Cyber-Bullying Extends School Officials' Reach

The definition of cyber-bullying in the state's new anti-bullying law means that even incidents that occur outside of school can require school action, according to officials at Tuesday night's Melrose School Committee meeting, at which the committee unanimously approved a new anti-bullying policy.

The question arose when committee member Christine Casatelli asked about the school district's role in cases where one student may be using a personal computer at home to bully another student, such as on the social networking website Facebook.

Superintendent Joe Casey said that any bullying incident that infringes upon the school's atmosphere can require school action, adding that this week he and all Melrose school principals were attending a workshops in Worcester held by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to learn more about how the new law will be enforced and what school administrators need to do to comply with the law.

"That's what we'll be hearing more about tomorrow (Wednesday) and something I'm talking about with the (Middlesex) District Attorney's office," Casey said. "At some level, that may even trigger police intervention."

Committee member J.D. LaRock seconded Casey, saying that the new state law requires school officials to intervene in situations that affect a student's experience at school.

"If there is person-to-person bullying that doesn't occur on school property, but does impact and disrupt the educational environment, that's the key thing that would trigger a whole set of responses from school personnel," LaRock said, adding that the new law makes "no sphere safe from consequence and recognizes the nature of bullying has changed."

Casey said that administrators are planning training sessions for staff, parents and students to make them aware about the new law's wide-reaching implications.

"Everyone will hear the same message," he said.

LaRock appreciated the School Committee's new policy including definitions  cut-and-pasted directly from the state law, as he had requested, and asked Casey about the school district's plans on implementing the new law, as the state now requires bullying prevention and intervention plans developed by each school.

Casey said that much of that would be covered in the DESE's workshops this week in Worcester, adding that the workshops would also cover what type of training must be provided to teachers and staff.

"We'll have information (after the workshops) and be able to better inform the committee as to where we're going with this," he said. "Prior to this, we've also been working closely with Health Department and Kara Showers [Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition coordinator], Melrose Police Chief Mike Lyle and also updating handbooks ...  we're also working with the Melrose Alliance Against Violence, as everyone knows, so we're coming at it from a variety of angles."

LaRock responded, "I want to commend you, Superintendent, and Mr. [Joe] Dillon [Melrose High School principal] earlier tonight and your colleagues. It's important for our community to know we've really been on top of this issue. Today the DESE considered some draft regulations and we're already approving a policy tonight."

Committee member Kristin Thorp added that the committee is not done with the new anti-bullying policy, as the topic will arise again in discussions about school handbooks — as in the Melrose High School handbook presented by Dillon and approved by the committee earlier in the meeting, as referenced by LaRock — the district's curriculum, school improvement plans and in professional development.