Bullying Protocol

The Forest City Regional High School is committed to providing our students with a safe and supportive school environment that is free of bullying, harassment, and intimidation. The following anti-bullying information includes: our definition of bullying, the types of bullying, the consequences of bullying, and how to make a referral if a student is being bullied. Every classroom will have the Forest City Regional School District anti-bullying policy displayed. Further, all students in grades 7-12 will receive additional anti-bullying information and classroom lessons throughout the year designed to address the needs of our students at each grade level.

Definitions

Bullying is repeated, unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying is a communication or act that is intentionally harmful and delivered in an electronic, written, verbal or physical form to another student or students, which occurs in a school setting and/or outside a school setting and that has the effect of doing any of the following:

1. Interference with a student's education.

2. Creation of a threatening environment.

3. Disruption of the orderly operation of the school.

Bullying can be carried out by an individual student or by a group of students. The target of bullying can be an individual student or a group of students. Bullying includes a wide variety of behaviors and generally involves the intent to harm, embarrass or humiliate the other person. Bullying overlaps with discriminatory harassment when it is based on race, national origin,  color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability or religion.

Types of bullying include but are not limited to:

1. Physical Bullying - involves hurting a person's body or possessions. Physical bullying includes but is not limited to, the following actions or threats to do such actions: hitting, kicking, spitting, slapping, pushing, restraining, making rude hand gestures, and/or taking or damaging personal belongings.

2. Verbal Bullying - involves saying or writing negative or hurtful words or statements. Verbal bullying includes, but is not limited to, taunting, malicious teasing, name calling, threatening to cause harm, and inappropriate comments related to race, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, or religion.

3.  Social or Relational Bullying- involves hurting someone's reputation or relationships. Social or relational bullying includes, but is not limited to, spreading rumors, manipulating social relationships, social exclusion, or intimidation.

4.  Cyberbullying - involves the misuse of electronic devices (including, but not limited to: a computer, tablet, cellular phone, or Smart Phone) to harass, tease, intimidate, threaten, or terrorize another student, teacher, or employee of the district through communication tools (including but not limited to e-mail, instant messaging, text messaging, social media, and posting comments or pictures on blogs or website).

Bullying is not mutual confrontation or mutual teasing between two (2) persons or groups of persons. It includes unwelcome verbal, written, or physical conduct directed at a student by another student that has the intent of or effect of:

1.   Physically, emotionally, or mentally harming a student

2.   Damaging, extorting, or taking a student's personal property

3.   Placing a student in reasonable fear of physical, emotional, or mental harm

4.   Placing a student in reasonable fear of damage to or loss of personal property

5.  Creating an intimidating or hostile environment that substantially interferes with or limits a student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or opportunities offered by the Forest City Regional School District. School setting means in the school, on school grounds, in school vehicles or in a vehicle transporting school students, at a designated bus stop, on the way to and from school, or at any activity sponsored, supervised or sanctioned  by the school. Students who believe they have been bullied or know of bullying to promptly report such incidents to the building principal or designee. Any school district employee who has a reasonable belief that a student is being bullied shall report it immediately to a school administrator.

Consequences for Violations

A student who violates this policy shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action consistent with the Code of Student Conduct, which may include but is not limited to:

1.   Counseling within the school

2.   Parental conference

3.   Loss of school privileges

4.   Transfer to another school building, classroom, or school bus

5.   Exclusion from school sponsored activities

6.   Detention

7.   Suspension/Expulsion

8.   Counseling

9.   Referral to Police

Forest City Regional Anti-Bullying Referral System

The Administration, faculty, and staff of the Forest City Regional School District are committed and passionate on providing our students with a safe, caring, supportive, and bully-free environment. Our school-wide anonymous bullying reporting system is in place to immediately and efficiently address the serious issues related to bullying. This system works in two ways:

1. Students can make anonymous bully referrals by placing a bully referral form into any red anti-bullying mailbox. This referral is addressed in a timely fashion by our anti-bullying faculty team.

2. Any student, parent/guardian, family member, and/or community member can report bullying or alleged bullying anonymously through a link at the top of this page. If you would like to make a referral, please click on the appropriate bullying referral form above. Once the referral is filled out, click submit. This referral will immediately be sent anonymously and will be addressed in a timely fashion by our anti-bullying faculty team.