Download Hernando Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy

Overview of the Hernando County
School District Anti-Bullying and
Harassment Policy
January 2009
Hernando Anti Bullying and Harassment Policy
 School staff and employees must have an
educational/work setting that is safe,
secure, and free from harassment and
bullying of any kind
 The District will not tolerate bullying and
harassment of any type
Conduct That Constitutes Bullying & Harassment
 Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological
distress on one or more students or employees
 Unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any
threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gestures by a student or adult that
is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive
educational environment
 Bullying may also include:
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Unwanted teasing
Social exclusion
Threat
Intimidation
Stalking
Physical violence
Theft
Sexual, religious, or racial harassment
Public humiliation
Destruction of property
Harassment
 Threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gestures, use of
data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical
conduct directed against a student or employee that:
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Places a student or employee in a reasonable fear of harm to his or
her person or damage to his or her property
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s
educational performance
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a
school or work place.
Bullying & Harassment Also Encompasses
 Retaliation against a student or employee by another student or employee
for asserting or alleging an act of bullying or harassment
 Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith
 Accessing or knowingly and willingly causing or providing access to data or
computer software through a computer, computer system, or computer
network within the scope of the school district system
 Any harassment prohibited under state and federal law
Cyber Stalking
 To engage in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause
to be communicated, words, images, or languages by or
through the use of a electronic mail or electronic
communication, directed at a specific person, causing
substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no
legitimate purpose
Expectation
 The Hernando County School District expects students to
conduct themselves as appropriate for their level of
development, maturity, and demonstrated capabilities with a
proper regard to the rights and welfare of other students and
school staff
 School Administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers will
demonstrate appropriate behavior, treat others with civility
and respect, and refuse to tolerate bullying or harassment.
Bullying & Harassment of Any Student or
Employee is Prohibited
 During any educational program or activity conducted in our
schools
 During any school-related or school-sponsored program or
activity
 On a school bus of a public educational institution
 Through the use of data or computer software that is accessed
through a computer, computer system, or computer network
operated by the Hernando County School system
Consequences
 Consequences for students range from positive behavior interventions up
to, but not limited to expulsion, as outlined in the Student Code of Conduct
and this policy
 Consequences for an employee found to have committed an act of bullying
or harassing will be instituted in accordance with the District policies,
procedures, and agreements
 Egregious acts of bullying or harassing by a certified educator may result in
sanctions against the educator’s certificate
 A visitor or volunteer who has been found to have committed an act of
bullying or harassing shall be dealt with by the site administrator and may
include reporting to the appropriate law enforcement official
Reporting an Act of Bullying or Harassment
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The principal or the administrator designee are responsible for receiving oral and written
complaints alleging violation of this policy
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All employees are required to report in writing, any allegations of bullying and violations of
this policy to the site administrator
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Failure to report will result in actions or discipline consistent with the School Board Policy up
to and including termination of employment
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Any member of the school district who has credible information that an act of bullying or
harassment has taken place is encouraged to file a report whether a victim or witness
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The student and/or the parent who believes the child is bullied or has knowledge of an
incident has 30 school days after the last alleged incident of bullying or harassment to report
Reporting an Act of Bullying or Harassment - continued
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Failure on the part of the complainant to initiate a complaint within this period may result in
the complaint be deemed abandoned
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A school district employee, school volunteer, contractor, student, parent, or other person who
promptly reports in good faith an act of bullying or harassment and makes this report in
compliance with the procedure is immune from a cause of action for damages arising out of the
reporting itself or any failure to remedy the report incident
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Submission of a good faith compliant or report or bullying will not affect the complainant’s or
reporter’s future employment, grades, learning or work environment, or work assignments
within the Hernando County School System
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Any written or oral reporting of an act of bullying or harassment shall be considered an official
means of reporting such acts
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Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action may not be based solely on
the basis of an anonymous report
Investigating and Resolution
 The site administrator shall document all complaints in writing and/or through the
designated data system to ensure that problems are addressed in a timely manner
 School officials should investigate all complaints and reports of bullying or
harassment, whether or not the complaint is in writing
 If the complaint is about the site administrator or the staff member’s direct
supervisor, then the Superintendent’s designee shall be asked to address the
complaint
 The site administrator selects a designee(s), employed by the school, trained in
investigative procedures to initiate the investigation
 The designee may not be the accused perpetrator (harasser or bully) or victim
 The site administrator’s designee shall begin a thorough investigation within five (5)
school/work days of receiving a notification of complaint
Investigating and Resolution
 During the investigation, the site administrator may take appropriate
action to protect the complainant, other students, or employees
consistent with the requirements of applicable regulations and statutes
 In general, student complainants will continue attendance at the same
school while the investigation is conducted and the complaint is
pending resolution
 Documented interviews of the victim, alleged perpetrator, and
witnesses are conducted privately, separately, and are confidential
 Each individual (victim, alleged perpetrator, and witnesses) will be
interviewed separately and at no time will the alleged perpetrator
and victim be interviewed together
Referral for External Investigation
 If the behavior/conduct that is subject to a report, or complaint
is not within the District’s jurisdiction, referral to the appropriate
agency shall be made immediately, the parent will be notified (if
applicable), and the referral documented by the site
administrator in the designated data system