Milton Public Schools Releases Bullying Policy

After two high profile bulling-related suicides stole headlines in Massachusetts this year, state legislators took on the problem by passing a strict anti-bullying law earlier this month.

In August 2009, before the public pressure that propelled the bill mounted, the Milton Public Schools formed the Bullying Prevention Advisory Committee (BPAC) to address the issue on the district level. The committee consisted of various employees of the Milton Public Schools including: Alan Cron, Natalie Mooney, Brian Powers, Rich Guarino, Kathy Sullivan, Steve Traister, Lisa Veldran, Mary Downey-Tipping, Amanda Brink, Mary Rooney and Kerry O'Leary.

At the School Committee meeting on May 18, Cron, the chair of the BPAC and vice principal of Milton High School, outlined the policy.  Cron stressed the importance of creating common language and procedures that could be used across the district to deal specifically with bullying.

"We have an anti-discrimination policy and we have an anti-harassment policy, but we didn't have anything specifically on bullying," Cron told the School Committee.

The policy, which can now be found on the MPS website, begins with detailed definitions of both bullying and cyber-bullying that cover every aspect of this form of harassment.

The scope of the policy reaches beyond school property and functions to include locations and activities that are not school-related. The policy also covers the use of technology or electronics not owned by the school. Outside actions are included "if the act or acts in question create a hostile environment at school for the victim, infringe on the rights of the victim at school or materially and substantially disrupt the educational process," according to the policy.

The Milton policy also requires staff to report all instances of bullying or harassment to the administration, which will in turn investigate all incidents. The requirement for staff to report all bullying and that those allegations be investigated are among the main points in the new state law.

In October, faculty and staff were given a survey concerning the bullying policy. The results of the survey showed that teachers wanted a consistent procedure. Cron explained to the School Committee that the BPAC was committed to creating a procedure that could be applied at all grade levels.

Along with a discipline rubric, which outlines specific behaviors and uniformed responses and a reflective worksheet for aggressive students called the "Think About it Form," the policy provides a thorough list of steps for dealing with bullying.

The steps for responding and reporting bullying incidents are plainly laid out in the procedure along with suggested language. The procedure asks staff not to mediate the situation, but rather interview the victim, then the aggressor and finally other witnesses.

The procedure even details tactics to deal with denial from an alleged bully.

According to the policy, after an investigation, a bullying report form should be completed and filed. Then action, based on the discipline rubric is taken.

The comprehensive plan prepared by the BPAC was presented to the School Committee as a first reading. If it is approved, the policy will go into effect for the 2010/2011 school year.

School Committee Chairwoman Lynda-Lee Sheridan applauded Cron for completing the policy, even before the legislation mandated such a procedure.

"I think we're ahead of the curve in a lot of ways," Sheridan said. "So, it's nice to see this document pull it all together."