JICK/BULLYING

File: JICK

BULLYING

It is the intent of the MSAD #11 Board to provide all students with an equitable opportunity to learn. To that end, the Board has a significant interest in providing a safe, orderly and respectful school environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

Bullying is detrimental to student learning and achievement. It interferes with the mission of the schools to educate their students and disrupts the operations of the schools. Bullying affects not only students who are targets but also those who participate and witness such behavior.

The MSAD #11 Board also believes that promoting ethical and responsible behavior is an essential part of the school unit’s educational purpose. Ethics, responsible behavior and “character” are important if a student is to leave school as a “responsible and involved citizen” as described in the Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of Learning Results. Bullying interferes with the accomplishment of this goal.

Finally, the MSAD #11 Board recognizes the well-publicized incidents of violence and threatened violence that have occurred nationally in the past several years. As research suggests a link between bullying and school violence, the MSAD #11 Board seeks to avoid such incidents and instead take a systematic approach to bullying prevention and intervention.

It is not the MSAD #11 Board’s intent to prohibit students from expressing their ideas, including ideas that may offend the sensibilities of others, or from engaging in civil debate. However the MSAD #11 Board does not condone and will take action in response to conduct that interferes with students’ opportunity to learn, the educational mission of the MSAD #11 schools, and the operation of the schools.

Bullying Prohibited

Bullying, as defined in this policy, is not acceptable conduct in MSAD #11 schools
and is prohibited. Any student who engages in conduct that constitutes bullying
shall be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including suspension and
expulsion. A student’s bullying behavior may also be addressed through other
behavioral interventions.

Bullying Defined

For the purpose of this policy, “bullying” means any physical act or gesture or any
Verbally, written, or electronically communicated expressions that:

A. A reasonable person should expect will have the effect of:

1. Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property;

2. Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to
his/her property; or

3. Substantially disrupting the instructional program or the orderly
operations of the school; or

B. Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, hostile
Educational environment for the student who is bullied.

Application of Policy

This policy applies to bullying that takes place at school or on school grounds, at
any school-sponsored activity or event, or while students are being transported to
or from school or school-sponsored activities or events. It also applies to bullying
that occurs at any other time or place that substantially disrupts the instructions
program, operations of the school, or welfare of students.

Examples of conduct that may constitute bullying include, but are not limited to:

A. Physical contact or injury to another person or his/her property;

B. Threats of harm to a student, to his/her possessions, or to other
individuals, whether transmitted verbally, in writing, or through
cyberspace;

C. Blackmail, extortion, demands for protection money, or involuntary
Loans or donations;

D. Non-verbal threats and/or intimidations such as use of aggressive or
Menacing gestures;

E. Stalking;

F. Blocking access to school property or facilities;

G. Stealing or hiding books, backpacks, or other possessions;

H. Repeated or pervasive taunting, name-calling, belittling, mocking,
put-downs, or demeaning humor relating to a student’s race, color,
ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, religion, disability, or
other personal characteristics, whether or not the student actually
possesses them, that could reasonably be expected to result in
disruption of the instructional program or operations of the schools,
or that results in a hostile educational environment for the student.

[NOTE: Some of the actions that constitute bullying may also be addressed in
other Board policies, such as ACAA-Student Harassment and Sexual Harassment
or JICIA-Weapons, Violence and School Safety. Federal and/or state law and the
Board’s basic nondiscrimination policy, AC, provide protection for students based
on the “protected categories” listed in paragraph “H” above.]

For the purpose of this policy, bullying does not mean mere teasing, put-downs,
“talking trash,: trading of insults, or similar interactions among friends, nor does it include expression of ideas or beliefs so long as such expression is not lewd, profane,
or does not interfere with students’ opportunity to learn, the instructional program,
or the operations of the schools. This does not preclude teachers or school
administrators from setting and enforcing rules for civility, courtesy, and/or
responsible behavior in the classroom and the school environment.

The determination whether particular conduct constitutes bullying requires
reasonable consideration of the circumstances, which include the frequency of the
behavior at issue, the location in which the behavior occurs, the ages and maturity
of the students involved, the activity or context in which the conduct occurs, and
the nature and severity of the conduct.

Delegation of Responsibility

The Superintendent/designee will be responsible for developing and implementing
procedures for:

A. Student and parent reporting of bullying to staff and school administrators;

B. Staff reporting of bullying to school administrators;

C. Review of reports and investigation of bullying incidents;

D. Intervention with and/or discipline of students who engage in bullying;

E. Support for students who are victims of bullying;

F. Training staff and student in bullying prevention; and

G. Periodic evaluation of bullying prevention, intervention, and training
efforts in MSAD #11 schools and reporting to the MSAD #11 Board upon request.

Reporting

Students who have been bullied or who observe incidents of bullying are
Encouraged to report this behavior to a staff member or school administrator.
Staff should report bullying to the building principal.

Acts of reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an incident of
bullying are prohibited. Any student who is determined to have falsely accused
another of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary consequences.

Responding to Bullying

In determining the appropriate response to students who engage in bullying
behavior, school administrators should consider the ages and maturity of the
students involved, the type of behaviors, the frequency and/or pattern of behaviors,
the context in which the incident occurred, and other relevant circumstances.
consequences may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and
including suspension, expulsion, and/or reports to law enforcement officials.

Dissemination of Policy

Notice of what constitutes bullying, the MSAD #11 Board’s prohibition against
Bullying, and the consequences for students who bully shall be communicated
To students and parents through the Student Code of Conduct and Student
Handbook.

Legal Reference: 20-A MRSA § 1001(15)(H)
P.L. 2005, ch. 207 § 4-5

Cross Reference: AC-Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity
ACAA-Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students
ACAD-Hazing
ADF-School District Commitment of Learning Results
JI-Student Rights and Responsibilities
JICC-Student Conduct on Buses
JICIA-Weapons, Violence and School Safety
JK-Student Discipline
JKD-Suspension of Students
JKE-Expulsion of Students
Student Code of Conduct

Adopted: September 7, 2006