Regulation-Code-JICK-R

Student Violence, Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment Regulation

Section J - Students

Regulation Title: Student Violence, Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment
Regulation Code: JICK-R

Bullying Prohibited

The District does not tolerate bullying in any form. Further, the District shall investigate each complaint of bullying and will take appropriate, timely, and responsive action.

Definition

Bullying: Bullying may occur when a student or group of students engage in any form of behavior that includes such acts as intimidation and/or harassment that

has the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm or damage to property,
is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that the action, behavior, or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment in the form of physical or emotional harm,
occurs when there is a real or perceived imbalance of power or strength, or
may constitute a violation of law.

Reporting Complaints

Any student who feels he or she has been the victim of bullying or suspects other students of being bullied should file a complaint with the principal or the principal's designee or other school employee. The student's report may be provided verbally or in writing. A student's verbal report will be documented in writing by the employee receiving the report.

Any staff member who becomes aware of or suspects that a student is experiencing bullying shall immediately notify the principal or the principal's designee. Employees may initially give verbal notice to the principal or the principal's designee, but shall submit a written report to the principal or the principal's designee within one (1) school day of the verbal report.

Retaliation Prohibited

Reprisal directed toward a student or employee for the reporting of a case of bullying or a suspected case of bullying will not be tolerated. Students involved directly or indirectly in reprisal will be disciplined pursuant to Board Policy JK. Any suspected violation of the law will be reported to law enforcement authorities.

Investigation

Investigation of submitted complaints shall be initiated by the principal or the principal's designee as soon as is feasible, but not later than two (2) school days after the initial report. Each investigation will be comprehensive to the extent determined appropriate by the principal or the principal's designee.

Non-Discrimination

Principals and designees should keep in mind that a complaint of bullying, intimidation or harassment may also be violations of the Governing Board’s policies of nondiscrimination based on disability, race, color, religion/religious beliefs, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, or national origin. Investigations of complaints that may be discrimination and/or discriminatory harassment shall be conducted in accordance with the procedures described in Regulation AC-R – Discrimination Complaint Procedure.

Confidentiality

In investigating the complaint, the principal or the principal's designee will maintain confidentiality to the extent reasonably possible, subject to the restrictions pertaining to disclosure of personally identifiable student information established in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

Documentation

Each investigation will be documented by the principal or the principal's designee. Documentation will be maintained by the District for at least six (6) years. In the event the District must report incidents to persons other than school officials or law enforcement, all individually identifiable information shall be redacted.

The principal or the principal's designee is responsible for the maintenance of documentation related to bullying.

Investigation Findings and Outcomes

Should the principal or the principal's designee determine that bullying has occurred, discipline will be administered pursuant to Board Policy JK. Regardless of the outcome of the investigation the principal or the principal's designee will meet with the student who reported or was reported as being bullied to review the findings of the investigation.

Additionally, the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the involved students will be informed in writing of the findings of the investigation.

Training

The Superintendent is responsible for determining the methods of information delivery to employees and students. The Superintendent shall provide to the school principals, supervisors and all other District employees the information necessary to comply with Governing Board Policy JICK. The information related to bullying is to include but not be limited to preventive measures, incident reporting, related support services available (proactive and reactive), student rights, employee responsibilities, and the ramifications of not reporting a bullying incident or suspicion of bullying. The information shall be disseminated to District personnel at the beginning of each year and as the Superintendent otherwise determines to be appropriate.

The principal or the principal's designee is responsible to ensure information related to bullying is disseminated to students, and parents and guardians. The information shall include but not be limited to Governing Board policy, incident reporting, support services (proactive and reactive) and student's rights. The dissemination of this information will

occur during the first (1st) week of each school year,
be posted in each classroom and in common areas of the school,
be summarized in the student handbook and on the District website, and
be provided to each incoming student during the school year at the time of registration.

Required Documentation

The principal or the principal's designee is also responsible to ensure information is disseminated to all students who report bullying, including, at the time the incident is reported, a written copy of student rights, protections and support services available to the student; a copy of the report shall also be given to the student's parent(s)/guardian(s).

Adopted: October 5, 2004
Reviewed: July 15, 2011
Revised: March 8, 2013 (Friday Report) [revised and re-coded--previously JICFB-R]
Revised: September 26, 2019 [Email to Leadership, cc to Board]