Harassment, Bullying, and Cyberbullying

(Board Policy and Procedures Manual 1.35)

The St. Charles Parish Public School Board believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. All schools within the district have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance among students, staff, and volunteers. Behavior that infringes on the safety of any student will not be tolerated. A student shall not bully or intimidate any student through words or actions.

Harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyberbullying of or by any student on the basis of sex, race, color, disability or national origin is prohibited. Harassment, bullying and cyberbullying are inappropriate and offensive.

Bullying is defined as a pattern of unwanted and repeated written,  verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture by a student. Specific acts of bullying are defined as a pattern of any one or more of the following:

•    Physical acts, including but not limited to hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, choking, damaging personal property, or unauthorized use of personal property.

•    Gestures, including but not limited to obscene gestures.

•    Written or verbal communications, including but not limited to calling names, threatening harm, taunting, malicious teasing, or spreading untrue rumors.

•    Repeatedly and purposely shunning or excluding from activities.

Cyberbullying includes harassment, intimidation and/or bullying of a student on school property, at school-sponsored events, or on school transportation using a computer, phone, or other interactive/digital  technology. Cyberbullying includes but is not limited to a communication or image transmitted by email, instant message, text message, blog, or social networking website through the use of a telephone, mobile phone, pager, computer, or other electronic device.

IMPACT OF BULLYING

Bullying of or by any student on the basis of sex, race, color, disability or national origin is prohibited. Harassment, bullying and cyberbullying are inappropriate, harmful and

offensive. Bullying creates a school climate of fear and disrespect and interferes with student learning. Acts of bullying can be harmful to bystanders as well, causing feelings of fear, guilt and helplessness.

SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS AND CONSEQUENCES

The behavior has to have occurred more than once by another student or group of students to be considered a pattern. The behavior has to occur or be received by a student while on school property, at a school sponsored event, or on school transportation.

MUST HAVE THE EFFECT OF

•     Physically harming a student.

•     Placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm.

•     Damaging a student’s property.

•     Placing the student in reasonable fear of damage to student’s property.

MUST BE SUFFICIENTLY SEVERE, PERSISTENT AND PERVASIVE ENOUGH TO

•     Create an intimidating or threatening educational environment,

•     Have the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s performance in school, or

•     Have the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.

CONSEQUENCES

•     Consequences could result in a range of disciplinary actions, including a recommendation for expulsion.  (Please refer to page 13 in the Student Code of Conduct: District Handbook.)

•   Criminal consequences, including but not limited to loss of driving privileges.

•  Intentionally making false reports of bullying to school officials is prohibited conduct and will result in the appropriate discipline consequences.

REPORTING AN ACT OF BULLYING

The principal/designee is responsible for receiving complaints alleging violations of the bullying policy. All school employees and parents chaperoning or supervising school- sponsored functions and events are required to report alleged violations of this policy to the principal or the principal’s designee. A verbal report must be reported on the same day as the employee or parent witnessed or otherwise learned of the incident, and a

written report must be filed no later than two days thereafter.

The victim of bullying, anyone who witnessed the bullying, and anyone who has credible information that an act of bullying has taken place may file a report of bullying.

INVESTIGATION

1.   Upon receipt of any report of bullying, schools will direct an immediate investigation of the incident.

2.   The investigation shall include interviewing the reporter, alleged perpetrator(s) and victim(s), identified witnesses, teacher(s), and staff members. Physical evidence of the bullying incident will be reviewed, if available.

3.   The investigator  will collect and evaluate the facts using the appropriate forms.

4.   The principal/designee may file a complaint with the court of juvenile jurisdiction  pursuant to Children’s Code Article 730(8) and 731(1), or Children’s Code Article 730(1), if the parent or legal guardian refuses to attend a conference or meeting regarding the student’s behavior.

5.   The highest level of confidentiality possible shall be upheld regarding the submission of a complaint or a report of bullying and the investigative procedures that follow