Lafayette School Corporation Anti-Bullying Prevention, Procedures, and Plan

Mission Statement:  The Lafayette School Corporation (LSC) believes that bullying can be addressed with the proper education and implementation of strategies. 

Purpose: LSC will provide a safe learning environment to learn and achieve.  LSC has found that bullying causes physical and emotional harm to students, which interferes with the learning process.   It’s the LSC objective to create an environment free of bullying so students feel safe and supported to succeed academically, emotionally, and physically. 

Scope:  The Anti-Bullying Plan protects students against bullying and harassment based on race, gender, religion, nationality, disability, ability, and orientation.  According to IC-20-33-8-13.5, bullying is not tolerated:

  • on school grounds immediately before or during school hours; immediately after school hours, or at any other time when the school is being used by a school group;
  • off school grounds at a school activity, function, or event;
  • traveling to or from school or a school activity, function, or event;
  • using property or equipment provided by the school; or
  • through the use of data or computer software that is accessed through a computer, computer system, or computer network of LSC.

 

Definition:  IC 20-33-8-0.2 Bullying means overt repeated acts or gestures, including: 

  • verbal or written communications transmitted,
  • physical acts committed, or
  • any other behaviors committed

by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other student.

LSC Bullying Categories:

Cyber bullying-   Cyber bullying is bullying that takes place online, through either email, chat rooms, social networking services, text messages, instant messages, website postings, blogs, or a combination of means. Cyber bullies may conceal their identity so that their victim experiences an anonymous attack. The content of cyber bullying can consist of all of the types of content mentioned in emotional bullying above, including posting insulting and derogatory comments about someone or sending such comments to someone; sending mean or threatening messages; gossiping about someone online including posting sensitive or private information; impersonating someone in order to cast that person in a bad light; and excluding someone from an online page or group. Unwanted contact, also known as harassment, is another form of cyber bullying.

Verbal/emotional bullying- Emotional bullying is bullying that involves factors other than physical interaction, such as insults, derogatory remarks, name calling, and teasing. Also included are attempts to ostracize the victim, such as being left out or ignored, which is sometimes referred to as social bullying, as distinguished from verbal bullying. Emotional bullying could also take the form of purposely misplacing or hiding someone's belongings. Emotional bullying can be done in person or through cyber bullying.

Physical bullying- is bullying that takes the form of physical abuse, such as pushing, shoving, hitting, fighting, spitting, and tripping. Threats of physical harm and attempts to force people to act in ways they would prefer not to are also included.

Sexual harassment/sexual bullying- repeated unwelcome verbal or physical acts that are of a sexual nature that make the victim uncomfortable or unsafe.

Racial bullying- repeated unwelcome verbal or physical acts that are of a racial nature that make the victim uncomfortable or unsafe.

Religious bullying- repeated unwelcome verbal or physical acts that are of a religious nature that make the victim uncomfortable or unsafe.

Pack bullying (large groups) will be noted under any of the above categories

Choice Language:

  • Bullying- An intentional, repeated, unwanted, intimidating behavior. 
  • Conflict- A disagreement or argument.
  • Resolution- A decision or solution to a conflict.
  • Retaliation- An action that is given in return to an offense.
  • Cyber bullying:  Online social cruelty using cellphones, computers, or other electronic devices to humiliate, harass, embarrass, or taunt someone with words or images.  It may include social-emotional threats or threats of violence.
  • Harassment- To be tormented.
  • Sexual Harassment- Repeated comments or gestures of a sexual nature, or unwanted sexual contact.
  • Teasing- To make fun or provoke someone.
  • Hazing- To force someone to participate in unwanted tasks.
  • Bystander/Witness- A person that witnesses an event or action, but doesn’t take part in the event or action.


Investigations:  The investigation should take place at least within three (3) days of receiving a misconduct report (see Appendix A).  The investigation should be completed at least within ten (10) days of receiving the misconduct report.

 

Step 1:  Student that is being bullied must identify the initiator, incident, and any witnesses. 

Step 2:  Appropriate school personnel will conduct an investigation and interview the person being bullied, the initiator, and all witnesses.

Step 3:  Research will be done to see if there are any patterns of behavior.

Step 4:  School personnel will assess the effects of the incident in correlation of safety and to ensure that no one’s civil rights are being violated and determine whether or not the incident is bullying.  If it is bullying, the Anti-Bullying plan will be implemented which will also consist of steps 6-9.

Step 5:  School officials will determine consequences. 

Step 6:  In conjunction with step 6, school officials will notify the parents of the victim, the parents of the initiator, and if appropriate, Lafayette Police Department, of the incident.

Step 7:  All details of the investigation and/or administrative actions will be documented in PowerSchool.

Step 8:  Within thirty (30) days, school administration or their designee should conduct follow up inquiries to see if there have been any new incidents.  If so, there will be further action in order to prevented repeated incidents.

 

Education for students: Grade level education as appropriate will be given at the various levels.  Elementary school counselors will provide classroom instruction on what bulling is, how to report bullying, and strategies for kids.  Middle and Secondary schools will provide education on how to report bullying.  Teachers and counselors will be trained on Indiana law and LSC’s anti-bullying procedures.

Education for teachers:  Classroom teachers and school support staff will receive annual training on bullying and LSC’s anti-bullying plan.

Consequences for students who are exhibiting bullying behavior:  Recognizing that bullying is disruptive and interferes with the schools purposes or educational functions of LSC, school officials will discipline students for bullying as deemed necessary.  This is in accordance with the provisions of IC-20-33-8-14 and LSC progressive discipline practices. 

Interventions for bullied students/bullying students:  Schools will attempt, whenever possible, to first try interventions with bullied or bullying students and/or refer students to the Problem Solving/RTI Building level teams.  

First Reported Offense:  Student will meet with a counselor/administrator and will be advised of potential consequences.  The incident will be logged and parent/guardian will be notified via written notification or phone call.

Each Additional Reported Offense:  Student will be referred to administration.  Incident will be logged and further action will be taken.  Depending on the severity of the reported incident and other related factors, suspension may result at any point in the process.  Suspension is defined according to IC-20-33-8-7 as any disciplinary action that does not constitute an expulsion, whereby a student is separated from school for a period not more than ten (10) school days.  Expulsion, as defined by IC-20-33-8-3, is when a student is separated from school attendance for a period exceeding ten (10) school days.  When expelled, a student could be assigned to attend an alternative school, an alternative educational program, or a home bound educational program.  False accusers of bullying will have appropriate consequences as deemed by the administration.

Resources:  The following resources are available to help prevent, address, and potentially resolve bullying:

  • DARE:  (765) 807-1200
  • School security guards
  • Health classes offered in school
  • Core curriculum classes in school
  • Kids First:  (765)474-0758 or [email protected]
  • PBIS
  • http://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/index.html/
  • School counselors/classroom teachers
  • Student Council or Student Ambassadors
  • Crisis Hotline:  (765) 742-0244 or lafayettecrisiscenter.org
  • Suicide Prevention Hotline:  1 (800) 784-2433
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wabash Valley (765) 446-2227 or bbbslaf.org
  • Wabash Valley School Based Case Management
  • Lafayette Police Department:  (765) 807-1200
  • School Problem Solving/RTI team
  • Restorative Practices
  • School Safety Task Force:  According to IC-5-2-10.1-12, each school within LSC shall establish a safe school task force to address school violence, bullying, and other issues that prevent the maintenance of a safe school.  The task force will be established and led by the school safety specialist or school administrator. 

For additional resources, please call 765-771-6000