New Columbia Public Schools bullying policies would give teachers a more active role
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
Edits to Columbia Public Schools’ bullying policy, including summer interactions and employee protocol, will be discussed during a school board policy committee meeting Wednesday.
The new policy, if passed, would implement new guidelines for instructors on handling reports of bullying.
The initial policy had instructors and employees ask to report incidents to the building's principal. Revisions change this to have instructors work directly with students.
According to meeting documents, staff "are expected to intervene to prevent student bullying, appropriately address the situation, assist the victim and report the incident to the building principal or designee for further investigation and action."
The revisions also add new procedures for managing bullying off-campus and during school breaks.
While the school has limited jurisdiction over bullying that occurs off school grounds or through school resources and technology, the school will work to assist students who are affected, under the new policy. This includes contacting law enforcement or social media companies and "contacting the parents/guardians of the victim and the alleged perpetrators, communicating that this behavior is not allowed on district grounds or at district activities," according to the meeting document.
Bullying reports will be accepted year-round, and schools will investigate instances of bullying during business hours, even when students are not in school.
"Reports of bullying that occurs during summer school will be investigated to the same extent as a report during the regular school year. However, if the relevant staff, students or witnesses are not available, the investigation will be delayed until a complete investigation can be conducted," according to the meeting document.
Investigations of bullying will continue to begin two days after school leadership receives a bullying report. Reports involving students from multiple schools, special education students or a student with disabilities will have additional school administrators and staff added to the investigation.
The investigation should be completed within 10 school days of the date of the written report of bullying.
"Ultimately, the goal is for all policies to be clear and in language that all can understand. For this one, we also hope that the reporting and investigation of the incidents will be more consistent," CPS School Board Vice President Paul Harper said in a statement.
The Policy Committee Meeting begins at 4:45 p.m. in the Aslin Administration Building.
