Recently, a parent shared with me that their elementary school child was being repeatedly bullied at their WCCUSD school. This caused me to review any policy documents available on-line, including the School Site Plan. I also requested policies from some school administrators. I did find information on "conflict resolution", but not on bullying. Let's be clear that bullying and conflict are two entirely different matters. With bullying, there is a victim.
The new WCCUSD Strategic Plan mentions adopting a district anti-bullying plan by 2016, but don't individual schools have their own anti-bullying plans drafted by the site principal? Such policies are needed not just for punitive or liability purposes. Policies and procedures drafted for the purpose of addressing bullying are also tools for educating parents, teachers, and children on how to navigate this difficult situation. This includes parents of bullies, as they probably need guidance, too! What tools are we using to combat this problem? Literature? Theater? In 2012, the WCCUSD held a theater performance on bullying that was presented at middle and high schools. That's good stuff, but what have we been doing at the elementary school level?
Here is an example of an anti-bullying policy from a school in Elk Grove.
http://blogs.egusd.net/foulksranch/task-force-against-bullying/anti-bullying-policy/
The following report says that the California Department of Education has not been monitoring the bullying situation.
http://edsource.org/today/2013/audit-says-school-bullying-prevention-efforts-falling-short/37495#.Ut…
In short, Superintendent Torlakson (Don't reelect him!) and the CDE are not protecting our kids from harm, so it is up to us to do so. So let's see each and every WCCUSD school's commitment to preventing bullying. Our kids are being bullied today, so show us your anti-bullying plan today! "Borrow" the plan that I just shared from Elk Grove if you need to. Plagiarism in the name of safety is totally acceptable!