Schools

Bullying: How New Trier Area School Districts Tackle The Issue

Patch asked suburban school district across the Chicago area how they handle bullying in their communities.

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WINNETKA, 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.

Patch posed a series of questions earlier this month to administrators of Sunset Ridge District 29, Winnetka School District 36, Avoca School District 37, Kenilworth School District 38, Wilmette School District 39 and New Trier Township High School about bullying policies, practices and statistics in their districts.

Half of them responded, and their answers are provided below in their entirety.

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District 36

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

In 2015, The District piloted its Bullying Response and Prevention Plan in accordance with School Board Policy 7:180. The Plan creates processes and mechanisms for identifying, reporting, investigating, and responding to bullying behavior and school violence. To assist with identifying bullying behavior, common terminology and definitions were introduced in grades K-8 to highlight the differences between mean, rude and bullying behavior and provide consistency as students move through the District. Click here to view this terminology.

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

Ultimately, our goal is to provide a safe learning environment for all children in The Winnetka Public Schools. While we are proud of how well we are able to uphold this goal, there are instances when bullying may occur in our schools. After a thorough review of any claims that we receive, a response plan is developed at the school level to address the behavior. The goal is to ensure that any student who experienced bullying is able to feel safe and empowered for coming forward, and for the student who was demonstrating bullying behavior to understand why bullying is unacceptable AND to develop better skills and behaviors to avoid bullying behavior in the future.

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

2019-2020-One report of bullying has been substantiated at the grades 5-8 middle school level
2018-2019-Zero reports of bullying were substantiated at the K-4 elementary school level and five reports of bullying were substantiated at the grades 5-8 middle school 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?)

To assist with identifying bullying behavior, common terminology and definitions were introduced in grades K-8 to highlight the differences between mean, rude and bullying behavior and provide consistency as students move through the District. Click here to view. While not all reports may constitute as bullying (i.e. the incident may involve a one-time mean comment), reports are addressed by school staff in an age-appropriate way. As mentioned above, the goal is to ensure that any student who experienced bullying is able to feel safe and empowered for coming forward, and for the student who was demonstrating bullying behavior to understand why bullying is unacceptable AND to develop better skills and behaviors to avoid bullying behavior in the future.

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

Our District prioritizes a proactive approach. Our schools have methods for encouraging students to foster positive relationships with peers--for instance, Crow Island School has a Peace Power program, Greeley School has a system of "Greeley Values" that are used as a lens through which peer relationships are viewed, and Hubbard Woods School has monthly Town Hall Meetings where students can have democratic discussions about school-related topics. Advisory models in middle school (similar to what is done at New Trier High School) are designed to encourage positive peer interactions (among other benefits). District social workers have used their skills to support peer mediation amongst students.

As a school community, we are committed to raising awareness and being proactive to prevent bullying. We previously launched an anti-bullying video campaign, and this month we are sharing weekly reminders to parents about our Bullying Response and Prevention Plan in our Principal newsletters. We strive to foster inclusion, kindness, and a safe environment for all students in The Winnetka Public Schools.

One of our District strategic goals this year focuses on Social and Emotional Learning (SEL). An effective SEL approach develops children and adults who can manage emotions, achieve positive goals, demonstrate empathy, form positive relationships, and make healthy decisions. The District is proud to be partnering with the premiere SEL research, practice, and policy organization in the country, The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL).

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

The response to bullying is individualized and mapped out by Administration, teachers, and social workers at the school, in concert with parents. This could include counseling, support services, and other programs. We take our students’ health and well-being seriously and supporting these students is of utmost importance.

  • Some schools use apps 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 or decreased?

All of the District schools have paper forms available in their main office. Any student may report an incident through the form on the District website. For grades 5-8, the form is loaded on their District-issued iPads.

District 39

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

Wilmette Public Schools Board Policy 7:180 addresses bullying and cyberbullying.

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

All reports of bullying are fully investigated through interviews and meetings with students involves as well as those who may have witnessed events. If a report of bullying is founded, consequences ensue. Each instance of bullying is evaluated on a case-by-case basis and consequences are determined based on the facts of the situation. Consequences for bullying may include Friday detentions, in- and out-of-school suspensions, follow up with the School Resource Officer and/or meetings with parents. In each case of bullying, there is always a process that involves restoration of the situation.

District 39 uses an online student reporting form to allow students to report instances of bullying. Students can submit the form anonymously or include their name on the form. All instances of reported bullying (including received from the online student form) are included in the totals submitted in the annual bullying report.

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

The Annual Bullying Report, which was presented at the June 17, 2019 Board of Education meeting, details reported incidents of bullying throughout District 39. The Annual Bullying Report reflects a slight increase in bullying reports from last year to this year. While bullying totals represent >1% of the total student population, the increase can be attributed to increased awareness of bullying reporting among students and staff.

  • What constitutes a reportable bullying incident? How does the district define bullying?

Bullying, cyberbullying and related terms are defined in Board Policy 7:180. Students or parents may report suspected cases of bullying at any time and each report is fully investigated. Through the investigation process, school officials determine if the reported case constitutes bullying, cyberbullying, harassment or social conflict then proceed accordingly

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

Each District 39 school celebrates kindness, inclusion and community building as a means of fostering empathy within students and preventing incidents such as bullying from happening. As early as Pre-Kindergarten, students are taught how to navigate social interactions through the district’s social emotional learning curriculum, Second Step. Second Step is an evidence-based social emotional curriculum used nationwide that is founded in research and has positive results. The Second Step program focuses on core social-emotional skills including empathy, emotion management, social problem solving, and bullying prevention. Currently, Second Step is being used in our district in grades early childhood through 8th grade. At the 5-8 level, annual presentations about bullying and events designed by the Student Advisory Board both aim to proactively prevent bullying in our schools.

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

Founded incidents of bullying include a restorative process whereby the student who is acting as a bully must develop a plan to restore the relationship and improve interactions. This is done with support from staff – including administrators – and a District Behavior Management Specialist. District administrators may offer additional supports to help the victim of bullying such as moving class schedules, offering alternative seating at lunch or added staff supervision during certain hours of the day. This is done to help the victim feel safe and to let them know there is always someone to intervene and help.

  • Some schools use apps 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 39 uses an online student reporting form to allow students to report instances of bullying. Students can submit the form anonymously or include their name on the form. All instances of reported bullying (including received from the online student form) are included in the totals submitted in the annual bullying report.

New Trier High School

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

Our District policies on bullying and cyberbullying can be found in our Student Guidebook, pages 21-22

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

Complaint and disciplinary procedures for bullying can be found on pages 22-23 of the Student Guidebook

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

We report cases on the district level. We had 34 cases of bullying/harassment in the 2018-2019 school year in which a student received some form of school disciplinary consequences. So far this school year, we have had 5 cases that resulted in some form of discipline.

  • 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?)

The definitions of bullying and cyberbullying can be found on page 22 of the Student Guidebook

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

We have numerous measures that are proactive. For example, the Northfield campus has a yearlong program called the Identity Project, which is a proactive program in which every student engages in assemblies, activities and service projects. This is a reflective program for students to engage in dialogue about who they are, how they want to be perceived, and how their actions can affect others positively or otherwise as they walk their paths through high school. Once students go to the Winnetka Campus, they engage in activities in adviser room where they build on this foundation. In addition, we have a campaign in adviser rooms and across campuses to reinforce the message that we do not tolerate behaviors including bullying.

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

The many steps the district takes to help students who report being bullied are outlined on pages 22-23 of the Student Guidebook. They include, but are not limited to, separating students, providing support or counseling services, informing parents/guardians, the disciplinary process for students found to have engaged in bullying behavior, peer mediation when appropriate, and additional steps as determined by the Adviser Chair to ensure the bullying is addressed and the victim is protected.

  • Some schools use apps 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?

We have an internal tool called the Trevian Tip Line, in the process of being rebranded as TrevTips, that allows students to anonymously report bullying and other concerning behaviors. It is displayed on our home page, and we continually seek to raise awareness about this tool and to help our students understand how to use it. Anonymous tips automatically are forwarded to key staff members, who monitor those tips and assure follow-up from appropriate parties. While bullying is one concern that can be reported, we also receive tips about mental health, substance use, and other types of student concerns. Last year, there were 105 tips total to the Trevian Tip Line. Since we handle the tips on a case by case basis, we do not have a tally on how many tips specifically concerned alleged bullying.

Sunset Ridge District 29, Avoca School District 37 and Kenilworth School District 38 did not provide any response to the list of questions.

No Bully/Patch News Partner

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Bullying In New Trier Township Schools: 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 or share your views in the comments.

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Patch staff contributed.

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