Bullying: How District 113A Tackles The Issue

LEMONT, IL — As part of its coverage for National Bullying Prevention Month, Patch reached out to school districts across the Chicago 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. And while some 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.

Lemont Patch reached out to District 113A to take a look at how the district handles and reports bullying. Patch asked the following questions:

• What is the district’s policy with regard to bullying and cyberbullying? What is the discipline process for students who bully others?
• How many reported incidents of bullying does the district have this year/last year (could also break this down by grade level)?
• 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?
• What measures is the district taking to be proactive about bullying?
• What is the district doing 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?

District 113A's responses can be found below:

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

D113A: Both bullying and cyberbullying are addressed in Board Policy 7:180 (Prevention of and Response to Bullying, Intimidation, and Harassment) and 2:260 (Uniform Grievance Procedure).

What is the discipline process for students who bully others?

D113A: If an accusation of bullying is confirmed to be true by the building principal or assistant principal, the offending student is subject to consequences ranging from detention to expulsion, depending on the seriousness of the situation. Discipline is handled on a case-by-case basis.

An accusation of bullying is investigated thoroughly by administration. Incidents reported to the school as bullying may not meet the criteria for bullying, but still violate the Student Code of Conduct. SD113A maintains records of all infractions of the Student Code of Conduct, including confirmed incidents of bullying for which students receive disciplinary consequences.

The school also employs an intervention with students who have been accused of bullying, providing them an opportunity to correct and/or cease actions that, if continued, would constitute bullying. An overwhelming majority of potential incidents of bullying are resolved prior to a student receiving disciplinary consequences thanks to this preventive measure.

How many reported incidents of bullying does the district have last year?

D113A: SD113A provided disciplinary consequences for two cases of bullying during the 2018-19 school year. These were both at Old Quarry Middle School.

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?

D113A: Information on this can be found here.

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

D113A: As required by law, bullying prevention is part of SD113A’s curriculum; PATHS and RULER lessons are taught in classrooms, schools have PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention System), and expectation stations are taught to students to proactively address behavioral expectations.

Schools host student programs that focus on a positive school climate and respectful behavior. Old Quarry Middle School is hosting a bullying prevention speaker on Oct. 31.

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

D113A: A wide range of resources is available for students, depending on the situation. This can include access to the school’s social workers, psychologists and administrators, as well as recommendations for parents/guardians to access outside resources to assist their students.

School administrators seek to make sure students are comfortable on a daily basis. Safety plans are created when necessary.

Some schools use apps — Ok2Say, STOPIt, BullyTag, etc. — or some other system that allows students to anonymously report bullying. Does your district do this?

D113A: Students are encouraged to report any concerns. Information can be found here.

Additionally, SD113A allows and encourages students and parents to anonymously report bullying. Those reporting forms can be found here: Oakwood, River Valley, Old Quarry.

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.

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