West Bourbon Elementary Bully Plan and Procedures Adopted by Board of Education Dec. 2007 USD 235 prohibits bullying in any form on school property, in a school vehicle or at any school-sponsored activity or event. Hazing-Bullying Definition and Policy USD 235 is committed to maintaining a learning environment free from discrimination, insult, intimidation or harassment due to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or any dissimilarity (the quality of being different from or unlike something or somebody else or any feature that distinguishes one person or thing from another). Bullying is the tormenting of others through verbal harassment, physical assault, or other more subtle methods of coercion such as manipulation. Bullying can involve direct attacks (such as hitting, threatening or intimidating, maliciously teasing and taunting, name-calling, making sexual remarks, and stealing or damaging belongings) or more subtle, indirect attacks (such as spreading rumors or encouraging others to reject or exclude someone). Any act or activity that designates someone else as the target will be considered bullying. Hazing can be defined as but not limited to any activity expected of an individual or member of a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, endangers or risks physical or emotional harm regardless of the person's willingness to participate. Hazing is intentionally coercing, demanding or encouraging another person to perform as a condition of membership in a social activity or fraternal organization. Hazing examples include, but are not limited to embarrassing appearance or acts, wearing of public apparel which is conspicuous and not normally in good taste; engaging in public stunts and or attention-drawing behaviors; morally degrading or humiliating games or activities; and any other activities which are not consistent with the educational environment. To ensure a positive and productive learning environment is maintained discriminatory conduct, bullying, or hazing will not be tolerated. Any incident of discrimination, bullying, or hazing shall promptly be reported to the building principal, or a classroom teacher. Any student who engages in discriminatory conduct, bullying or hazing shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement officials. State law requires school districts to report felonies and misdemeanors committed at school, on school property, or at school-sponsored activities. No administrator, faculty member, or other employee of the school district shall encourage, permit, condone, or tolerate any of these types of activities. No students or student leaders of organizations shall plan, organize or engage in any hazing, bullying, or discriminatory activities. Complaint Procedures: It is considered the responsibility of all students and staff members to report acts of bullying to a member of the school staff or administration as designated. Students should report to any adult in the building when they feel that they have been bullied. The adult will report this to the teacher that is on duty or to the principal to investigate. If the teacher or another staff member is the instigator of the bullying the report should be made to the building principal . If the principal is the instigator of the bullying the superintendent should be notified. If the superintendent is the instigator of the bullying the building principal should be notified. Parents are encouraged to make reports to the school if their child reports to them that they have been bullied. Filing a report in good faith will not reflect upon the individual's status. Additionally, it will not affect a student's grades or an adult's employment status in the district. The district shall keep the complaint confidential for both the accused and the accuser, until such time as the misconduct is confirmed and sanctions are imposed. All reports will be taken seriously by the party designated by the policy to investigate. The school staff or administrator will support students and coworkers making such reports and protect against any potential retaliation for making such a report. Students and staff making prompt, accurate and thorough reports, either verbally or in writing will have those reports recorded by the staff receiving the same. An investigation to determine the facts will take place immediately or as soon as practical, in order to verify the validity and seriousness of the report. Sanctions and Support: Support As a result of new legislation, the students and staff of WBE have revised our bullying prevention program. We have chosen a proactive approach to the program where the students are learning about eleven different character traits including respect, self control, honesty, kindness, forgiveness, loyalty, courage, confidence, responsibility, tolerance and diligence. Students in grades K-6 have a bully prevention curriculum included in part of their guidance lessons from the counselor. We give the students annual surveys to determine the extent of the bullying and to give us information about areas that require more supervision. This in turn allows us to provide appropriate programming needed for both students and staff. Staff receive inservice annually on the bully plan and are informed about the information gathered from the student surveys. Sanctions Starting with second grade and continuing through sixth grade a disciplinary part of the program will be used which includes the following: Seven behaviors have been targeted as non-acceptable: 1. physical aggression 2. put downs (name calling, lies, spreading rumors, making fun of in a hurtful way) 3. stealing 4. threats (verbal or written) 5. sexual harassment 6. invasion of privacy 7. destruction of property with the intention to intimidate The consequences for these behaviors are: 1st offense- one day lunch and recess away from class and peers 2nd offense- 5 days lunch and recess away from class and peers 3rd offense- after school detention ( 30 minutes) 4th offense- after school detention (one hour) 5th offense- principals discretion and referral to the student improvement team. If the offense of bullying by a student should be considered severe or ongoing the principal may take disciplinary action including suspension, expulsion, and referral to law enforcement officials for possible legal action. (State law requires school districts to report felonies and misdemeanors committed at school, on school property, or at school-sponsored activities.) The following paragraph will help you determine which offense and consequence to give. The consequences for offense #1 is one day NOON DETENTION in the bully room. An offense committed within 5 school days of the first offense will be considered offense #2-with the consequence being NOON DETENTION for 5 days beginning on the day offense #2 was committed. (Should the second offense happen during the afternoon the consequence will begin the next day.) Any additional offenses committed during those 5 days will result in additional consequences. After a student has served the 5 days we begin again with the whole process. Employees found to have participated in bullying behavior or having become aware that bullying was taking place and failed to report the behavior, are considered to be in violation of the prohibition expressed by the policy. They may be subject to disciplinary action established by policy or practice. Daily Responsibilities of those in the bully room: For each offense the student will complete a behavior improvement plan. There is to be no talking in the room unless instructions are being given. Students eat quietly. A para from the lunchroom should pick up the trays from the 6th graders by 12:40. Responsibilities of Teachers and Staff: Teach the 11 character traits. Teachers will be responsible for notifying the office prior to the lunch hour that a child will be in noon detention. They must also see to it that the child has his lunch delivered to the detention room. A disciplinary referral will be sent home with the child when he/she has exhibited a non acceptable behavior. The referral is to be signed by the parent and returned to the teacher. If a student receives an after school detention, a notice will be sent home letting the parent know when the detention will be served. The parent must sign the detention notice and send it back with the student. The parent must come to school and pick up their child after the 30 minute or 1 hour detention. Teachers need to notify the office of the date the child is to serve an after school detention so that we can notify the person on detention duty.