The Jonesboro School District prohibits acts of bullying, harassment, or intimidation. (ACT681 of 2003). A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for students to learn and achieve high academic standards. The JSD Anti-Bullying Policy is in effect while students are on school grounds, school district property; while on school-owned and/or school operated buses, vehicles, or chartered buses; while attending or engaged in school activities; and while away from school grounds if the student is at any school sponsored, school approved or school related activity or function.
Definition of Bullying: Bullying, harassment, or intimidation like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts a student’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its students in a safe environment. Bullying includes but is not limited to, any written, electronically generated, verbal expression or physical act or gesture or a repeated hurtful behavior pattern directed toward another person. This behavior may include physical, verbal, written, electronically communicated and/or emotional abuse intended to be harmful to another person.
A student will be found violating this policy if their conduct is found to have the effect of humiliation or embarrassment on a student, and is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it limits the student’s ability to participate in, or benefit from, and educational program or activity.
Reporting Procedures: Any school employee who has witnessed, or has reliable information that a pupil has been the victim of bullying, as defined by the district, is required to report the incident to the principal for the school. A school employee who has reported violations under the district’s policy shall be immune from any sort of liability that may arise from the failure to remedy the reported incident. (ACT 681, 2003)
Discipline/Sanction/Consequences:
1. A sustained charge against a student shall subject that student to disciplinary action including, but not limited to: Conference and/or Warning, Detention, In-School Suspension, Suspension, and Expulsion. Students involved in a dispute may be referred to a conflict resolution or peer mediation session/materials with a trained adult or peer mediator.
Other disciplinary action
2. The District will discipline any individual found to have made false allegations of bullying.
Confidentiality: The JSD will respect the confidentiality of the complaint and the individual(s) against whom the complaint is filed as much as possible, consistent with the districts legal obligations and the necessity to investigation allegations of bullying and take disciplinary action when the conduct has occurred.
Retaliation: The JSD will discipline any individual who retaliates against any person who reports alleged bullying or who retaliates against any person who testifies, assists, or participated in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing relating to a bullying complaint. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment.
Notification:
1. The policy, including what constitutes bullying, that bullying is prohibited, and the consequences of engaging in bullying shall be conspicuously posted in every classroom, cafeteria, restroom, gymnasium, auditorium, and school bus in the district.
2. The policy and procedures shall appear in the student and staff handbooks.
3. Copies of what constitutes bullying, that bullying is prohibited, and the consequence of engaging in bullying shall be provided to parents, students, school volunteers, and employees. The policies shall require that full copies of the policy must be made available upon request.
4. This policy and procedures shall be included in notification that are sent to parent’s/guardians at the beginning of each school year.
5. This policy and procedures shall be reviewed with all employees at the beginning of each school year.
6. This policy and procedures shall be discussed in age appropriate ways with all students at the beginning of each school year.
7. This policy and procedures shall be provided as part of any orientation program conducted for new students at the beginning of each quarter, semester, or summer session. 8. This policy and procedures shall be provided to new employees within one week of the beginning employment.
Harassment or Bullying – Harassing, verbally assaulting or inappropriately threatening another student; Minimum – Conference/Warning/Parent Notification Maximum – Expulsion
