BOARD OF DIRECTORS
STUDENTS
RICHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY
BULLYING AND OTHER AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR TOWARD STUDENTS
MCL 380.131 OB (Mat’s Safe School Law, PA 241 of 2011)
Policies on Bullying, Michigan State Board of Education
Model Anti-Bullying Policy, Michigan State Board of Education
It is the policy of the Academy to provide a safe and nurturing educational environment for all of its students.
This policy protects all students from bullying/aggressive behavior regardless of the subject matter or motivation for such impermissible behavior.
Bullying or other aggressive behavior toward a student, whether by other students, staff, or third parties, including Board members, parents, guests, contractors, vendors, and volunteers, is strictly prohibited. This prohibition includes written, physical, verbal, and psychological abuse, including hazing, gestures, comments, threats, or actions to a student, which cause or threaten to cause bodily harm, reasonable fear for personal safety or personal degradation.
Demonstration of appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment or bullying is expected of administrators, faculty, staff, and volunteers to provide positive examples for student behavior.
This policy applies to all “at school” activities in the School, including activities on property, in a school vehicle, and those occurring off school property if the student or employee is at any school-sponsored, school-approved or school-related activity or function, such as field trips or athletic events where students are under the school’s control, or where an employee is engaged in school business. Misconduct occurring outside of school may also be disciplined if it interferes with the school environment.
Notification
Notice of this policy will be annually circulated to and posted in conspicuous locations in all school buildings and departments within the Academy and discussed with students, as well as incorporated into the teacher, student, and parent/guardian handbooks. State and Federal rights posters on discrimination and harassment shall also be posted at each building. All new hires will be required to review and sign off on this policy and the related complaint procedure.
Parents or legal guardians of the alleged victim(s), as well as of the alleged aggressor(s), shall be promptly notified of any complaint or investigation as well as the results of the investigation to the extent consistent with student confidentiality requirements. A record of the time and form of notice or attempts at notice shall be kept in the investigation file.
To the extent appropriate and/or legally permitted, confidentiality will be maintained during the investigation process. However, a proper investigation will, in some circumstances, require the disclosure of names and allegations. Further, the appropriate authorities may be notified, depending on the nature of the complaint and/or the results of the investigation.
Implementation
The Chief Administrative Officer is responsible to implement this policy, and may develop further guidelines, not inconsistent with this policy.
This policy is not intended to and should not be interpreted to interfere with legitimate free speech rights of any individual. However, the Academy reserves the right and responsibility to maintain a safe environment for students, conducive to learning and other legitimate objectives of the school program.
Procedure
Any student who believes s/he has been or is the victim of bullying, hazing; or other aggressive behavior should immediately report the situation to the Principal or assistant principal. The student may also report concerns to a teacher or counselor who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator or Board official. Complaints against the building principal should be filed with the Chief Administrative Officer.
Complaints against the Chief Administrative Officer should be filed with the Board President.
Every student is encouraged, and every staff member is required, to report any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed toward a student. Reports shall be made to those identified above. Reports may be made anonymously, but formal disciplinary action may not be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report!
The Principal (or other administrator as designated) shall promptly investigate and document all complaints about bullying, aggressive or other behavior that may violate this policy. The investigation must be completed as promptly as the circumstances permit after a report or complaint is made.
If the investigation finds an instance of bullying or aggressive behavior has occurred, it will result in prompt and appropriate remedial action. This may include up to expulsion for students, up to discharge for employees, exclusion for parents, guests, volunteers and contractors, and removal from any official position and/or a request to resign for Board members. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement or other appropriate officials.
The individual responsible for conducting the investigation shall document all reported incidents and report all verified incidents of bullying, aggressive or other prohibited behavior, as well as any remedial action taken, including disciplinary actions and referrals, to the Chief Administrative Officer. The Chief Administrative Officer shall submit a compiled report to the Board on an annual basis.
Non-Retaliation/False Reports
Retaliation or false allegations against any person who reports, is thought to have reported, files a complaint, participates in an investigation or inquiry concerning allegations of bullying or aggressive behavior (as a witness or otherwise), or is the target of the bullying or
aggressive behavior being investigated is prohibited and will not be tolerated. Such retaliation shall be considered a serious violation of Board policy, independent of whether a complaint of bullying is substantiated. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the same manner as bullying/aggressive behavior.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDENTS
RICHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY 5517.01/page 3 of 4
Making intentionally false reports about bullying/aggressive behavior for the purpose of getting someone in trouble is similarly prohibited and will not be tolerated. Retaliation and intentionally false reports may result in disciplinary action as indicated above.
Prevention/Training (OPTIONAL)
The Chief Administrative Officer shall establish a Bullying Prevention Task Force.
The Academy shall provide, and all administrators, school employees, contracted employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students shall undertake annual training on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying and other aggressive behavior.
The Academy shall provide, and all students shall undertake, annual training on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying, cyber bullying and other aggressive behavior.
The Academy shall provide and all parents or legal guardians shall be offered the opportunity to undertake annual training on preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying, cyber bullying and other aggressive behavior.
Definitions
The following definitions are provided for guidance only. If a student or other individual believes there has been bullying, hazing, harassment or other aggressive behavior, regardless of whether it fits a particular definition, s/he should report it immediately and allow the administration to determine the appropriate course of action.
“Aggressive behavior” is defined as inappropriate conduct that is repeated enough, or serious enough, to negatively impact a student’s educational, physical, or emotional wellbeing. Such behavior includes, for example, bullying, hazing, stalking, intimidation, menacing, coercion, name-calling, taunting, making threats, and hitting/pushing/shoving.
“At School” is defined as in a classroom, elsewhere on school premises, on a school bus or other school related vehicle, or at a school-sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises. It also includes conduct using a telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider that occurs off school premises if either owned by or under the control of the school.
“BulIying” is defined as any gesture or written, verbal, graphic, or physical act (including
electronically transmitted acts – i.e. internet, telephone or cell phone, personal digital
assistant (PDA), or wireless hand held device) that, without regard to its subject matter or motivating animus, is intended or that a” reasonable person would know is likely to harm one
(1) or more students either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:
A. substantially interfering with educational opportunities, benefits, or programs
of one (1) or more students;
B. adversely affecting the ability of a student to participate in or benefit from
the school’s educational programs or activities by placing the student in reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress;
National Charter Schools Institute
BOARD OF DIRECTORS STUDENTS
RICHFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL ACADEMY 5517.01/page 4 of 4
C. having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a student’s physical
or mental health; and/or
D. causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly
operation of the School.
Bullying can be physical, verbal, psychological, or a combination of all three. Some examples
of bullying are:
A. Physical – hitting, kicking, spitting, pushing, pulling; taking and/or damaging
personal belongings or extorting money, blocking or impeding student
movement, unwelcome physical contact.
B. Verbal – taunting, malicious teasing, insulting, name-calling, making threats.
C. Psychological – spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships,
coercion, or engaging in social exclusion/shunning, extortion, or intimidation. This may occur in a number of different ways, including but not limited to notes, emails, social media postings, and graffiti.
“Harassment” includes, but is not limited to, any act which subjects an individual or group to unwanted, abusive behavior of a nonverbal, verbal, written of physical nature, often on the basis of age, race, religion, color, national origin, marital status or disability, but may also include sexual orientation, physical characteristics (e.g., height, weight, complexion), cultural background, socioeconomic status, or geographic location (e.g., from rival school, different state, rural area, city, etc.).
“Intimidation/Menacing” includes, but is not limited to any threat or act intended to: place a person in fear of physical injury or offensive physical contact; to substantially damage or interfere with person’s property; to intentionally interfere with or block a person’s movement without good reason.
“Staff” includes all school employees and Board members.
“Third parties” include, but are not limited to, coaches, school volunteers, parents, school visitors, service contractors, vendors, or others engaged in Academy business, and others not directly subject to school control at inter-district or intra-district athletic competitions or other
school events.
For further definition and instances that could possibly be construed as: Harassment, see Policy 5517;
Hazing, see Policy 5516.
Revised 10/23/07
National Charter Schools Institute
