Transcript Slide 1

Guidelines and Procedures to Implement the
Bullying and Harassment Policy
& Dating and Sexual Violence Policy for Students
Presentation to School Board May 2011
Part I: Students
Presented by: Lisa Vargas-Sinapi
Elizabeth A’Vant
Part II: Adults
Presented by: Tomas Ramirez
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Goals of this Presentation
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Participants will gain an understanding of the Guidelines and Procedures for the
Implementation of the Bullying, Harassment, Dating/Sexual Violence Policies for
Students.
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Participants will understand the roles and responsibilities of the District Title IX
Equity Officer (DEO), School Based Equity Coordinator (SEC), and the District
Leadership Team.
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Participants will understand the process of reporting, investigating, and responding to
complaints of these behaviors for students.
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Review the upcoming professional development and communication plans for
implementation of these policies and procedures for students.
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Participates will receive information about the current work regarding the Guidelines
and Procedures for Implementing the Bullying and Harassment Policy for adults.
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Bullying, Harassment, Dating/Sexual Violence
Guidelines and Procedures for Students
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Acknowledgments
 Collaborative Process
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Purpose and Intent
 Maintaining a safe, secure and positive school climate and
culture
 Systematic approach to support and intervene in all acts of
these behaviors
 Clarify the response and investigation to reports of such
behaviors
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Staff Roles and Responsibilities
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District Title IX/ Equity Officer (DEO)
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Responsible at District Level for all reports of these behaviors;
Ensure all incidents are properly tracked, investigated, and completed appropriately and
within required timeframe;
Compile District and school based data for purposes of reporting to Superintendent/School
Board;
Developing prevention and training programs.
School Based Equity Coordinators (SEC)
 Assigned by the school administrator;
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Receive and review all incidents complaints;
Ensure all complaints are appropriately investigated and completed within
established timelines;
Ensure a safety plans is developed and implemented to protect targets.
Office of Special Populations Providence School
Department
Staff Roles and Responsibilities
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District Leadership Team
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Under the direction of the District Equity Officer;
Team of School Psychologists, Social Workers, and Administrators;
Facilitate school based trainings;
Liaison to specific school site to provide technical assistance and support
in implementation of these policies and procedures;
Monitor the implementation of procedures at the school level.
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Intervention Procedures
Report -Investigate-Take Action (RITA)
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Report
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Each member of school community is responsible for reporting any
observations, knowledge or suspicion of identified behaviors
Universal Reporting Form
Timeline and Protocols
Notifications
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Investigate
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 School Based Equity Coordinator coordinates all investigations
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Standardized Investigation Procedures
Investigation completed in accordance with RITA Protocol
Timeline and Protocols
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Intervention Procedures
Report -Investigate-Take Action (RITA)
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Safety Plans
 Standardized Form
 Mechanism for informing all relevant adults
 Periodically reviewed as deemed necessary
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Consequences
 Reasonable timely age-appropriate corrective action
 Range from positive behavioral supports up to including suspension or
exclusion
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Social Emotional Interventions
 Social Skills Counseling
 Functional Behavioral Assessments
 Behavior Intervention Plan
 Referral to outside agencies
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Notifications & Communication
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o Notifications & Communication
 Parents of both alleged target(s) & alleged aggressor(s);
(Within the same day but no later than one school day of the incident)
 Parent(s)/guardian of target(s) notified of the safety plan;
 If any, consequences imposed are communicated to aggressor & his/her
parent(s)/guardian;
 Investigation results are communicated to parent(s)/guardian of all parties
within 2 days of completion of the investigation.
o Disclosure
 Federal Educations Rights and Privacy Act (student record);
 Strict confidentiality regarding identity of all parties involved:
 Defer to City Solicitor
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Anonymous Reporting
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o Anonymous Reports
 Locked Box – available in every school
 District Phone Number/Tip Line
 Displayed on Our Website/Communication Mediums
 Secure email
(No disciplinary consequences will be imposed solely on an anonymous
report.)
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Search and Seizure
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Procedures “securing physical evidence, if appropriate before
notifying aggressor, target, & parent.”
 May require search of locker, backpack, purse, car, or person.
-Verona School District 47Jv. Acton:
“Lower expectation of privacy in school setting”
-New Jersey vs. TLO, 469 US 325 (1985):
“ …….random, suspicionless searches of students are allowed by the
constitution in public schools.”
“Reasonable manner considering all the circumstances that led up to the
search..”
 More guidance required by the school board
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Cyberbullying/Cyber-harassment
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Cyber - Behaviors
Behaviors conducted through some form of electronic device
Take place within the scope of the policies
 Substantial disruption to the day to day learning
environment
 Document reasons for “Substantial Disruption”
Statistics (I-SAFE)
 50% of adolescents & teens have been bullied online
 35% of students have been threatened online
 Over half of young people do not tell parents when cyber
bullying occurs.
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Professional Development &
Communication Plan
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Professional Development Plan
 Goal: To Increase awareness and understanding of the policies and
procedures to provide for consistent, fair, and appropriate implementation
to create a safe, secure and positive school climate and culture.
May 2011
Aug-Oct
2011
Oct- March
2011-2012
• School Administrators/T&L Team/Parent Engagement
• District Leadership Team
• Psychologists, Social Workers, Counselors
• All School Staff
• Teachers, Teacher Assistants, Secretaries, Custodians
• School Equity Coordinators
• Administrators
Proper Investigation Techniques
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Communications Plan
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Goal: Communicate the expectations and obligations associated with these policies
and procedures to ensure that all stakeholders are aware and fully understand our
intent, responsibility, and response to these acts of bullying/harassment and/or dating
and sexual violence.
Verbal
Communication
Student Assemblies
PTO Meetings
Parent Link
Training Sessions
LAC/PAC
Written
Communication
Flier/Brochures
Posters
Q&A/Info Sheet
Student Planners
District Website
Media Venues
Radio Talk Show
Creation of
DVD/Webinar
PSA
Secure
email/hotline
Collaboration with Parent Engagement-Communications Departments –Technology Department
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
Next Step: Guidelines for Staff and Parents (Tomas)
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May 1 – August 15 Work Plan
 Expand “staff bullying and harassment” work group
to include parents and select community partners
 The Bullying and Harassment Staff and Parent Work
Group will review the current plan and develop
immediate and long term procedural
implementation plans
 Work plan will merge and align with the anticipated
professional development program to be offered this
summer
Office of Special Populations Providence School
Department
Future Plans
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Legal/Policy
Legal clarification
Disclosure
Policy
Search & Seizure
Code of Conduct
Collaborate
Curriculum
DLT and DEO
to develop
curriculum,
resources, and
tools to assist
schools and
students
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department
With the
adult
procedures
committee to
ensure
alignment
Statewide
Bullying
Commission
Trainings/
Communications
Parent Trainings
Communications
Plan
Secure
Email/Hotline
Questions / Contact Information
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Student Procedures
Lisa Vargas-Sinapi - [email protected]
456-9263 -Office of Special Education
Elizabeth A’Vant - Elizabeth.A’[email protected]
278-0515 -BJ Clanton Complex
Adult Procedures
Tomas Ramirez – [email protected]
Office of Special Populations Providence School Department