Smithfield Public Schools Bullying Policy

This policy was promulgated pursuant to the authority set forth in §16-21-34 of the General Laws of Rhode Island. The Smithfield Public Schools has established separate discrimination or harassment policies that include categories of students and staff. Nothing in this policy shall prevent the Smithfield Public Schools from remediating any discrimination or harassment based on a person's membership in a legally protected category under local, state or federal law.

Known as the Safe School Act, the statute recognizes that the bullying of a student creates a climate of fear and disrespect that can seriously impair the student's health and negatively affect learning. Bullying undermines the safe learning environment that students need to achieve their full potential. The purpose of the Policy is to ensure a consistent and unified approach to the prohibition of bullying at all Smithfield public schools.

1. DEFINITIONS

BULLYING means the 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 student that:

a. Causes physical or emotional harm to the student or damage to the student's property;

b. Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property;

c. Creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or abusive educational environment for the student;

d. Infringes on the rights of the student to participate in school activities; or

e. Materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.

The expression, physical act or gesture may include, but is not limited to, an incident or incidents that may be reasonably perceived as being motivated by characteristics such as:

Race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression or mental, physical, or sensory disability, intellectual ability or by any other distinguishing characteristic.

Bullying occurs as repeated behavior and is not a single incident between the alleged bullying/cyberbullying offender(s) and the alleged bullying victim(s). There are many examples of unkind behavior that must be addressed in school but that are not considered bullying under this policy.

CYBER-BULLYING means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, texting or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic, photo electronic or photo optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications.

Forms of cyber-bullying may include but are not limited to:

a. The creation of online content in which the creator assumes the identity of another person;

b. The knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages; or

c. The distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of materials on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the creation, impersonation, or distribution results in any of the conditions enumerated in clauses (a) to (e) of the definition of bullying.

AT SCHOOL means:

a. on school premises,

b. at any school sponsored activity or event whether or not it is held on school premises,

c. on a school transportation vehicle,

d. at an official school bus stop,

e. using property, equipment, or accounts provided by the school, or

f. acts which create a material and substantial disruption of the education process or the orderly operation of the school.

2. SCHOOL CLIMATE

Bullying, cyber-bullying, and retaliation against any person associated with a report of bullying or the investigation thereof is prohibited in all schools that are approved for the purpose of the compulsory attendance statute (§§16-19-1 and 16-19-2). School staff shall take all reasonable measures to prevent bullying at school. Such measures may include professional development and prevention activities, parental workshops, and student assemblies among other strategies. School faculty, administration and staff, at all times, will model courteous behavior to each other, to students, and to school visitors. Abusive or humiliating language or demeanor will not be accepted. Additionally, students and their families are expected to exhibit courteous behavior to all members of the learning community in school and at school sponsored events.

3. POLICY OVERSIGHT and RESPONSIBILITY

The school principal shall be responsible for the implementation and oversight of this bullying policy.

The school principal shall provide the Superintendent or designee and the School Committee with a summary report of incidents, responses, and any other bullying related issues on or before January 15th and on or before the last day of the school year.

The prevention of bullying shall be part of the school district strategic plan (§ 16-7.1-2(e)) and school safety plan (§16-21-24).

4. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION

The school principal shall ensure that students, staff, volunteers, and parents/legal guardians are provided information regarding this policy by including this document on the school’s webpage.

This policy shall be:

a. Shared annually with students, staff, volunteers, and parents/legal guardians through means that may include notice in a newsletter or through an assembly

b. Referenced in student codes of conduct, disciplinary policies, and student handbooks

c. A prominently posted link on the homepage of the school /district website

5. REPORTING

The school principal shall establish and prominently publicize to students, staff, volunteers, and parents/guardians, how a report of bullying may be filed and how this report will be acted upon (See attached Report Form).

The victim of bullying, anyone who witnesses an incidence of bullying, and anyone who has credible information that an act of bullying has taken place may file a report of bullying.

Any student or staff member who believes he/she is being bullied should immediately report such circumstances to an appropriate staff member, teacher or administrator.

Parents/Guardians of the victim of bullying and parents/guardians of the alleged perpetrator of the bullying shall be notified within twenty-four (24) hours of the incident report. When there is a reasonable suspicion that a child is either a bully or a victim of bullying, the parents/guardians of the child will be notified immediately by the principal.

Responsibility of Staff: School staff, including volunteers, coaches, or tutors who observe an act of bullying or who have reasonable grounds to believe that bullying is taking place must report the bullying to school authorities. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action.

Responsibility of Students: Students who observe an act of bullying or who have reasonable grounds to believe that bullying is taking place must report the bullying to school authorities. Failure to do so may result in disciplinary action. The victim of bullying, however, shall not be subject to discipline for failing to report the bullying. Student reports of bullying or retaliation may be made anonymously, provided, however, that no disciplinary action shall be taken against a student solely on the basis of an anonymous report.

Prohibition against Retaliation: Retaliation or threats of retaliation in any form designed to intimidate the victim of bullying, those who are witnesses to bullying, or those investigating an incident of bullying shall not be tolerated. Retaliation or threat of retaliation will result in the imposition of discipline in accordance with the school behavior code.

False Reporting/Accusations: A school employee, school volunteer or student who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying or retaliation shall be disciplined in accordance with the school behavior code.

Reports in Good Faith: A school employee, school volunteer, student, parent/legal guardian, or caregiver who promptly reports, in good faith, an act of bullying to the appropriate school official designated in the school’s policy shall be immune from a cause of action for damages arising from reporting bullying.

6. INVESTIGATION/RESPONSE

The school administrators shall promptly investigate all allegations of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. If the allegation is found to be credible, appropriate disciplinary actions, subject to applicable due process requirements, will be imposed. The School Resource Officer or other qualified staff may be utilized to mediate bullying situations.

The investigation will include an assessment by the school psychologist and/or social worker of what effect the bullying, harassment or intimidation has had on the victim. A student who engages in continuous and/or serious acts of bullying will also be referred to the school psychologist and/or social worker.

Police Notification: Immediate notification of the local law enforcement agency will be made when circumstances warrant the pursuit of criminal charges against the perpetrator.

Protection: If a student is the victim of serious or persistent bullying:

a. The school administrators will intervene immediately to provide the student with a safe educational environment.

b. The interventions will be developed, if possible, with input from the student, his or her parent/guardian, and staff.

c. The parents/guardians of a victim shall also be notified of the action taken to prevent any further acts of bullying or retaliation.

7. MAINTAINING A WRITTEN RECORD OF THE COMPLAINT

The Smithfield School Department shall maintain a complete record for each complaint and how it was investigated and resolved. Written records shall be maintained in a confidential manner in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools.

Written records will be filed and maintained for three years from the date of the resolution of an investigation unless new circumstances dictate that the file should be kept for a longer period of time.

8. DISCIPLINARY ACTION

The disciplinary actions for violations of the bullying policy shall be determined by the school/district appropriate authority. Disciplinary actions for violations of the bullying policy shall balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior. The severity of the disciplinary action shall be aligned to the severity of the bullying behavior.

The range of disciplinary actions that may be taken against a perpetrator for bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation shall include, but not be limited to:

a. Admonitions and warnings

b. Parental/ Guardian notification and meetings

c. Detention

d. In-school suspension

e. Loss of school provided transportation or loss of student parking pass

f. Loss of the opportunity to participate in extracurricular activities

g. Loss of the opportunity to participate in school social activities

h. Loss of the opportunity to participate in graduation exercises or middle school promotional activities

i. Police contact

j. School suspension: No student shall be suspended from school unless it is deemed to be a necessary consequence of the violation of this Policy.

9. SOCIAL SERVICES/COUNSELING

Referral to appropriate counseling and/or social services currently being offered by schools or communities shall be provided for bullying victims, perpetrators and appropriate family members of said students.

10. OTHER REDRESS

This section does not prevent a victim of bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation from seeking redress under any other available law, either civil or criminal. This section does not create or alter any tort liability.

ADOPTED: February 5, 2018