U-234 educators to develop plan to prohibit bullying

Bullying has always been considered a serious offense by teachers and school administrators. However, a written school bullying policy has never been developed for this district, USD 234 Superintendent Rick Werling said.

The 2007 Kansas Legislature passed Senate Bill 68 in May, which instructs each school district to construct and follow a procedure that confronts school bullying.

Included in the text of the bill is a provision that reads, "The board of education of each school district shall adopt a policy to prohibit bullying on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-sponsored activity or event."

Another provision in SB 68 reads, "The board of education of each school district shall adopt and implement a plan to address bullying on school property, in a school vehicle or at a school-sponsored activity or event. Such plan shall include provisions for the training and education for staff members and students."

Bullying, according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary online, is treating someone abusively, affecting by means of force or coercion or using browbeating language or behavior, www.m-w.com said.

"Any intentional gesture or written, verbal or physical act or threat that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive education environment for a student or staff member that a reasonable person under the circumstances knows or should know. ..." is considered bullying behavior, according to the Aug. 6 issue of the KASB School Board Review, a publication of the Kansas Association of School Boards.

The Kansas Association of School Boards recommends discipline options for defying the bullying policy could include suspension and or expulsion. Breaking this policy could also result in notification to local law enforcement officers, the written statement said.

USD 234 has not yet created the policy that will spell out the procedures for dealing with bullying incidents. On Sept. 20, Werling and several school counselors will attend a training session at Greenbush, the Southeast Kansas Education Center near Girard. The state board will back the training session financially. This training session will guide Werling and his team into drafting a successful anti-bully plan. After the team produces the written procedure, the USD 234 Board of Education must review and approve the policy suggested. The school district has until Jan. 1, 2008, to write and implement this procedure, Werling said.

After the bullying policy is passed and implemented, proper training must be provided for school personnel. It is equally as important to provide adequate resources to implement the plan, the KASB said.

Although the state does not offer any funding for staff training, it does provide for the development of a school-age curriculum that will stress character development. Character qualities are positive qualities that may include honesty, responsibility, kindness, etc. Each school board must request assistance for this program in order to receive it. Assistance is not automatically given, the KASB said.

"KASB can provide assistance to school districts with the policy, plan development, and student and staff training to prevent and address bullying as required by SB 68," the publication said.

For more information concerning school-related bullying or Kansas Senate Bill 68, contact the KASB at (800) 432-2471 or Werling at (620) 223-0800.