JICK - Bullying
BULLYING
It is the intent of the Acton School Committee to provide all students with an equitable opportunity to learn. To that end, the Committee has a significant interest in providing a safe, orderly, and respectful school environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.
Bullying, including CyberBullying, is detrimental to student learning and achievement. It interferes with the mission of the school to educate our students and disrupts the operations of the schools. Bullying affects not only students who are targets, but also those who participate and witness such behavior.
The School Committee also believes that promoting ethical and responsible behavior is an essential part of the school unit’s educational purpose as reflected in the Student Code of Conduct – Policy JIC. Ethics, responsible behavior, and “character” are important if a student is to leave school as a “responsible and involved citizen” as described in the Guiding Principles of Maine’s system of Learning Results. Bullying interferes with the accomplishment of this goal.
Finally, the School Committee recognizes the well-publicized incidents of violence the threatened violence that have occurred nationally in the past several years. As research suggests, there is a link between bullying and school violence, and the Committee seeks to avoid such incidents and to take a systematic approach to bullying prevention and intervention.
It is not the School Committee’s intent to prohibit students from expressing their ideas, including ideas that may offend the sensibilities of others, or from engaging in civil debate. However, the School Committee does not condone and will take action in response to conduct that interferes with students’ opportunity to learn and/or with the operation of the school.
Bullying Prohibited
Bullying, as defined in this policy, is not acceptable conduct in the Acton School Department and is prohibited. Any student who engages in conduct that constitutes bullying shall be subject to disciplinary consequences up to and including suspension and expulsion. A student’s bullying behavior may also be addressed through other behavioral interventions.
Bullying Defined
For the purpose of this policy, “bullying” means any physical act or gesture, or any verbally, written, or electronically communicated expression deliberately aimed at making someone feel unhappy, afraid, or isolated that is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating , hostile educational environment.
Bullying takes many forms, including these most common types:
Physical – Physically harming a student or damaging a student’s property, including hitting, kicking, or taking belongings
Verbal – Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical harm or damage to his/her property including name calling, insults and offensive remarks
Indirect – including spreading rumors, exclusion from a group, sending malicious emails, text messages or phone calls.
Bullying also takes the form of racist bullying when a child is targeted for representing a group, and when attacking that child sends a message to that group. It can take the form of sexist bullying, including sexual orientation and Gender Identity. It may also take place when a child has Special Educational needs or disabilities. Students shall not discriminate against other students on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, ancestry or national origin, or disability.
File: JICK
Application of Policy
This policy applies to bullying that takes place at school or on school grounds, at any school sponsored activity or event, or while students are being transported to or from school or school sponsored activities or events. It also applies to bullying that occurs at any other time or place that substantially disrupts the instructional program, operation of the school, or welfare of students.
Examples of conduct that may constitute bullying include, but are not limited to:
Physical contact or injury to another person or his/her property;
Threats of harm to a student, to his/her possessions, or to other individuals whether transmitted verbally, in writing, or through cyberspace;
Blackmail, extortion, demands for protection money, or involuntary loans or donations;
Non-verbal threats and/or intimidations such as use of aggressive or menacing gestures;
Stalking;
Blocking access to school property or facilities;
Stealing or hiding books, backpacks, or other possessions; and
Repeated or pervasive taunting, name-calling, belittling, mocking, put-downs, or demeaning humor relating to a student’s race, color, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ancestry, religion, disability, or other personal characteristics, whether or not the student actually possesses them, that could reasonably be expected to result in disruption of the instructional program or operations of the school, or that results in a hostile educational environment for the student.
For the purpose of this policy, bullying does not mean mere teasing, put-downs, “talking trash”, trading insults, or similar interactions among friends, nor does it include expression of ideas or beliefs so long as such expression is not lewd, profane, or does not interfere with students’ opportunity to learn, the instructional program, or the operations of the school. This does not preclude teachers or school administrators from setting and enforcing rules for civility, courtesy, and/or responsible behavior in the classroom and the school environment.
The administrator will determine whether particular conduct constitutes bullying. The administrator will also determine if the conduct requires reasonable consideration of the circumstances, which may include the frequency of the behavior at issue, the location in which the behavior occurs, the ages and maturing of the students involved, the activity or context in which the conduct occurs, and the nature and severity of the conduct.
Delegation of Responsibility
The Superintendent/Principal/designee will be responsible for developing and implementing
procedures for:
Student and parent reporting of bullying to staff and school administrators;
Staff reporting of bullying to school administrators;
Review of reports and investigation of bullying incidents;
Intervention with and/or discipline of students who engage in bullying;
Support for students who are victims of bullying;
Training staff and students in bullying prevention; and
Periodic evaluation of bullying prevention, intervention, and training efforts in the Acton School Department and reports to the School Committee upon request
File: JICK
Reporting
Students who have been bullied or who observe incidents of bullying are encouraged to report this behavior to a staff member or school administrator. Staff should report bullying to the building principal.
Acts of reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an incident of bullying are prohibited. Any student who is determined to have falsely accused another of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary consequences.
Responding to Bullying
In determining the appropriate response to students who engage in bullying behavior, school administrators should consider the ages and maturity of the students involved, the type of behaviors, the frequency and/or pattern of behaviors, the context in which the incident occurred, and other relevant circumstances. Consequences may range from positive behavioral interventions up to and including suspension, expulsion, and/or reports to law enforcement officials.
Dissemination of Policy
Notice of what constitutes bullying, the School Committee’s prohibition against bullying, and the consequences for students who bully shall be communicated to students and parents through the Student Code of Conduct.
Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A.§ 1001 (15) (H)
ℿ.⋀. 2005 ch 307 § 4-5
Cross Reference: JI – Student Rights and Responsibilities
JICC – Student Conduct on Buses
JICIA – Weapons, Violence, and School Safety
JK – Student Discipline
JKD – Suspension of Students
JKE – Expulsion of Students
JIC – Student Code of Conduct
Adopted: April 14, 2009
Revised: March 14, 2024