Character Building and Behavioral Expectations Presentations
The links below are to presentations that are presented on each half day during our whole school assemblies.
The new poster below is displayed throughout our school. The expectations below are reviewed in each classroom and at school wide assemblies.
District Anti-Bullying Policy
Click below to download a printable copy of the Pittsfield Public Schools District Anti-Bullying Policy.
X`First Reading – 11/17/10Enc.
No. 8
Second Reading – 12/15/10STU-80
R-12/15/10
PITTSFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Pittsfield, Massachusetts
ANTI-BULLYING
POLICY
It is the intent of the Pittsfield Public Schools to provide all students with an equitable opportunity to learn.To that end, Pittsfield Public Schools has a significant interest in providing a safe, supportive, orderly and respectful school environment that is conducive to teaching and learning. Pittsfield Public Schools takes a systematic approach to bullying prevention and intervention.Anti-bullying prevention in the Pittsfield Public schools is embedded within broader school-wide approaches that promote a positive, prosocial culture for all students and staff.
Bullying is detrimental to student learning and achievement.It interferes with the mission of the schools to educate their students and disrupts the operations of the schools.Bullying negatively affects not only students who are targets but also the aggressors and those who participate and witness such behavior.
It is not the Pittsfield Public Schools’ intent to prohibit students from expressing their ideas, including ideas that may offend the sensibilities of others, or from engaging in civil debate. However, the Pittsfield Public Schools does not condone and will take action in response to conduct that creates a hostile environment and interferes with students’ opportunity to learn.
REGULATIONS
A.Bullying Prohibited
Bullying as defined in this policy is not acceptable conduct in Pittsfield Public Schools and is prohibited.Any student who engages in conduct that constitutes bullying shall be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including suspension or expulsion in accordance with the student handbook.A student’s bullyingmay also be addressed through other behavioral interventions.
Bullying of any type has no place in a school setting.The Pittsfield Public Schools will endeavor to maintain learning and working environments free of bullying.
Retaliation against a person who either reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information is further prohibited.
The School Committee expects administrators and supervisors to make clear to students and staff that bullying is prohibited.This prohibition includes the following areas:
·In the school building and on school grounds
·On property immediately adjacent to school grounds
·At a bus stop, on the school bus or other school sanctioned transportation, such as another vehicle owned, leased, or used by a school district
·At a school-sponsored or school related activity, function or program whether it takes place on or off school grounds
·Through the use of technology or an electronic device that is owned, leased or used by the school district or school
·At any program or location that is not school-related, or through the use of personal technology or electronic device, if the bullying creates a hostile environment at school for the target, infringes on the rights of the target at school, or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
B.Definitions
For the purpose of this policy, the following definitions will be used:
Bullying:The repeated use by one or more students of a written, verbal or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target’s property; places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property; creates a hostile environment at school for the target, infringes on the rights of the target at school; or materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.Bullying includes cyber bullying.(Definition based on M.G.L. c.71, 37O)
Cyber bullying:Bullying through the use of technology or any electronic devises such as telephones, cell phones, computers and the Internet.It includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messages, text messages and Internet postings.
Aggressor:A student who engages in bullying, cyber bullying or retaliation.
Target:A student against whom bullying, cyber bullying or retaliation is directed.
Hostile Environment:A situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student’s education.
C.Application of Policy
This policy applies to bullying that takes place at school or adjacent to or on school grounds, at any school-sponsored activity or event, or while students are being transported to or from school or school-sponsored activities or events.It also applies to bullying that occurs at any location that creates a hostile environment and substantially disrupts the instructional program, operations of the school, or welfare of students
Examples of conduct that may constitute bullying include, but are not limited to:
1.Physical contact or injury to another person or his/her property.
2.Threats of harm to a student, to his/her possessions, or to other individuals, whether transmitted verbally, in writing, or through electronic or other means.
3.Blackmail, extortion, demands for protection money, or involuntary loans or donations.
4.Non-verbal threats and/or intimidations such as use of aggressive or menacing gestures.
5.Stalking.
6.Blocking access to school property or facilities.
7.Stealing or hiding books, backpacks, or other possessions.
8.Repeated or pervasive taunting, name-calling, belittling, mocking, put-downs, or demeaning humor.
9.Any form of cyber-bullying communicated through electronic means (e.g., text messaging,“blogging”, social networking, etc.) that are sent within the school day or beyond the school day and creates a disrupted or hostile school environment for one or more students.
The determination whether particular conduct constitutes bullying - requires reasonable investigation and consideration of the circumstances, which include the frequency or repeated nature of the behavior at issue, the location in which the behavior occurs, the ages and maturity of the students involved, the activity or context in which the conduct occurs, and the nature and severity of the conduct.Determinations of bullying will be made utilizing the definition of bullying and cyberbullying described above.
D.Delegation of Responsibility
The Superintendent or his/her designee will be responsible for developing and implementing the District Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan in collaboration with building principals and his/her designees.This includes procedures for the following:
·Student and parent reporting of bullying to staff and school administrators
·Staff reporting of bullying and/or peer harassment to school administrators
·Review of reports and investigation of bullying incidents
·Intervention with and/or discipline of students who engage in bullying
·Support and interventions for students who are targets or aggressors of bullying
·Delivery of social and emotional learning curriculums K-12
·Annual professional development of staff and students in identification, reporting, prevention and appropriate responses to bullying
·Periodic evaluation of bullying and/or peer harassment prevention, intervention, and training procedures and the District Prevention and Intervention Plan
E.Reporting
Anyone, including a parent, guardian, student or school staff member, can report bullying or retaliation.Reports can be made in writing or orally.Oral reports made by or to a staff member shall be recorded in writing.Persons other than school or district staff can make reports anonymously. Anonymous reports may limit further investigation if the parties involved cannot be identified.Reports may be made anonymously, but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report.
Students who have been or parents of students who have been bullied -, or who observe incidents of bullying are encouraged to report this behavior to a staff member or school administrator.
Staff must immediately report bullying and/or peer harassment to the building principal if they either witness or become aware of bullying or retaliation in another manner.Staff members responsible for reporting acts of bullying include, but are not limited, to the following:educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessionals.
Acts of reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an incident of bullying and/or peer harassment are prohibited.Any student who is determined to have falsely accused another of bullying and/or peer harassment shall be subject to disciplinary consequences in accordance with the student handbook.
F.Responding to Bullying
The District will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying.The Principal of each building or his/her designee(s) will be responsible for handling all complaints by students alleging bullying.
Any school staff, that witnesses bullying, must immediately intervene and stop the bullying.
When the school principal or his/her designee(s) receives a report of bullying/peer harassment, he or she shall promptly conduct an investigation.If there is a determination that bullying has occurred, he/she shall:
·Notify the parents or guardians of the target, and to the extent consistent with state and federal law, notify them of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation.
·Notify the parents or guardians of the aggressor(s).
·Take appropriate disciplinary action.
·Notify the local law enforcement agency if there is reason to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.In making this determination, the administrator may consult with the School Resource Officer or other individuals deemed necessary.
During the course of an investigation, the school principal and/or his/her designee will assess the need to restore a sense of safety to the alleged target and/or to protect the alleged target from possible further incidents, including the possible completion of a personal safety plan.
In determining the appropriate response to students who engage in bullying - behavior, school administrators should consider the ages and maturity of the students involved, the type of behaviors, the frequency and/or pattern of behaviors, the context in which the incident occurred, and other relevant circumstances.Responses can include positive behavioral interventions, teaching appropriate behavior through skill-building,disciplinary action including suspension or expulsion in accordance with the student handbook and the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), and/or reports to law enforcement officials.
Administrative guidelines and procedures for all forms of bullying will apply as outlined in the student handbook.The District will provide professional development to support the implementation of this policy, as well as implement curriculum to develop social and emotional learning for the aggressor/harasser, target, and the entire school community.
G.Dissemination of Policy
Notice of what constitutes bullying, Pittsfield Public Schools’ prohibition against bullying, and the consequences for students who bully shall be communicated to students and parents through the Student Code of Conduct and Student Handbook and will be available on the District website.Staff will receive annual training on the identification, reporting, prevention and response to bullying.
REFERENCES
STU-3 (Equal Educational Opportunities); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-34 (Hazing); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-24 (Student Rights and Responsibilities); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-31 (Student Conduct on Buses); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-38 (Secure School Environment); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-65 ((Student Safety); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students
STU-28 (Student Conduct – Conduct/Discipline/Suspension/Expulsion); Policy Handbook for Parents and Students