SCHOOL-BASED DECISION MAKING

School:

Bloom Elementary

Subject of Policy:

Anti-Bullying

Policy Statement

At Bloom Elementary, we believe that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. KRS 158.148 defines bullying as “any unwanted verbal, physical, or social behavior among students that involves a real or perceived power imbalance and its repeated or has the potential to be repeated:

1. That occurs on school premises, on school-sponsored transportation, or at school-sponsored event; or
2. That disrupts the education process

This definition shall not be interpreted to prohibit civil exchange of opinions or debate or cultural practices protected under the state or federal Constitution where the opinion expressed does not otherwise materially or substantially disrupt the education process.” Bloom Elementary will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety and well-being of any student.

At Bloom Elementary, students will be educated by staff in all grade levels to help them identify and respond to the dangers of bullying. There are five types of bullying recognized in this policy.

• Relational bullying, sometimes referred to as “social” or “psychological” bullying. This takes the form of disrupting another student’s peer relationships through gossiping, whispering and spreading rumors. It also includes turning your back on them, giving them the silent treatment, or leaving them out. 
• Cyber-bullying, sometimes referred to as social bullying, is often indirect; students communicate negative representations of the target to third parties, often through social network sites, instant messages, texting, chat rooms, posting on web pages or blogs.
• Verbal bullying, such as threatening, taunting, intimidating, insulting, sarcasm, teasing, ridiculing, making faces, rolling eyes and other gestures. 
• Physical bullying, includes both the person (such as hitting, pushing, shoving, kicking, pinching, holding a person down) an/or their possessions (through extorting money, stealing or causing damage to possessions)
• Sexual bullying, sometimes referred to as sexual harassment, which includes unwanted sexual attention and comments, gender-demeaning remarks and jokes, using sexually offensive names, circulating pornography, touching the private parts of another student’s body, molestation, assault, and rape. 

Reporting Procedures shall include the following:

• Tell a teacher or another adult at school. Complete a Bullying Report Form or anonymous tip card, located in the counselor’s office.
• Witness Statements may be completed by other students per the Bullying Witness Statement Form.
• A counselor or designee will review and investigate the report from the student and/or reporting adult to verify illegal acts. Student reports that are found to have been intentionally filed under false pretenses or in retaliation will be subject to disciplinary action.
• A staff member and/or parent will report immediately to the school administration when he or she witnesses or becomes aware of conduct that may be bullying or retaliation.

Discipline Process

The counselors and/or administrators will take appropriate action following the JCPS Student Support and Behavior Intervention Handbook and Progressive Discipline.

Retaliation Prohibited

Employees and other students may not retaliate against a student or staff member because he or she reports bullying or assists or participates in an investigation proceeding or hearing regarding the violation. The principal or designee shall take measures needed to protect students and staff from such retaliation. Support will be provided for both parties by appropriate school staff.

Date of First Reading: September 12, 2019

Date of Second Reading: October 10, 2019

Date Adopted: October 10, 2019

Reviewed: 3.20.2024

Signature:________________________________________________

                        SBDM Council Chairperson