Admin

Harrassement, Intimidation and Bullying

HARASSMENT, INTIMIDATION OR BULLYING:

The Board of Education expects pupils to treat each other with civility and respect, and will not tolerate acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying against any pupil.

“Harassment, intimidation or bullying” is defined as any gesture or written, verbal or physical act 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 handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus and that

  1. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a pupil or damaging the pupil’s property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or

  2. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or

  3. Creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with the student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student. (NJSA 18A:37-14; BOE policy #5131)

Any school employee, pupil or volunteer who has witnessed, or has reliable information that a pupil has been subject to harassment, intimidation or bullying must report the incident to the building principal who will investigate the matter and, dependent upon the findings, take appropriate action. Such actions may include:

  1. Restriction from building privileges or programs

  2. Counseling for improvement of behavior and understanding of HIB.

  3. Suspension from school, either in-school or out-of-school.

  4. Filing a formal report with the appropriate district and/or state agency.

NOTE: REPEAT OFFENDERS WILL BE REPORTED TO THE DISTRICT AFFIRMATIVE ACTION OFFICER AND THE APPROPRIATE COUNTY OR STATE AGENCIES FOR FOLLOW-UP.

Any act of reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying will not be tolerated and appropriate action will be taken. Any person found to falsely or maliciously accuse another of an act of bullying will be subject to the same penalties listed above.