Annual Anti Bullying Student Training

Missouri’s Definition of Bullying - HB 1543 “Bullying” means intimidation, unwanted aggressive behavior, or intent to inflict emotional distress (harassment) that is repetitive or is substantially likely to be repeated and causes a student to fear for his or her physical safety or property; substantially interferes with the education performance, opportunities, or benefits of any student without exception; or substantially disrupts the orderly operation of the school. Beyond fear of safety; limited participation; impacted attendance

Harassment Without good cause, engaging in any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person and such act does cause such person to suffer emotional distress. Harassment in the first degree is a class E felony

Key to identification: Power imbalance Repetitive or likely to be repeated Mental, physical or emotional power to control or negatively impact the victim

Bullying may consist of... Written communication Any threat of retaliation for reporting acts of bullying Using a third party (someone else) to do any of the above listed actions to another person Physical actions Gestures Oral communication Cyberbullying Electronic communication

Bullying is prohibited: on school property, at any school activity, or on a school bus.

Bullying is also prohibited Anywhere, Anytime, Any place Online at home During school breaks (summer, winter, holidays) After school hours Remember that things done outside of school are likely to cause disruption in school Bullying done outside of school is still considered harassment and is a criminal offense

REPORTING Instances of bullying should be reported in the following ways: Any school staff member and administrators School Resource Officer Online using the anonymous “Bullying Report Form” located on the District Home page Text to Tip (download the app P3 Tips)

Documentation & Investigation All bullying incidents reported are documented, added to a student’s file, and sent to the central office. All reported incidents are investigated with 10 days Any retaliation toward persons reporting the bullying or involved in the original incident is considered a continuation of bullying and will also be reported and investigated

Cyberbullying: New Definition Bullying through the transmission of a communication including, but not limited to: Message Text Sound Image Memes All social media by means of an electronic device including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone, or other wireless communication device, computer or pager.

Cyberbullying & Student Discipline District has jurisdiction to prohibit cyberbullying originating on campus or at district activity: If electronic communication was made using school’s technological resources If there is a sufficient nexus (connection) to the educational environment, or If electronic communication was made on the school’s campus or a district activity using the student’s personal technological resources New law states district may discipline any student for cyberbullying to the greatest extent permitted by law Anonymous social media profiles and texts can be traceable back to the originator via law enforcement

Take-Aways Don’t be mean. Don’t be a jerk. Treat other people as you wish to be treated. Think before you speak. If an investigation by school authorities finds the bullying allegations to be true, the person doing the bullying can be criminally charged and referred to local juvenile authorities. Any person found to be bullying over the age of 17, are treated as an adult.