climate Coordinator shall collect the safe school climate assessments for each school, report the results to the Board, and submit them in the manner specified to the Department of Education.
Safe School Climate Committee
Beginning with the school year commencing July 1, 2012, the Principal of each school shall establish a committee, or designate at least one existing committee, in the school to be responsible for developing and fostering a safe school climate and addressing issues relating to bullying in the schools. The Principal shall appoint at least one parent or guardian of a student enrolled in the school to serve on the committee.
Each school’s Safe School Climate Committee shall:
- Receive copies of completed reports following investigations of bullying;
- Identify and address patterns of bullying among students in the school;
- Review and amend school policies relating to bullying;
- Review and make recommendations to the District Safe School Climate Coordinator regarding the District’s Safe School Climate Plan based on issues and experiences specific to the school;
- Educate students, school employees and parents/guardians of students on issues relating to bullying;
- Collaborate with the District Safe School Climate Coordinator in the collection of school data regarding bullying; and
- Perform any other duties as determined by the school Principal that are related to the prevention, identification and response to school bullying for the school.
Any parent or guardian serving as a member of a Safe School Climate Committee shall not participate in the activities listed in items 1 and 2, above, or in any other activity that may compromise the confidentiality of a student.
Immunity when Acting in Good Faith
No claim for damages shall be made against a school employee who reports, investigates, and responds to bullying or teen dating violence in accordance with the provisions of the Safe School Climate Plan if the employee was acting in good faith in the discharge of his or her duties or within the scope of his or her employment.
No claim for damages shall be made against a student, parent or guardian of a student, or any other individual who reports an act of bullying or teen dating violence to a school employee in accordance with the provisions of the Safe School Climate Plan if such individual was acting in good faith.
The immunity provided by the Connecticut General Statutes does not apply to acts or omissions constituting gross, reckless, willful or wanton misconduct.
Policy Notification Requirements
This policy, the applicable attendant rules and procedures, and the Board-approved Safe School Climate Plan shall be posted on the Internet websites for the District and each school and shall be included in any school or District publication of the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student and staff handbooks.
Legal References:
Connecticut General Statutes:
10-220a – In-service training.
10-222d – Policy on bullying behavior.
10-222g – Prevention and intervention strategy re bullying.
10-222h – Analysis of bullying policies.
Public Act 11-232 – An Act Concerning Strengthening of School Bullying Laws
Public Act 14-172 – An Act Concerning Improving Employment Opportunities through Education and Ensuring Safe School Climates
Public Act 14-234 – An Act Concerning Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault