I. Definition of Harassment, Bullying and Intimidation (HIB):

“Harassment, intimidation or bullying” is defined as any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single actor a series on incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students, and that:

(a) reasonable person should know, under the circumstances will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of emotional harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property;

(b) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or

(c) creates a hostile educational environment at school for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

II. How to Report Incidents of HIB:

• Call the School Counselor/Anti-Bullying Specialist
• Submit a letter to the School Counselor/Anti-Bullying Specialist describing the incident(s).
• Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying, (HIB), reporting can be done anonymously. (Call, email or submit a letter)

III. The Investigation Process:

The HIB Specialist will:

1. Consult with an Administrator.
2. Collect and review all statements related to the incident.
3. Interview victim/offender/witness (separately)
4. Call the parents of the victim and offender.
5. Set up conferences/re-entries with victim or offender and always have parents and administrators present.
6. Make use of our Mandatory Conference Parent Program or Home For Parent (HFP) for offender.
7. Make a notation in Power School under victim and offender of all actions taken. (meeting/phone calls/emails)
8. Document all anonymous reports and investigate.
9. Submit all complaints against a staff member to the Principal.
10. Offer counseling to victim and offender with Health & Social Services (HSSC) Coordinator or Child Study Team (CST)

NOTE: Victim must with 48 hours.

IV. Consequences:

An Administrator will call the parents or guardians of the victim and the offender.

1. Assign appropriate level of suspension –

1st Offense: HFP/Parent Conference

2nd Offense: 1 day Out of School Suspension (OSS)

3rd Offense: 2-3 day Out of School Suspension (OSS)

4th Offense: 5 days Out of School Suspension (OSS) (Possible Central Office Intervention)

2. Notify CST if applicable.

3. Set up reentry meetings with parents, scholars, teacher, counselor, HSSC and CST.

4. If necessary, begin the process for Intervention & Referral Services (I&RS).

5. Follow-up with counseling for victim and offender.

The administrative staff shall have the right to alter the above noted order of consequences as mentioned in the District’s Code of Conduct, depending on the severity of the HIB incident.

V. Bystanders:

A scholar may be found to have committed an act of bullying without being the individual who performed the overt act. Examples of this enabling type of behavior may include encouraging a bully to physically attack a scholar, spreading rumors, or shunning a scholar who has been ostracized by a group. Bystanders will be subject to disciplinary action. Counselor will consider the nature of the behavior before determining a remedial action and/or disciplinary consequence.

VI. Retaliation:

A person who commits an act of retaliation or reprisal against the individual who reported the original act of harassment, intimidation or bullying, or an individual who falsely accuses someone of harassment, intimidation or bullying is subject to the same disciplinary consequences as the original aggressor. The level of disciplinary consequence may match the level of the original consequences given to the aggressor or may increase to the next level of consequence as outlined in the Scholar Code of Conduct. All disciplinary sanctions will be implemented with consideration of the individual’s due process rights. 

Questions or concerns related to these procedures should be directed to Ms. Sari Greggs, Guidance Counselor/Anti-Bullying Specialist at (973) 399-6409 ext. 3004.