Superintendent fine-tunes anti-bullying policy

The Wellesley School Committee continued to fine-tune the schools' draft anti-bullying policy last night, clarifying language to insure that all reports on students be sent directly to the  building principal.

New language also clarifies that reports of harassment or bullying of an adult in a school may go to someone other than the building principal if the situation so dictates.

Scrutiny and updating of the policy, which aims to "protect students and staff from harassment, including sexual harassment, bullying and hazing," is a result of recent legislation streamlining and strengthening such policies statewide.

The committee last night also clarified the schools' "computer acceptable use policy," to specifically include "cyber-bullying and electronic transmission of pornography" as unacceptable.

Those specifics were added, according to Superintendent Bella T. Wong, because "sexting" wasn't specifically listed in the statute. However, she said, the law has been revised.

The computer use policy calls use of the Wellesley Public Schools computers, networks and Internet access a privilege, not a right and lists 17 "unacceptable" uses that range from the newly added cyber-bullying to plagiarism, deleting someone else's files and checking email for non-school related reasons.

A section on hazing has also been added to the anti-bullying policy. Previously, hazing had been included in the high school handbook, but has now been added to the policy to comply with the new law, according to Wong.

School Committee members, while united in support of the policy's content, had questions about its length and its "legalese."

"It's hard to read," said School Committee member Suzy Littlefield. "Can we do something that is more user friendly?" she asked.

Wong said the statute will likely require principals to go over the policy in more accessible language with their students and parents, perhaps through their newsletters. But, she added, she hopes parents take time to read the entire policy and go over them at home with their children.

The School Committee expects to formally approve the updated policies at its meeting next week after giving the public another chance to comment on the changes. So far, according to members, there has been no public input.