USD 235 board to consider bully policy

By Jason E. Silvers

Herald-Tribune

UNIONTOWN, Kan -- In response to a recent bill enacted this year by the Kansas Legislature, the USD 235 Board of Education will take a closer look on Monday at developing a policy concerning bullying.

During the most recent legislative session, the Kansas House Committee on Education approved HB 2310-2, substitute legislation that is part of Senate Bill 68, a larger bill dealing with procedures concerning school bullying passed by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in May.

HB 2310-2 defines the act of bullying and also requires school districts across the state to adopt and implement plans to eliminate bullying. In accordance with state legislation, each district must also formulate a written policy prohibiting bullying on school property or at school-sponsored events.

On Monday, the board will discuss long range plans the district has for developing a comprehensive district bullying policy, district officials said.

"We will begin the process of developing a comprehensive plan to provide needed support and interventions for students, and to meet the letter of the law as defined by HB 2310-2," USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold said in a written statement.

USD 235 currently has a bullying policy in place at both district schools, but school officials are updating the existing policy to help better protect students in the district from incidents of bullying, and to comply with state law, Rockhold said.

HB 2310-2 defines bullying as "any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat that could possibly result in harm to a student, damage to a student's property, the placing of a student in reasonable fear of harm, or the placing of a student in reasonable fear of damage to that student's property."

Bullying is also considered to be any act that is severe, persistent or pervasive enough that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student, according to the bill.

School board policies against bullying must include statements that prohibit bullying of any student on school property or any school-sponsored event, and disciplinary measures the district will take for any person found guilty of bullying.

The policy will also outline procedures for reporting incidents of bullying by school personnel and staff, as well as students and their parents or guardians. The policy also outlines procedures for documenting incidents of bullying and for the investigation of reported bullying incidents.

The bill also states that each year, each district school board will survey all students in the district to determine the effectiveness of the district's policy on bullying. The survey will also allow the district to obtain information about students who have been bullied or have witnessed the bullying of another student, as well as the type of bullying that occurred and the number of occurrences, according to HB 2310-2.

Any information collected by the district is reported to the Kansas Department of Education in a manner that does not reveal the identity of any child. Each school board can also adopt additional policies relating to bullying in accordance with state law, according to the bill.

School districts across the state have until Jan. 1, 2008 to write and implement a bullying policy.

During their regular meeting Monday, the board is also scheduled to discuss future vocational education priorities for the district, according to a district statement. The district has several options at its disposal concerning possible new vocational programs, Rockhold said.

"We did have building trades, but eliminated it this year due to staff changes," he said. "We will discuss the directions that could be taken relative to vocational offerings. I think the sky is the limit relative to options."

The board also plans to conduct the following business on Monday:

* Approve the August treasurers report.

* Approve the appointment of Sally Brock and Lori Davis as West Bourbon Elementary School site council members.

* Approve a future WBE site council fund raiser.

* Accept a $22,395 Rural School Achievement Program grant.

* Accept the resignation of current board member Jodi McKinnis, the current District 5 representative. The board will also vote to adopt a resolution to fill the vacant board seat, and vote to approve the advertising of the vacant position.

* Hire Alan Shinn as head softball coach and Paula Coyan as assistant softball coach.

* Listen to administrative reports from Rockhold, WBE Principal Marianna Daugherty and Uniontown Junior Senior High School Principal Tracy Smith.

* Appoint a board replacement for District 4. Former board member Jeanne Camac, who resigned last month, previously served as the Dist. 4 representative and her position should be re-appointed on Monday, Rockhold said. The new representative will serve a two-year term ending in June 2009.

The board has no further action scheduled for the meeting.