The Board of Education supports a secure school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, and any type of bullying behavior. The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable.
Bullying is the use of coercion or intimidation to obtain control over another person or to cause physical, mental or emotional harm to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of his or her academic performance or any basis protected by federal and state law, including disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, ancestry or the need for special education services, whether such characteristic(s) are actual or perceived.
Bullying is prohibited on District property, at District or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the District or one of its schools, or off school property when such conduct has a nexus to school or any District curricular or non-curricular activity or event.
A student who engages in any act of bullying and/or a student who takes any retaliatory action against a student who reports in good faith an incident of bullying, is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including suspension, expulsion, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. The severity and pattern, if any, of the bullying behavior shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made. Bullying behavior that constitutes unlawful discrimination or harassment shall be subject to investigation and discipline under related Board policies and procedures. Students targeted by bullying when such bullying behavior may constitute unlawful discrimination or harassment also have additional rights and protections under Board policies and procedures regarding unlawful discrimination and harassment.
The Superintendent shall develop a comprehensive program to address bullying at all school levels. The program shall focus on accomplishing the following goals:
Adoption Date: December 10, 2001
Last Revised: September 10, 2012
- To send a clear message to students, staff, parents, and community members that bullying and retaliation against a student who reports bullying will not be tolerated.
- To regularly train staff and students to implement frameworks necessary to create and sustain a positive, respectful school climate where all members of the school community have a role in preventing bullying from occurring.
- To implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation of students engaged in bullying behavior.
- To initiate efforts to change the behavior of students engaged in bullying behaviors through re-education on acceptable behavior, discussions, counseling, and appropriate negative consequences, as well as to ensure targeted and intensive interventions are in place for students who frequently bully or are bullied by others.
- To foster a productive partnership between parents and community members in order to help maintain a bully-free environment by informing parents of the school bullying prevention plan and educating them in how to support the continued development of a positive school climate.
- To support victims of bullying by means of individual and peer counseling and to foster positive social and emotional skills in students.
- To help develop peer support networks, social skills, and confidence for all students as well as to integrate time into academic and extracurricular activities to teach students skills and strategies to avoid being targeted by a bully, and how to seek help when needed.
- To recognize and praise positive, supportive behaviors of students toward one another on a regular basis.
- To regularly train staff in bullying awareness and prevention, active supervision and use of appropriate, consistent interventions.
- To designate a team of individuals at the school to monitor and address bullying prevention efforts.
- To conduct a biennial survey of a school's climate with students, parents and staff regarding bullying, in order to review bullying prevention needs.
| Legal References: | C.R.S. ยง 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I)(K) (Board of Education - Safe Schools Plan) |