b) Encourages parents or guardians of students to file written reports of suspected bullying. See (a) above.

c) Requires teachers and other school staff who witness acts of bullying or receive student reports of bullying to promptly notify the School Principal or designated employee.

d) Requires the School Principal or designated employee to accept and review all reports of bullying, including anonymous reports. If after initial inquiry, an anonymous or oral report appears to warrant further investigation, school districts shall promptly continue with an investigation. School administrators shall investigate any written reports.

e) As with any other disciplinary action, requires school staff to notify the parent or guardian of a student who commits a verified act of bullying of the response of the school staff and consequences that may result from further acts of bullying.

f) To the extent permitted under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act,  (FERPA), requires school staff to notify the parent or guardian of a student who is a target of bullying of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying.

5. Data Gathering

All schools within the WNESU delegate the responsibility of data collection to the school principal or his or her designee. They shall collect data on the number of reported incidents of bullying and the number of incidents that have been verified and to make such data available to the Commissioner of the Vermont Department of Education (www.state.vt.us/educ/new/html/pgm_safeschools.html#data) for further information on data gathering.

Footnotes:

1. Conduct that might otherwise be considered bullying but does not occur during the school day, on school property, on a school bus, or at a school-sponsored event still may be subject to disciplinary action pursuant to 16 V.S.A. §§1161(a) and 1162; however, such misconduct would not meet the definition of bullying.
2. Any student who knowingly makes false accusations regarding bullying may be subject to disciplinary action. 
3. FERPA is a federal law designed to protect the confidentiality of student records and the school district must comply with this law, as well as a similar state law. When the school administrator contacts a parent about the school district’s response to a bullying incident, he/she may discuss information about an investigation and corrective action taken, but only to the extent that it may be done without disclosing information about any students other than the student subjected to the bullying.

Appendix A: Quick Reference on Bullying Prevention & Intervention

Possible Strategies for Prevention

• Assess the school environment.
• Adopt a comprehensive approach that considers the bully, the target and bystanders.
• Provide bullying prevention and intervention training to all faculty and staff.
• Closely supervise all areas of the school.
• Update discipline plan and procedures; adopt all legally required related policies.
• Utilize multiple means for publicizing clear behavioral standards/rules.
• Consistently and fairly enforce standards/rules.
• Establish an anonymous reporting system.
• Encourage parent and community involvement in bullying prevention.
• Use classroom management techniques for response to classroom behavior and when needed, use appropriate discipline.
• As warranted, refer victims and bullies to school counselors or mental health professionals.

Possible Steps for Intervening in Bullying Situations

• Intervene immediately to stop the bullying.
• Talk to the bully and the victim separately. If more than one student is involved in bullying behavior, talk to each separately, in quick succession. (Expect bullies to minimize [or] deny their actions.)
• Remind the bully about school and classroom rules, reiterate what behavior is expected, and discuss sanctions that will be imposed for future bullying behavior.
• Reassure the victim that everything possible will be done to prevent a recurrence.

• Make other students aware of the consequences of bullying behavior. Reiterate the school's policy of zero tolerance toward bullying.
• Phone the parents of both the bully and the victim as soon as possible. If possible, involve the parents in designing a plan of action.
• Continue to monitor the behavior of the bully and the safety of the victim.
• Consult administrators, teachers, and staff members to alert them to the problem and to get a better understanding of it.
• If the situation doesn't change, remove the bully - not the victim - from the classroom.

For bullying prevention and intervention, see also:

1. BEST: Building Effective Supports for Teaching Students with Behavioral Challenges. Call Anne Dubie, (802) 656-5775 or visit http://www.uvm.edu/~cdci/best/.
2. Bullying Strategies That Work, Education World. www.education-world.com/a_issues/issues103.shtml
3. Blueprints for Violence Prevention. www.colorado.edu/cspv/blueprints/
4. Think You Know What A Bully Looks Like? Think Again… National PTA. www.pta.org/bullying/
5. Project on Teasing and Bullying, Wellesley Centers for Women, www.wcwonline.org/bullying/
6. A World of Difference Institute. www.adl.org/education/edu_awod/awod_cla ssroom.asp

Harassment

Any unlawful bullying or harassment of a student by any member of the school community is a violation. The School Community includes, but is not limited to, all students, school employees, contractors, unpaid, and other visitors.  BFMS shall act to investigate all complaints of harassment (formal or informal, verbal or written) and to discipline or take other appropriate action against any member of the school community who is found to have violated this policy.  Such appropriate action could include, but is not limited to, warning, remedial training, education or counseling, detention, suspension, exclusion, expulsion, transfer, termination or discharge.  For additional information, please refer to the WNESU policy.

IF YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BULLIED AND/OR HARASSED, PLEASE TALK TO YOUR TEACHER OR TO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION.

Title IX

Sexual harassment is prohibited by Title IX, which ensures that no person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.

Our district is committed to preventing sexual harassment and addressing it promptly and effectively when it occurs. For detailed information, please refer to the following district policy:

WNESU Title IX Policy (District Policy C12)

Reporting Procedures

While the District strongly encourages Reports of Sexual Harassment to be made directly to the Title IX Coordinator, the report may be made to any District staff member, including, for instance, a counselor, teacher, or principal.

In cases where the Title IX Coordinator is the alleged respondent, the report or formal complaint may be made directly to the Superintendent, who shall thereafter fulfill the functions of the Title IX Coordinator regarding that report/complaint or delegate the function to another person.

Interim Title IX Coordinator:

Vermont Human Rights Commission:

Office for Civil Rights, Boston Office:

Weapons & Explosive Devices

Federal law prohibits weapons and explosive devices (even fireworks) of any kind on school property, on the school bus, at the school bus stop, or in a private vehicle. Students found in violation of this law may be expelled for a period of one year.

See District Policy Code F21 for further information.

Safety/Searches

Safety is of utmost importance. If you see or believe that something is unsafe, whether it is a problem in the building, a threat from someone, or other hazard, you are asked to report the situation to an adult in the school as quickly as possible. Obviously possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, weapons, or other improper substances is strictly forbidden.

As part of our concern about safety, be advised that the administration reserves the right to search students, their belongings, and assigned areas at any time there is a reasonable belief that prohibited items or unhealthy circumstances may be present.

School Board Policy Notification

SELECT BOARD POLICIES AND STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS

All schools within the Windham Northeast Supervisory Union recognize their responsibility to provide all students and employees with a working and learning environment that is safe and conducive to all. As a result, there are a series of policies to ensure that this type of environment is created and maintained. These policies, sent under separate cover, at the beginning of each school year include:

1. Title 16 Section 1481- Fire and Emergency Preparedness Drills and Safety Patrol
2. Alcohol and Drugs – F7
3. Student Conduct and Discipline –F1
4. Search and Seizure – F3
5. Weapons – F21
6. Hazing – F24
7. Pupil Privacy Rights: Student Surveys –F27
8. Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources & The Internet –G11
9. Animal Dissection –G13
10. Non-Discrimination Policy – C6
11. Harassment of Students – F20
12. Harassment of Employees –D12
13. Student Records  -F5
14. Attendance policy and protocol- F25

A complete listing of school board policies is available at WNESU District Policies.