Board Approves Anti-Bullying Policy
Members hear first reading of anti-bullying policy revision
Anti-bullying measure
The board also approved the first reading of an update to the district’s bullying policy.
In explaining the policy to the board, the superintendent said the state-mandated policy has been expanded to include all grade levels.
“The revised policy now includes all schools, not just grades six through 12,” . “The General Assembly has mandated that all schools do this by August.”
The revision follows the policy approved last summer in response to a law signed by the governor that strengthened the state’s anti-bullying laws.
The bill that created the law was sparked by a DeKalb County student whose family says he committed suicide after being taunted by classmates.
Under the law, parents of both the victim and the intimidator must be notified if an act of bullying occurs.
Where bullying can happen is also outlined: school property, on school vehicles, at designated school bus stops, or at school-related functions or activities, or by use of data or software accessed through a computer, computer system, computer network or other electronic technology of a local school system.
The superintendent noted school principals are seeing an increase in students who get into altercations with other students off school grounds and via social networking sites and who are bringing those issues into the schools.
“In a recent health-related survey, 22 percent of our sixth-graders reported they had been a victim of bullying in the last month,” he said, who also noted that number had declined about 8 percent since the last survey.
The revised policy will get its second reading at next month’s board meeting before board members will consider its adoption.