Harassment, Intimidation, & Bullying

Procedures for reporting an act of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (HIB)

The Flemington-Raritan Regional School District prides itself on being a safe and caring environment for all learners. If you witness or learn of an act of Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying, please follow the procedures below.

1. In a situation where a staff member or parent witnesses an act of HIB, they should take the appropriate actions to stop the behavior.

2. The person who witnessed or learned of the potential HIB event will make a verbal report to the building Principal ASAP, by the end of the school day or evening event

3. Complete the HIB Referral Form and return to the Principal ASAP, but no later than two days after the verbal report. When completing a referral form, simply report the facts and give an accurate description of events.

What is considered HIB?

Under New Jersey law, “harassment, intimidation, or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act or any electronic communication, whether it is a single incident or a series of incidents, that is:

a. Reasonably perceived as being motivated by either any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or

b. By any other distinguishing characteristic; and that

c. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds, as provided for in N.J.S.A. 18A:37-15.3, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other pupils; and that

d. A reasonable person should know under the circumstances will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or

e. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils; or

f. Creates a hostile educational environment for the pupil by interfering with a pupil’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the pupil.