The Board of Education promotes a secure and happy school climate, conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment and any type of bullying behavior.  The Board expressly forbids any form of bullying behavior by students, teachers, administrators or other employees. The Board’s commitment to addressing bullying behavior involves an approach that includes education and promotion of a school climate in which bullying will not be tolerated by students and staff. Appropriate disciplinary action may include suspension, expulsion, and/or referral to law enforcement officials.

Definition:

Bullying behavior by any student in the Seymour Public Schools is strictly prohibited, and such conduct may result in disciplinary action, including suspension and/or expulsion from school. “Bullying” means any overt acts by a student or a group of students directed against another student with the intent to ridicule, harass, humiliate or intimidate the other student while on school grounds, at a school sponsored activity, or on a school bus, which acts are committed more than once against any student during the school year.  Bullying outside of the school setting may also be addressed if it has a direct and negative impact on a student’s academic performance or safety in school. Students and/or parents may file verbal or written complaints concerning suspected bullying behavior, and students shall be permitted to anonymously report acts of bullying to teachers and school administrators. Any report of suspected bullying behavior will be promptly reviewed.  If acts of bullying are verified, prompt disciplinary action may be taken against the perpetrator, consistent with his/her rights of due process. Board policy and regulation #5131.911 set forth this prohibition and the related procedures in detail, and are available to students and their parents/guardians upon request.

Bullying Prevention Program

Formal Complaints

Students and/or their parents or guardians may file written reports of conduct that they consider to be bullying.  Such written reports shall be reasonably specific as to the actions giving rise to the suspicion of bullying, including time and place of the conduct alleged, the number of such incidents, the target of such suspected bullying, and the names of any potential student or staff witnesses. Such reports may be filed with any teacher or administrator, and they shall be promptly forwarded to the Building Principal for review and action in accordance with Section IV of Board policy and regulation #5131.911 .

Informal/Verbal Complaints by Students 

Students may make informal complaints of conduct that they consider to be bullying by verbal report to a teacher or administrator or other professional employee such as a guidance counselor, school psychologist, nurse or social worker.  Such informal complaints shall be reasonably specific as to the actions giving rise to the suspicion of bullying, including time and place of the conduct alleged, the number of such incidents, the target of such suspected bullying, and the names of any potential student or staff witnesses.  A teacher, other professional employee, or administrator who receives an informal complaint shall promptly reduce the complaint to writing, including the information provided.  Such written report by the teacher, other professional employee and/or administrator shall be promptly forwarded to the Building Principal for review and action in accordance with Section IV of Board policy and regulation #5131.911 ..

Anonymous Complaints

Students who make an informal complaint as set forth above may request that their name be maintained in confidence by the teacher(s) and administrator(s) who receive the complaint.  Should anonymity be requested, the Principal or his/her designee shall meet with the student to review the request for anonymity and the impact that maintaining anonymity of the complaint may have on the investigation of the complaint and/or possible remedial action.  At such meeting, the student shall be given the choice as to whether to maintain the anonymity of the complaint.  Anonymous complaints shall be reviewed and reasonable action will be taken to address the situation, to the extent such action may be taken that (1) does not disclose the source of the complaint, and (2) is consistent with the due process rights of the student(s) alleged to have committed acts of bullying.  No disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report. 

The Seymour Board of Education Policy 5131.911 can be accessed using the link below.

http://z2policy.cabe.org/cabe/DocViewer.jsp?showset=seymour&z2collection=seymour&docid=173