Cyberbullying
The library media center is an extension of the classroom. It is a secure environment that is focused on the education of our students and should be free of threats or danger.
The school environment should not only be physically safe, but safe from harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Harassment, intimidation, and bullying behavior is any unwanted aggressive behavior that disrupts the orderly operation of the library media center or the ability of the student to conduct academic work. Aggressive behaviors can be in the form of gestures, written, verbal or physical act, or use of electronic communication to create a real or perceived power imbalance. Electronic Communications, as stated in the Middlesex County Vocational Technical Board of Education policy is “communication transmitted by electronic device including but not limited to telephone, cellular phone, computer or pager” (p. 3).
Electronic communication that has a negative impact on the orderly operations of the school or the ability of the student to conduct academic work is considered cyberbullying. Cyberbullying includes sending derogatory or false messages, including photographs or pictures, either through a post on a social media account, through text or email messages and should be reported in the same manner as harrassment, intimidation, or bullying.
Inappropriate communication will be taken very seriously. Even if all parties involved are laughing as though they find the message innocent and harmless, no derogatory message should be created using a school computer or personal device. The behavior will be stopped and the incident reported to the administration.
The administration will conduct the investigation as pursuant with board policy