Petaluma City Schools Work To Prevent Bullying

PETALUMA, CA — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, meant to bring attention to the bullying problem and involve people nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying. Under a district-wide Petaluma City Schools policy adopted by the school board, district employees shall establish student safety as a high priority and shall not tolerate bullying of any students.

"... All school sites engage in bully prevention work, using grade-level appropriate strategies and/or programs," Petaluma City Schools Communications Coordinator Ashley Collingwood said in an email to Patch.

For parents and students, here is a look at Petaluma City Schools' Bullying policy.

PREVENTION

Under the Board policy, "all district schools shall focus on the prevention of bullying by establishing clear rules for student conduct and implementing strategies to promote a positive, collaborative school climate."

"Students shall be informed, through student handbooks and other appropriate means, of district and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for engaging in bullying," the policy states in part. "No individual or group shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, retaliate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any student or school personnel."

Further, the district, as appropriate, "shall provide students with instruction, in the classroom or other educational settings, that promotes effective communication and conflict resolution skills, social skills, character/values education, respect for cultural and individual differences, self-esteem development, assertiveness skills, and appropriate online behavior."

The policy stipulates that staff should receive related professional development, including information about early warning signs of harassing/intimidating behaviors and effective response.

INTERVENTION

In addition to bullying prevention, Petaluma City Schools' board policy on bullying also focuses on intervention. Students are encouraged to notify school staff when they are being bullied or suspect that another student is being victimized — and the superintendent or school designee shall develop means for students to report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously.

"Any complaint of bullying, whether it is discriminatory or nondiscriminatory, shall be investigated and resolved in accordance with law and the district's uniform complaint procedures," the policy states.

If bullying does occur, based on its severity or pervasiveness, the superintendent or designee should notify the parents or guardians of the victims and perpetrators, and may contact law enforcement.

Further, based on an assessment of bullying incidents at a school site, the superintendent or designee may increase supervision and security in areas where bullying most often occurs, such as classrooms, playgrounds, hallways, restrooms and cafeterias.

Under the policy, any student, parent/guardian, or other individual who believes a student has been subjected to bullying or who has witnessed bullying may report the incident to a teacher, the principal, a compliance officer, or any other available school employee.

Within one business day of receiving such a report, a staff member shall notify the principal of the report, whether or not a uniform complaint is filed. Within two business days of receiving a report of bullying, the principal shall notify a district compliance officer.

In addition, any school employee who observes an incident of bullying involving a student shall, within one business day, report his/her observation to the principal or a district compliance officer, whether or not the alleged victim files a complaint.

CYBERBULLYING

According to the Board policy on bullying, when the circumstances involve cyberbullying, anyone with information about the activity should "save and print any electronic or digital messages that they feel constitute cyberbullying ... and notify a teacher, the principal, or other employee so that the matter may be investigated."

"When a student uses a social networking site or service to bully or harass another student, the superintendent or designee may file a request with the networking site or service to suspend the privileges of the student and to have the material removed," the policy states.

DISCIPLINE

Corrective actions for a student who commits an act of bullying of any type may include counseling, behavioral intervention and education, and, if the behavior is severe or pervasive as defined by Education Code 48900, may include suspension or expulsion in accordance with district policies and regulations.

Further, "any employee who permits or engages in bullying or retaliation related to bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal," the policy states.

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

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