Columbia Public Schools to discuss revisions to bullying policy including a more hands-on role for school employees

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ).

The Columbia Public Schools Policy Committee will continue its discussions around changes to the district's bullying policy, with new revisions giving employees a more hands-on role.

The policy would give school employees a more active role in prevention methods when it comes to bullying. Not only are they required to report it, but the policy would expect teachers to intervene when bullying is witnessed.

"School employees, substitutes, educational contractors that work directly with students, and or volunteers are expected to intervene to prevent bullying, appropriately address the situation as allowed in their capacity in the district, assist the victim and report the incident to the building principal or designee for further investigation and action," stated in the proposed policy.

Under the proposed policy, principals will designate at least two other teachers or administrators to receive and investigate bullying reports during the principal's absence or at their discretion.

There is also adjustments being proposed to the timeline for handling reports. Principals or their designated employees would be required to start an investigation into the bullying incident within two school days of receiving a report. Investigations would need to be completed within 10 school days unless there is a cause for an extension.

Parents or guardians of the victim and accused student would need to be notified of a reported incident as soon as possible, and no later than two school days after a report is received; exceptions to this are outlined in the policy.

The proposal also outlines more supportive meausres for students who report bullying. Those measures listed as "no-contact agreements, extensions on deadlines, changes in schedules and access
to counseling," as stated in the policy.

The policy also states that "appropriate district staff will educate students who are victims of bullying about how to overcome the negative effects of bullying," as stated in the policy.

Reports of bullying will also not be subjected to just during the school year, "Online Bullying Report Forms may be submitted year-round," according to the policy documents.

The draft also asks for bullying reports and final determinations to be documented and included in reports to the Board of Education.

The meeting will be held in the Aslin Administration Building starting at 4:45 p.m. on Monday.