Personnel Responsibilities Governing Bullying

Definition: Bullying is any pattern of behavior by a student, or a group of students, that is intended to harass, intimidate, ridicule, humiliate, or instill fear in another child or group of children. Bullying behavior can be a threat of, or actual, physical harm or it can be verbal abuse of the child. Bullying is a series of recurring actions committed over a period of time directed toward one student, or successive, separate actions directed against multiple students.

Teachers and other school employees who have witnessed or are reliably informed that a student has been a victim of bullying as defined in this policy, including a single action which if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, shall report the incident(s) to the principal. The principal or his/her designee shall be responsible for investigating the incident(s) to determine if disciplinary action is warranted. Also, district staff are required to help enforce implementation of the district’s anti bullying policy. However, any school or district employee who has reported violations under the school district’s policy shall be immune from any tort liability which may arise from the failure to remedy the reported incident.

Students who bully another person are to be held accountable for their actions whether it occurs on school grounds; off school grounds at a school sponsored or approved function, activity, or event; or going to or from school or a school activity. Students are encouraged to report behavior they consider to be bullying, including a single action which if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, to their teacher or the building principal. The report may be made anonymously.