Approve the District’s Policy Against Bullying and Harassment

On June 10, 2008, Governor Charlie Crist signed the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act (Section 1006.147, F.S.), requiring school districts to adopt formal policies prohibiting bullying and harassment during any educational program or activity; during any school-related or school-sponsored activity or on a school bus; or through the use of computers. Input for the policy was given through a collaborative effort of the following individuals: district students, parents, teachers, administrators, school staff, school volunteers, community representatives, and local law enforcement agencies. This action, when approved by the board, will allow the district to establish procedures for:

- reporting and investigating bullying and harassment

- referring victims and perpetrators of bullying or harassment for counseling

- consequences of committing an act of bullying or harassment

- providing instruction to students, parents, teachers, school administrators, counseling staff, and school volunteers on identifying, preventing, and responding to bullying or harassment

- publicizing the policy.

* Promote a culture of safety, which is free from harassment, bullying, and aggression

There is no financial impact to the District.

Data will be compiled annually through Florida’s School Environmental Safety Incident Reporting (SESIR) Statewide Report on School Safety and Discipline Data, which includes bullying/harassment as an incident code, as well as bullying-related as a related element code.