How Do Deerfield Schools Take On The Menace Of Bullying?

DEERFIELD, IL — As part of its National Bullying Prevention Month coverage, Patch contacted administrators of dozens of public school districts in Chicago area suburbs to see how they handle bullying in their communities. Across the country, bullying is a problem that affects more than one in five students. While may boil it down to the idea that "kids will be kids," studies show that students who are bullied are at increased risk for anxiety, depression, poor self-image, mental health and behavior problems and poor school adjustment.

Deerfield Patch posed questions about bullying to administrators of Deerfield Public Schools District 109 and Township High School District 113. Their responses are below.

Deerfield Elementary Schools

District 109 Superintendent Anthony McConnell's answers are indicated below with italics:

• What is the district’s policy with regard to bullying and cyberbullying?
  

Board Policy 7:180

• What is the discipline process for students who bully others?

Per Board Policy 7:190:
Efforts, including the use of positive interventions and supports, shall be made to deter students, while at school or a school-related event, from engaging in aggressive behavior, including bullying, that may reasonably produce physical, or psychological harm to someone else. The Superintendent or designee shall ensure that the parent/guardian of a student who engages in aggressive behavior is notified of the incident. The failure to provide such notification does not limit the Board’s authority to impose discipline, including suspension or expulsion, for such behavior.

Students with disabilities shall be disciplined in accordance with Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), District Policy No. 7:230.

Disciplinary Measures

School officials shall limit the number and duration of expulsions and out-of-school suspensions to the greatest extent practicable, and, where practicable and reasonable, shall consider forms of non-exclusionary discipline before using out-of-school suspensions or expulsions. School personnel shall not advise or encourage students to drop out voluntarily due to behavioral or academic difficulties. Potential disciplinary measures include, without limitation, any of the following:

1. Notifying parent(s)/guardian(s).
2. Disciplinary conference.
3. Withholding of privileges.
4. Temporary removal from the classroom.
5. Return of property or restitution for lost, stolen, or damaged property.
6. In-school suspension. The Building Principal or designee shall ensure that the student is properly supervised.
7. After-school study or Saturday study provided the student’s parent/guardian has been notified. If transportation arrangements cannot be agreed upon, an alternative disciplinary measure must be used. The student must be supervised by the detaining teacher or the Building Principal or designee.
8. Community service with local public and nonprofit agencies that enhances community efforts to meet human, educational, environmental, or public safety needs. The District will not provide transportation. School administration shall use this option only as an alternative to another disciplinary measure, giving the student and/or parent/guardian the choice.
9. Seizure of contraband; confiscation and temporary retention of personal property that was used to violate this policy or school disciplinary rules.
10. Suspension of bus riding privileges in accordance with Board policy 7:220, Bus Conduct.
11. Out-of-school suspension from school and all school activities in accordance with Board policy 7:200, Suspension Procedures. A student who has been suspended may also be restricted from being on school grounds and at school activities.
12. Expulsion from school and all school activities for a definite time period not to exceed 2 calendar years in accordance with Board policy 7:210, Expulsion Procedures. A student who has been expelled may also be restricted from being on school grounds and at school activities.
13. Transfer to an alternative program if the student is expelled or otherwise qualifies for the transfer under State law. The transfer shall be in the manner provided in Article 13A or 13B of the School Code.
14. Notifying juvenile authorities or other law enforcement whenever the conduct involves criminal activity, including but not limited to, illegal drugs (controlled substances), “look-alikes,” alcohol, or weapons or in other circumstances as authorized by the reciprocal reporting agreement between the District and local law enforcement agencies.

The above list of disciplinary measures is a range of options that will not always be applicable in every case. In some circumstances, it may not be possible to avoid suspending or expelling a student because behavioral interventions, other than a suspension and expulsion, will not be appropriate and available, and the only reasonable and practical way to resolve the threat and/or address the disruption is a suspension or expulsion.

• How many reported incidents of bullying does the district have this year/last year/by
  grade level?

During the 2018-2019 school year, the District investigated 35 reported incidents of bullying. Not all of these incidents were founded as bullying; however, a full investigation was conducted. So far during the 2019-2020 school year, the District has investigated 8 reported incidents of bullying. Incidents of bullying may be reported by any stakeholder or anonymously.

• What constitutes a reportable bullying incident? How does the district define bullying?
  (In other words, when does it rise to the level of being reportable?)

Per Board Policy 7:180: Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be made orally or in writing to the Nondiscrimination Coordinator, Building Principal, Assistant Building Principal, Dean of Students, a Complaint Manager, or any staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. Anyone, including staff members and parents/guardians, who has information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the District officials or any staff member. The District named officials and all staff members are available for help with a bully or to make a report about bullying. Anonymous reports are also accepted.

Per Board Policy 7:180: Bullying includes cyber-bullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or electronically, directed toward a student or students that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:

1. Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student's or students' person or property;
2. Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student's or students' physical or mental health;
3. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' academic performance; or
4. Substantially interfering with the student's or students' ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school

• What measures are the district taking to be proactive about bullying?

As a part of our larger commitment to the social-emotional well being of our students and as outlined in our Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) protocols, all students in grades 3-8 take an SEL screener. Our MTSS team members (psychologists, interventionists, coaches, assistant principals, social workers, and counselors) are trained to analyze results and take action in a proactive manner with our teachers. We also have a partnership with Panorama, which allows us to easily identify individual students that self-report any concerning feelings.

A Multi­-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) is a prevention framework that organizes building ­level resources to set each student up for academic, social-emotional and/or behavioral success. MTSS looks at the whole child, allowing for the early identification of challenges and timely intervention for students. Increasingly intense tiers (e.g., Tier I, Tier II, Tier III), sometimes referred to as levels of prevention, represent a continuum of supports.

The core of social-emotional learning is creating a supportive and responsive school environment. District 109 is a Leader in Me and LEAD district. Leader in Me and LEAD are a whole-school transformation model and process developed in partnership with educators that empowers students with the leadership and life skills they need to thrive in the 21st century. It is based on principles and practices of personal, interpersonal and organizational effectiveness, and upon the powerful premise that every child possesses unique strengths and has the ability to be a leader.

Leader in Me helps students learn how to become self-reliant, take initiative, plan ahead, set and track goals, do their homework, prioritize their time, manage their emotions, be considerate of others, express their viewpoint persuasively, resolve conflicts, find creative solutions, value differences, and live a balanced life. The process helps students develop the skills and self-confidence they need to lead their lives and succeed in school and beyond.

Second Step, also approved by The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning (CASEL), is a supplementary resource available in both the elementary and middle schools. The Botvin LifeSkills Training program is a prevention program used in the intermediate and middle grades. The Zones of Regulation, a systematic, cognitive behavioral approach, may also be used to teach self-regulation. Social Thinking, a curriculum that focuses on helping students observe and think about their own and others’ thoughts and feelings, is also available as a resource.

All of our SEL programming, resources, and screeners are proactive in nature, designed to keep our kids safe and ensure our students’ safety.

• What is the district doing to help students who have been the victim of bullying?

Per Board Policy 7:180:
Consistent with federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, the Superintendent or designee shall promptly inform the parent(s)/guardian(s) of every student involved in an alleged incident of bullying and discuss, as appropriate, the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures.

• Some schools use apps — Ok2Say, STOPIt, BullyTag, etc. — or some other system that allows students to anonymously report bullying. Does your district do this? What kind of volume are schools seeing? Has that increased/decreased?

Text-a-tip - Text-A-Tip is a 24/7 anonymous text-communication system for youth needing immediate mental health assistance for themselves or a friend. Members of the community can send a message through the "Lake County Help" app to a dedicated number and receive an immediate response from a licensed clinician while remaining completely anonymous. Anonymity makes it a comfortable place for students to share information and provides a safe outlet for voicing concerns about themselves and others. (The Lake County text-at-tip service is provided by the Lake Forest-based nonprofit Linking Efforts Against Drugs, or LEAD, according to the county.)

Tip Line - Tip Line is an anonymous form through Blackboard that is linked to each of the District 109 school websites.

Deerfield High School

Township High School District 113 Communications Director Karen Warner provided the answers shown below in italics.

• What is the district’s policy with regard to bullying and cyberbullying?

You can find Policy 7-180 Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment by Students on the D113 website here: https://boardpolicyonline.com/...

• What is the discipline process for students who bully others?

Individual student discipline is a student record under the Illinois School Student Records Act (ISSRA) and Federal Education Rights to Privacy Act (FERPA) so D113 cannot comment or release any individual student discipline information. All student discipline is progressive, meaning that the consequence for any infraction depends on the entire discipline record of a student, as mandated by SB-100. As you can see in Policy 7-180, student discipline for bullying is governed by Policy 7-190 Student Behavior, you can find that on the website here: https://boardpolicyonline.com/?b=townshiphsd_113&s=541380

• How many reported incidents of bullying does the district have in each of the past five years?

At both Deerfield High School and Highland Park High School, there were 18 incidents of bullying reported in the 2013-14 school year, 21 in 2014-15, 15 in 2015-16, 17 in 2016-17, 23 in 2017-18 and 14 in the 2018-19 school year, according to data provided by Assistant Superintendent Tom Krieger in response to a public records request.

• What constitutes a reportable bullying incident? How does the district define bullying? (In other words, when does it rise to the level of being reportable?)

School code (105 ILCS 5/27-23.7) defines descriptions of bullying and you can find those in Policy 7-180. The Administrative Procedure for Policy 7-180 under number 4 delineates the steps that must be taken and when, following a report of bullying. Any report of bullying begins the process described in the Administrative Procedure for Policy 7-180 number 4.

• What measures is the district taking to be proactive about bullying?

Again, the Administrative Procedure for Policy 7-180 under number 2 lists the many ways that bullying prevention is addressed.·

• What is the district doing to help students who have been the victim of bullying?

D113 takes a restorative approach. Again, please see the Administrative Procedure for Policy 7-180 for steps taken to help students who have been the victim of bullying.

• Some schools use apps — Ok2Say, STOPIt, BullyTag, etc. — or some other system that allows students to anonymously report bullying. Does your district do this? What kind of volume are schools seeing? Has that increased/decreased?

There is not a bullying-specific app. Of course, students can report directly to building personnel and right now there is an online form “STOP” that students can fill out to report bullying as well as other things, you can find that on the D113 website here: https://www.dist113.org/domain/24. There are also posters up in both schools with STOP information. At the October 7 Special Meeting, one of the items on the agenda for Board discussion was an upgrade to the District 113 website. Part of this upgrade includes a D113 mobile app which includes a Tip Line that would be embedded in the app, the website, and on student Chromebooks, and that Tip Line could be used to submit tips on a variety of topics. The submitter can choose to be anonymous or to self-identify. The item comes back for a vote on October 21.

The Menace Of Bullies: Patch Advocacy Reporting Project

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.

Bullying In Deerfield: Share Your Stories With Patch »

Do you have a story to tell? Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims? Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.

Selected Stories From The Project

• Bullied To Death: When Kids Kill With Words
• I Could Have Been Mallory Grossman
• Bullied Over Homemade T-Shirt, Kid Inspires University Of Tennessee Design
• Howell Teen Runs To Save Lives, Change Statistics On Suicide
• America's Shameful Truth About School Shooters And Bullying
• Cyberbullying Most Often Affects Girls; These Women Are Trying To Stop It
• Bullying Kids: Straighten Up, Or Your Parents May Have To Pay Up
• Teen Who Killed Himself Wasn't 'Worthless,' Family Tells Bullies
• Menace Of Bullies: Why This Woman Resigned Her 6-Figure Job
• Survivor Of Bullying And Suicide Writes Frankly About Both
• 'I Will Be Your Friend': First-Grader's Shirt Fights Bullies
• Girl-To-Girl Bullying: Why It's Different, Difficult To Confront
• What Prompts Bullying In This Ohio School
• Cyberbullying In This Michigan City Carries $500 Fine, 3 Months In Jail
• Bully Upstander: Whatever He Said Caused Bullies To Back Down
• Bullying Caused 11-Year-Old To Attempt Suicide, Mother Says
• Bullied 10-Year-Old's Suicide 8th In School District This Year
• The Menace Of Bullies: Most U.S. States Take On Cyberbullying
• Cyberbullying Is Now Against The Law In Michigan
• Shooting Incident Linked To Bullying At School, Mom Says
• Girls More Likely Than Boys To See Bullying As Harmful: Study
• 13-Year-Old Hangs Herself, But Bullying Killed Her
• Teen Tells Bullies In Video: 'Every Day, I Wear Your Words'
• 'The Hero Myth': Why Expecting Kids To Fight Bullies Is Harmful
• 'Mr. Anti-Bully': Reformed Bully, 12, Sets Mistake Right
• Mallory Grossman Bullying Detailed In Wrongful Death Suit
• Malden Schools Were Non-Compliant Through Bullying Saga: DOE
• 'They All Failed And Changed A Child': Malden Bullying Detailed
• Mom Speaks About Bullying Heartbreak: 'I Feel I Failed Him'
• Why These Kindergartners Start Each Day With A Handshake
• The Bully Menace: 'The Hurt Never Goes Away'
• Bullies And Their Targets The Same: Digital Self-Harm Rising
• Williamsburg Poetry Teacher Helps Bullied Kids Open Tortured Minds
• Bullying Tougher To Confront When It's Bias-Based: Researchers
• The Bully Menace: 13 Age-Appropriate Reads
• Teen's 'I Wear Your Words' Video Inspires Nashville Songwriters