REPORT A BULLY/BULLY INFO
Are you being bullied by someone?
USE THE FORM BELOW TO REPORT BULLYING.
Procedures for Reporting Allegations of Bullying
KERMIT ISD
The district prohibits bullying on school property, at school-sponsored or school-related activities, or in any vehicle operated by the district. Bullying may be verbal or written expression or expression through electronic means, or physical conduct. Bullying is not tolerated by the district and any student or parent of a student who believes that the student or another student has experienced bullying or that a student has engaged in bullying is encouraged to immediately report the incident. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of district policy and is prohibited.
Students or parents may report an alleged incident of bullying, orally or in writing, to a teacher, counselor, principal or other district employee. Students or parents may contact the district to obtain an incident report form that may be used to submit the complaint.
Please note that after submission of the complaint to the district employee, the district may assign the complaint to a campus administrator to follow up on the submitted complaint and any other important matters pertaining to the complaint. We encourage you to communicate with your designated campus administrator during this time.
More information about the district’s bullying policy can be found at Board Policy Online FFI or the campus administration office.
What is Bullying and What can we do About It?
Bully, badger, harass, menace, oppress, persecute, threaten, torment… Bullying has become far too common among our youth. While bullying is a part of childhood that many of us would like to forget, this form of harassment today has reached almost epidemic proportions. When we were young, we could usually escape the torment of a bully when the school day ended. Now, bullying is not just face-to-face, the harassment can follow children home through social media, texting, email, and instant messaging.
Bullying is not simple teasing or an argument between two students or losing one’s temper or even making rude comments from time to time. The harassment has to be persistent to be considered bullying. According to Texas state law effective in the fall of 2012, “bullying” means engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means or physical conduct that occurs on school property, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, or in a vehicle operated by the district and that:
1. Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or of damage to the student’s property, OR
2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student. Tex. Educ. Code § 37.0832
Kermit ISD’s goal is to protect all our students from the effects of bullying by being proactive. This proactive approach includes student education, staff training, parent communication, simplified reporting procedures and taking appropriate action. On April 10, eleven KISD administrators and counselors participated in a training called, “Take a Byte Out of Bullying, Cyberbullying & Student Use of Technology.” The session included information on state and federal bullying/harassment laws and the steps that schools should take to end the bullying.
As parents we can take steps at home to help our children deal with bullying situations by encouraging them to speak-up and report bullying when it occurs whether they are a victim or a bystander. As parents, we should talk to each other when we see conflicts growing between our kids. Communicate with the school about specific instances of bullying. Watch for signs that your child is being bullied; example, unexplained injuries, declining grades, difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares, frequent illness or faking illness, and decreased self esteem or feelings of helplessness.
If we act together, we can stand-up and make a difference for all our children.
BULLYING RESOURCES
Books
1. Say Something by Peggy Moss (2004) by Tilbury House Publishers for grades K-5
2. Just Kidding by Trudy Ludwig (2006) by Tricycle Press for grades 3 and up
3. My Secret Bully by Trudy Ludwig (2005) by Tricycle Press for grades 2-5
4. Confessions of a Former Bully (2010) by Tricycle Press for grades 3-6
5. The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand Up for Others by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy (2010) by Ferne Press for grades PK-2
Websites:
3. www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org
4. http://www.pacer.org/bullying/
STAND UP TO CYBERBULLYING
BULLYING
Bullying occurs when a student or group of students directs written or verbal expressions or physical conduct against another student and the behavior results in harm to the student or the student's property, places a student in fear of harm to himself or his property, or is so severe that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment.
Bullying could include hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, assault, demands for money, confinement, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, name-calling, rumor-spreading, and ostracism. In some cases, bullying can occur through electronic methods, called cyberbullying.
If a student believes that he or she has experienced bullying, it is important for the student or parent to notify a teacher, counselor, principal, or another district employee. The administration will investigate any allegations of bullying and will take appropriate disciplinary action if an investigation indicates that bullying has occurred. To the greatest extent possible, the District shall respect the privacy of the complainant, persons against whom a report is filed, and witnesses. Limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation.
The board has established policies and procedures to prohibit bullying and to respond to reports of bullying. [See FFI (LOCAL).]
