Community Unites Against Bullying and Harassment

Members of the community gathered at the Monday for the purpose of discussing the school district’s anti-bullying policies, gaining an understanding that it takes a whole community from school administrators, clergy members and library staff right down to the parents to keep the kids in the school system safe from bullying.

Discussion focused on the different members of the community and what roles they all play in the prevention of bullying as well as school policies and how incidents would be investigated and how they can be reported.

“We must learn to be kind, caring and compassionate individuals who respect each other and do not stand passively by when others are not being respected,” Dr. Mark Porto, superintendent of schools, said in regards to what must be taught as a community.

Mayor Rose Heck told the audience that people need to be the eyes and ears of the community as the schools can not do it alone. “Each and everyone of us here is ready, willing and able to take responsibility in assisting in every way we can.”

As Dr. Nicole Fried, the district’s anti-bullying coordinator, explained, the new state HIB (harassment, intimidation and bullying) law requires schools to clarify and strengthen its prevention, reporting and investigation policies as well as requiring schools to investigate incidents that happen off school grounds such as cyber-bullying which is a form of harassment through social networks.  All of this is being done to proactively prevent suicides which have continued to be linked to bullying and harassment incidents, Fried explained.

Porto pointed out the role of the clergy members as they have a relationship with the parents and families in the community and therefore serve as another avenue for which children can be made safe. Each member of the clergy who spoke shared a similar message that responsibility in this is shared amongst everyone.

Father Joseph Pickard of said they see the children in the community interacting in a different environment and they need to be able to communicate with the school system if they are aware of behaviors that have to be reported.

Rev. Ed Glasser of Community United Church told a personal story about himself to express his belief that it’s really up to how parents act around their children that will help them to grow up with self-esteem as negative behavior and showing kids what their own fears are can cause them to have anxieties as they begin to get older.

Pastor Iraida Ruiz de Porras of the  shared a positive tale with  the audience  about what she learned by being a victim of bullying. Growing up as the only Hispanic Methodist small framed child in a Catholic school she had a lot to deal with, however she learned that she had some unique qualities that she should be proud of.  

Public Library Director Mimi Hui reminded parents that she has an open communication with the school district in regards to the behavior of the children who are at the library after school. She stated that the library has its own rules that require the students to read, use computers and do research as they are not allowed to just come to the library to hang out.

As for next steps, Porto stated that from here the district needs to focus on character education while continuing to work to make sure the district is taking the right steps that work particularly for Heights schools. 

Many parents echoed the importance of character education. One pointed out her concern over how the elementary schools are dealing with teaching the these students who may show some small signs of bullying  in order to prevent problematic behavior before they reach middle school.

Several members of the audience suggested the idea of having another forum to which Porto said plans to host another forum to discuss more ideas is slated to take place in the second part of the school year. Although there were parents in the audience one parent stated he was concerned that with the overall attendance emphasizing that parents are the social leaders for their kids.

Fried also went over the policy and rules with the parents as some were concerned about when they will be notified if their child were to be involved in a bullying incident. Fried told parents that the policy requires that they notify the parents of both the child accused of bullying and the victim as soon as it is reported, that very same day. The next step would involve receive written explanation of the incident.

Parents had some concerns regarding the anonymity of the children who are either victims or accused of being a bully to which Porto explained is being handled with the board of education as forms are being updated in order to further reflect privacy. Names of students or their families would not be released beyond the administrators working on the investigation. 

Parents also learned that the district will accept anonymous reports about bullying from third parties and will investigate.