Student Services and Federal Programs Action Item

DATE:	Tuesday, May 8, 2012
TO:	School Board Members
FROM:	MaryEllen Elia, Superintendent
SUBJECT / RECOMMENDATIONS
Approve the Agreement by and between The School Board of Hillsborough County, FL and Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners to Expand Bullying Prevention Efforts (Student Services and Federal Programs Division)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
To support the district’s efforts in bullying prevention, Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) is providing $48,000 to implement the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program (OBPP) at 25 schools, reaching approximately 15,000 students.  The OBPP is recognized by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence as a Blueprint Model Program and by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as a Model Program, which are two of the highest honors a prevention program can attain.  It is an evidence-based bullying prevention program with over 35 years of research and successful implementation all over the world and is implemented at the schoolwide, classroom, and individual levels including methods to reach out to parents and the community for involvement and support.  Through collaborative efforts of school administrators, teachers, and other staff, the OBPP is designed to improve peer relations and make schools a safer and more positive place for students to learn and develop.  Funding will be used to procure site licenses, training and curriculum materials, and to host training sessions for identified schools.
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
• Promote a culture of safety, which is free from harassment, bullying, and aggression
FINANCIAL IMPACT (Budgeted:  No)
The partnership will be entered into at no cost to the district.  BOCC is providing $48,000 to the district.
EVALUATION
Annual implementation of Olweus Bullying Questionnaire to assess students’ experiences with and perceptions about bullying, and a quarterly review of bullying reports to determine effectiveness of the OBPP implementation.
SUBMITTED BY:  Tracy Schatzberg, Supervisor, Psychological Services

Gwendolyn L. Luney, Assistant Superintendent		Gretchen Saunders
Student Services and Federal Programs (813) 272-4879		Chief Business Officer (813) 272-4270
		A 5.17
Hillsborough County Public Schools (Florida) * Mtg.#20120508_501 (Board Meeting) * Section A Item# 5.17