Deputy Superintendent Gina Mikalicka and Cathy Dofka, Director of Exceptional Student Support Services, and JoAnn Forcino, Supervisor of Student Services, presented the district’s Anti-Bullying and Harassment Policy, and the Special Policies and Procedures which addresses the needs of exceptional students. Dofka explained some of the changes were a result of direction from the State’s Department of Education, along with input from the district’s cabinet-level directors.
Though the district has contracted with NEOLA, an education consulting firm, to update all policies in the coming year, the DOE is requiring that current policies reflect changes from this year’s legislative session, which became effective July 1, 2016.
Anti-Bullying Policy Update
Florida’s Safe Schools focus is to promote a healthy environment for learning. As required by Florida Statute 1006.147, the term “bullying” will include cyberbullying, even if the term is not specifically included throughout the document. Forcino stated that most of the changes in the policy addressed cyberbullying.
Board member Beth Naverud called attention to the addition of “private” humiliation, which is difficult to determine. Counsel Denis Alfonso said that would be determined during an investigation of an incident, and would depend upon whether a relationship or conduct between the individuals involved could be traced back to the school.
Using the model policy from the FDOE, other changes included in the new policy are:
Reports of bullying must be made in writing.
Failure to report bullying will result in disciplinary action for school employees.
Intentional and wrongful accusations by visitors or volunteers will be investigated and could include reports to law enforcement.
It includes harassment and bullying of a child on a school bus or at a bus stop.
The timeline for investigation of a bullying/harassment incident is 10 days.
Students will no longer be able to work out these issues among themselves.
Because these are policy changes, input is welcomed at a public hearing to be held 28 days from the 09/06/16 workshop date. The public is invited to submit their questions or comments to Cathy Dofka and JoAnn Forcino or attend the hearing in person. According to the HCSB calendar, the first school board meeting in October is scheduled for 10/04/16.