Board Members Give First Nod to Policy on Bullying

Paulding County Schools could have a policy on the books concerning bullying by the end of next month.

School board members at their meeting Tuesday gave initial approval to policy JCDAG, which defines bullying, spells out reporting procedures of bullying incidents and lays out disciplinary actions.

“It becomes something that goes from what is called a ‘rite of passage’ or an unavoidable part of childhood, and all of a sudden it becomes something that is so concerning to a child that it leads to behaviors of a sense of loneliness, or lack of self esteem or depression,” Susan Browning, executive director for secondary schools, said of the effects of bullying. “It manifests in poor academic behaviors or poor academic performance. It also becomes an issue of truancy sometimes—a student doesn’t want to go to school because they feel like they’re not a part of school.”

Browning said the need for a policy to address bullying also exists because of the extreme actions it may lead to, such as a student bringing a weapon to school to defend themselves, or perhaps suicidal thoughts or actions. “We have a sense of urgency to act as a school,” she said.

Also necessitating the policy is a recently revised state law. O.C.G.A. § 20-2-751.4 says that school districts by Aug. 1 of this year must adopt a policy that prohibits bullying and addresses several issues surrounding it, such as notifying students and parents of anti-bullying rules and disciplinary procedures when the rules are violated.

The district’s proposed bullying policy (which is attached to this article in .pdf form) could receive final approval from board members as early as their April 26 meeting.

Also receiving board approval was a 10-cent increase in student meal prices. Under the federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010, the district is required to move toward charging paid meal category students at a price that is equal to the difference between free meal reimbursement and paid meal reimbursement. Schools that charge less than that amount are required to gradually increase their prices over time, at a maximum annual increase of 10 cents, until the requirement is met.

Resulting increases will be a move to a $1.65 price point for elementary students’ lunch and $1.90 for pupils in middle and high school. Breakfast prices will go to $1 for students.

Adults also will see meal prices increase, with the cost of lunch going from $2.50 to $2.75 and breakfast from $1.25 to $1.40.

In other business, board members approved:

• The extension of a bid with Mayfield Dairy Farms for milk and juice products for the district’s nutrition department. Paulding County Schools is one of 20 districts participating in the bid through the Georgia Educational Cooperative.
• Awarding of request for proposals for pest control services and water treatment chemicals and services.