Columbia Public School Board to consider bullying policy Monday

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Public School Board will consider a change to the bullying policy at Monday night's meeting, according to the school board agenda. The proposed policy has been under consideration since April and would expand who can report bullying and allow intervention.

The current policy allows only school employees and staff to report bullying to the school's principal. However, the school board is considering allowing substitutes and educational contractors who work with students to intervene and provide support to students who are being bullied.

According to the agenda, the CPS administration requests that the school board approve the new policy at the upcoming meeting.

The policy up for a possible vote also clarifies how the district can intervene in cyberbullying that starts on school property, at a school event, or uses district technology.

Even when bullying happens outside of the school's jurisdiction, the new policy offers suggestions to help the bullied student, including alerting parents or guardians.

The school board meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the Aslin Administration Building, located at 1818 W. Worley St., in Columbia.