With no fanfare and minimal discussion, the School Committee adopted a bullying prevention policy developed by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees (MASC). After a first reading at the committee’s Nov. 22 meeting, and a second reading on Dec. 13, committee members approved the new policy unanimously.
In marked contrast to the heated debate over religious holidays, neither parents nor students made any mention of the bullying policy during the public comment portions of the two meetings where it was on the agenda. Nor did members of the committee devote any discussion to details of the policy.
Massachusetts’ recently enacted law on bullying requires every school to set up a plan for dealing with the problem, according to School Superintendent Thomas Jefferson. In addition to the policy adopted by the School Committee, Jefferson is also developing a bullying intervention and prevention plan, as required by the law. The plan was scheduled to be posted this week on the Harvard schools’ website for a two-week public comment period.
The detailed policy statement developed by MASC defines bullying as repeated acts that cause “physical or emotional harm” or “reasonable fear of harm” to the person who is the target of the acts. The definition includes acts that create a hostile environment at school or disrupt the process of education. The policy also covers cyber-bullying.
Both students and school staff are obligated to report instances of bullying that they have witnessed or suspect are taking place. Schools are expected to set up a method for anonymous reporting, although the policy forbids disciplinary action based on anonymous reports alone.
The MASC policy requires principals to investigate a “viable report” of bullying, notify the parents or guardians of students involved, and “take appropriate disciplinary action.” The principal has 14 school days in which to complete the investigation, counting from the date the incident is reported.
The policy also requires training for faculty, staff, and volunteers; K-12 curriculum coverage on bullying prevention; and documentation of all reported incidents.
