TRIUMPH PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOL

STUDENT WELFARE: FREEDOM FROM BULLYING
 
Bullying Prohibited

The Charter District prohibits bullying as defined by this policy. Retaliation against anyone involved in the complaint process is a violation of Charter District policy.

Definition

Bullying occurs when a student or group of students engages in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that:

  1. 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, andpervasive that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student, that is, interferes with the student’s education or disrupts the operation of the school.

To be considered bullying, the action must occur in school property, a school related activity, or on a vehicle operated by the Charter District.
 

Examples

Bullying of a student could affect the student socially, psychologically, or emotionally.  Itmay include hazing, threats, taunting, teasing, confinement, assault, demands for money, destruction of property, theft of valued possessions, name-calling, rumor spreading, and ostracism.
 

Procedures for Action

The Charter District shall establish procedures that will establish a process to facilitate all participants involved to take action when bullying occurs.
 

Reporting

Reports of bullying shall be made as soon as possible after the alleged act or knowledge of the alleged act. A failure to promptly report may impair the Charter District’s ability to investigate and address the prohibited conduct. Any student who believes that he or she has experienced bullying or believes that another student has experienced bullying should immediately report the alleged acts to a teacher, counselor, principal, or other Charter District employee.  A report may be made orally or in writing.
 

Notice of Report

Any Charter District employee who receives notice that a student has or may have experienced bullying shall immediately notify the campus principal or designee.  The Charter District shall include in procedures the process for providing notice of an incident of bullying to a parent or guardian of the victim and a parent or guardian of the bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident.
 

Investigation of Report

If a report is made orally, the campus principal or designee shall reduce the report to written form. The campus principal or designee shall determine whether the allegations in the report, if proven, would constitute prohibited conduct as defined in DGB or GF, and if so proceed under that policy instead. The campus principal or designee shall conduct an appropriate investigation based on the allegations in the report.  The campus principal or designee shall promptly take interim action calculated to prevent bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate.
 

Concluding the Investigation

Absent extenuating circumstances, the investigation should be completed within ten Charter District business days from the date of the report; however, the campus principal or designee shall take additional time if necessary to complete a thorough investigation. The campus principal or designee shall prepare a written report of the investigation, including determination of whether bullying occurred, and send a copy to the Superintendent or designee. 

 

Charter District Action

If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying occurred, the Charter District shall promptly respond by taking appropriate disciplinary or corrective action reasonably calculated to address the conduct in accordance with the Charter District’s Student Code of Conduct. Disciplinary action may not be imposed on a student who after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying. The Charter District may take action based on the results of an investigation, even if the Charter District concludes that the conduct did not rise to the level of bullying under this policy.

 

Confidentiality

To the greatest extent possible, the Charter 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.

 

Special Education

Discipline for bullying of a student with disabilities will comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including IDEA.

 

Appeal

A student who is dissatisfied with the outcome of the investigation may appeal through Charter District Policy GF, beginning at the appropriate level.

 

Counseling Options

The Charter District shall include in procedures the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying.

 

Records Retention

Retention of records shall be in accordance with Charter District policy CPC.
 

Access to Policy

Information regarding this policy shall be distributed annually to Charter District employees and included in the student handbook.  Copies of the policy shall be readily available at each campus and the Charter District’s administrative offices. Reporting procedures must be posted in the District’s Website.
 
Date Adopted: November 17, 2012
Date Amended: February 23, 2013

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