1. Volusia County Schools
Bullying/Harassment
and the
Jeffrey Johnston Legislation

2. F.S.1006.147- School Safety "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act”
An act relating to school safety; prohibiting bullying and harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educational institution; providing definitions;  requiring each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting such bullying and harassment.
Florida Statute School Safety "Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act relates to school safety;
prohibiting bullying and harassment of any student or employee of a public K-12 educational institution;
providing definitions; 
and requiring each school district to adopt a policy prohibiting such bullying and harassment.
The statute was signed into law by Gov. Charlie Crist in Debbie Johnston , the mother of a son that committed suicide after being relentlessly bullied for two years, made it her mission to change the way that the effects of bullying was minimized in the public schools.
The Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act requires schools in the state to adopt policies to discourage bullying in person and online or risk losing state funding.
Jeff Johnston grew up a well-liked, straight-A student, who seemed to have a bright future. But after enduring two years of taunts and Internet attacks, Jeff took his own life at 15.

3. Definition of Bullying
“Bullying” is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve:
Teasing;
 Social exclusion;
Threat;
 Intimidation;
 Stalking;
 Physical violence;
 Theft;
 Sexual, religious, or racial harassment;
 Public humiliation; or
 Destruction of property.
In the statute, “Bullying” is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students and may involve:
Discuss or highlight some of the examples

4. Definition of Harassment
“Harassment” is defined as any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that:
Places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits.
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.
The statute goes on to define Harassment as any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal, or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that:
Places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits.
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.

5. Volusia County Schools’ Policies
Bullying - Policy 525
Bullying for the purpose of this policy is defined as systematically and chronically inflicting physical or psychological distress on one or more student or employees. The term bullying shall include “cyber- bullying” .
It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture by a student or adult, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation or unreasonable interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation.
Volusia County School’s policy on Bullying - Policy 525 defines bullying as systematically and chronically inflicting physical or psychological distress on one or more student or employees. The term bullying shall include “cyber-bullying” . It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting or dehumanizing gesture by a student or adult, that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation or unreasonable interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation.
The primary thing to remember here is that the behavior is REPEATED. Bullying behavior is repeated, intentional and has a power imbalance between the bullier and the victim. The REPEATED behavior is what differentiates Bullying from harassment.

6. Volusia County Schools’ Policies
Harassment- Policy 525
Harassment for the purpose of this policy, shall be defined as any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that:
Places a student or employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.
Harassment for the purpose of this policy, shall be defined as any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that:
Places a student or employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property.
Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits
Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.
Note that harassment behavior may be no less harmful than bullying behavior, it is simply not a repeated behavior. If it continues, however, the intensity of the behavior and consequences become more severe.

7. Volusia County Schools’ Policies
Code of Conduct- Policy 208
Bullying is defined as aggressive behavior that is repeated, that is intentionally harmful and occurs with no provocation. This includes teasing, calling names, hitting, kicking, stealing, threatening as well as spreading rumors and influencing others to do these things. This includes cyber-bullying where technology and cyberspace are used for any of the above behaviors and acts.
Code of Conduct- Policy 208 is what our parents and students are most often exposed to. Policy 208 is the policy that is published in the student code of conduct that is provided to every student and parent and to which they are requested to adhere to.
In the policy, bullying is defined as aggressive behavior that is repeated, that is intentionally harmful and occurs with no provocation. This includes teasing, calling names, hitting, kicking, stealing, threatening as well as spreading rumors and influencing others to do these things. This includes cyber-bullying where technology and cyberspace are used for any of the above behaviors and acts.

8. Ensuring the Safety of Our Students
Procedure in place for anonymous reporting
New procedures in place to Investigate and Document bullying and harassment.
Paperwork to be completed by School Administrators to document and investigate reports of bullying and harassment.
Constant communication with parents.
All reports of bullying will be investigated and documented through Crosspointe and SESIR.
As a result of the Jeffrey Johnston Stand up for All law and the policies in place in Volusia County School system, there are non-negotiables that exist in each school environment. These include:
Procedures in place for anonymous reporting
New procedures in place to Investigate and Document bullying and harassment that are provided to all administrators
Paperwork to be completed by School Administrators to document and investigate reports of bullying and harassment.
The Expectation of Constant communication with parents.
All reports of bullying will be investigated and documented through Crosspointe and SESIR.

9. Bullying Prevention
But more than our policies, establishing that environment where our students feel safe and schools are able to focus on the business of learning is critical.
Effective bully prevention will include school-wide, classroom-level, and individual elements as well as address the multiple factors which contribute in allowing the behavior to exist.

10. Staff Training
Staff training involves educating faculty and staff of exactly what to look for, where to look for it, and how to properly intervene is crucial for the success of any bully prevention and intervention policy.
Staff training also leads to consistent identification and reporting of a problem as well as application of any classroom-level consequences. If your staff and faculty are not on the same page, any steps you take as a school are doomed to fail.

11. School-wide Curriculum & Policies
The norms, actions, beliefs, and values among our students are diverse and without a concerted effort by our schools, this range will include many anti-social behaviors. All of our schools are required to implement universal character education programs to establish a climate of caring and respect. These school-wide prevention programs which deal with the pillars of character can also function as the basis for addressing bullying or any other behavioral issues with your student population.

12. Classroom-Level Prevention
Classroom teachers play a central role in the way that bullying policies and programs are presented and delivered to students.
Classroom expectations should expressly prohibit bullying behavior of any kind. Also a climate of trust and respect makes bullying behavior unwanted and unsuccessful.
Curricula should include definitions of bullying, discussions of how bullying affects everyone, ways students can help others, where and how to report bullying, as well as assertiveness training.
Depending on the age or grade level, you may want provide students with opportunities to role-play, or involve them in strategizing specific ways bullying can be addressed in their school. Any bully prevention curriculum should also emphasize to students the difference between tattling on someone and reporting to adults any situation in which they or a classmate is being bullied or abused.

13. Student Empowerment NORMAL CONFLICT BULLYING VS.
In order for any change in climate to be exacted, students must be able to feel that they can make a difference. Not only should all students be taught what to do in response to bullying (as both bystanders and potential victims), but schools should seek to establish programs which actively recruit those with the most social clout to assist in reporting and intervening in social situations.

14. Awareness
Post student expectations related to bullying in common areas & in each classroom.
Additional awareness campaigns can be conducted through contests or PSAs on your morning news.
Creating a community of awareness and empowerment also has a obstructing effect on bullying behavior. Understanding the impact of bullying and harassment on a friend or classmate is critical to creating a safe and caring community.
Some strategies for heightening awareness might be to:
Establish an understanding of what is bullying behavior and what is normal conflict. Create opportunities for discussion or problem solving to help children internalize the difference.
Post student expectations related to bullying in common areas & in each classroom.
Additional awareness campaigns can be conducted through contests or Public Service Announcements on your morning news.
Have children submit ideas for creating a safe school environment.
Fighting bullies does not have to cost money. It is free.

15. Parent Involvement
Parent awareness and participation in the school efforts are also crucial elements to fighting bullying. Some ways that parents can be involved are to:
be made aware of bullying prevention efforts through School Advisory Committee meetings or newsletters.
be made aware of any bullying situations which may involve their child via the use of phone calls or conferences.
Parents of both students who bully and victims are also offered strategies to be employed at home through the use of a parent guide to bullying prevention available through the guidance office.
Invite parents to participate in school action groups that fight bullying or create a safe school environment.

16. “Good schools are proactive and deal with bullying promptly, firmly, and fairly. Bad schools deny it, ignore it, rationalize it, handle it inappropriately, sweep it under the carpet, blame the victim of bullying, blame the parents of the victim of bullying, or make lots of impressive noises but take no substantive action.”
Bullying in American Schools (2003) by Anne G. Garrett
As an adult, we have an obligation to intervene and halt any behavior which may negatively impact the students in our schools. Fighting bullying begins with us.