Requirements from the HIB Law Sea Girt Elementary School Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Policy

The intent is to strengthen standards for preventing, reporting, investigating, and responding to incidents of bullying and reduce the risk of suicide among students. The Law

"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds as provided for in section 16 of P.L.2010, CHAPTER 122, that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that: HIB Definition

a) 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 physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property; or b) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or c) creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student. HIB Definition

Law: The policy adopted by each school district shall include provisions for appropriate responses to HIB that occurs off school grounds in cases in which a school employee is made aware of such actions. The responses to HIB that occurs off school grounds shall be consistent with the board of education’s code of student conduct and other provisions of the board’s policy on HIB. Policy Requirements Responses to HIB Off School Grounds

Anti-Bullying Coordinator (Mrs. Vera Ridoux) Anti-Bullying Specialist (Mrs. Nancy Burns) School Safety Team (Mrs. Seeley, Mrs. Ryder, Mr. Wnek, and a parent) New Functions of Staff

Bullying ◦ ANY ACTUAL OR PERCEIVED CHARACTERISTC  Race  Color  Religion  Sexual Orientation  Mental/Physical/Sensory Disability  Gender  Gender Identity and Expression  National Origin  Any Other Distinguishing Characteristics

HIB Types of Behaviors Include: ◦ Any gesture ◦ Any written, verbal or physical act ◦ Any electronic communication ◦ Can be a single incident or series of incidents

CONDITIONS  Creates hostile educational environment for student by interfering with student’s education OR severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to OR  Effect of insulting or demeaning student or groups or students PLUS  that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students

LOCATION  On school property  On school bus (field trips, away games)  Off school ground  Cyberspace  At school sponsored functions

Procedures for Reporting  Judgments and determinations should be reserved for the SGS School Safety Team at the conclusion of the investigation.  Avoid labeling incidents.  “Stick to the facts” ◦ Describe the situation ◦ Brevity and specificity  Remember that the reporter is NOT the investigator

HIB incident occurs School Employee or Contracted Service Provider Anti-Bullying Specialist Mrs. Burns School Administration Board of Education Parent

Schools and school districts must annually establish, implement, document, and assess bullying prevention programs or approaches, and other initiatives involving school staff, students, administrators, volunteers, parents, law enforcement and community members. The approaches must be designed to create school-wide conditions to prevent and address HIB. Bullying Prevention Programs CHARACTER EDUCATION

 The week of October 7-11, 2013 is designated as a “Week of Respect” in the State of New Jersey. School districts must observe the week by providing age-appropriate instruction focusing on preventing HIB. A letter was sent home to parents informing them of the lessons outlined lessons that took place during specials. Bullying Prevention Programs Instruction and the Week of Respect

 Throughout the school year, the school district must provide ongoing age-appropriate instruction on preventing HIB in accordance with the core curriculum content standards. Bullying Prevention Programs Law: Instruction and the Week of Respect