BULLYING
The Searcy County School District has an obligation to and is committed to providing a safe learning environment for each student. Student achievement is best attained in an atmosphere that is free from the fear of emotional and physical intimidations and threats. Marshall Elementary School will not tolerate any behavior that is classified under the definition of bullying.
Respect for the dignity of others is a cornerstone of civil society. Bullying creates an atmosphere of fear and intimidation, robs a person of his/her dignity, detracts from the safe environment necessary to promote student learning, and will not be tolerated by the Searcy County School District. Students who bully another person shall be held accountable for their actions whether they occur on school equipment or property; off school property at a school sponsored or approved function, activity, or event; going to or from school or a school activity in a school vehicle or school bus; or at designated school bus stops.
DEFINITIONS:
Bullying means the intentional harassment , intimidation, humiliation, ridicule, defamation, or threat or incitement of violence by a student against another student or public school employee by a written, verbal, electronic, or physical act that causes or creates a clear and present danger of:
Electronic act means without limitation a communication or image transmitted by means of an electronic device, including without limitation a telephone, wireless phone or other wireless communications device, computer, or pager that results in the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school or educational environment.
Electronic acts of bullying are prohibited whether or not the electronic act originated on school property or with school equipment, if the electronic act is directed specifically at students or school personnel and maliciously intended for the purpose of disrupting school, and has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose. Cyberbullying of school employees is expressly prohibited;
Harassment means a pattern of unwelcome verbal or physical conduct relating to another person’s constitutionally statutorily protected status that causes, or reasonably should be expected to cause, substantial interference with other’s performance in the school environment; and
Substantial disruption means without limitation that any one or more of the following occur as a result of the bullying:
Examples of “Bullying” may include but are not limited to a pattern of behavior involving one or more of the following:
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. Teachers and other school employees who have witnessed, or are reliably informed that, a student has been a victim of behavior they consider to be bullying, including a single action which if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, shall report the incident(s) to the principal. Parents or legal guardians may submit written reports of incidents they feel constitute bullying, or if allowed to continue would constitute bullying, to the principal. The principal shall be responsible for investigating the incident(s) to determine if disciplinary action is warranted.
The person or persons reporting behavior they consider to be bullying shall not be subject to retaliation or reprisal in any form.
Students found to be in violation of this policy shall be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. In determining the appropriate disciplinary action, consideration may be given to other violations of the student handbook which may have simultaneously occurred.
Notice of what constitutes bullying, the Searcy County School District’s prohibition against bullying, and the consequences for students who bully shall be conspicuously posted in every classroom, cafeteria, restroom, gymnasium, auditorium, and school bus. Parent, students, school volunteers, and employees shall be given copies of the notice.
6.22.15