Board to revise its policy on bullies

When school bullies tease, taunt and push around other students, the school district will soon shove right back with a stronger anti-bullying policy.

To meet the requirements of a new state law, the Alachua County School Board, and every other public school district in Florida, have until Dec. 1 to adopt the new anti-bullying policy, which includes more detailed requirements for reporting and investigating complaints, parental notification and referrals to counseling.

Board Member Ginger Childs said it's unfortunate but necessary that the school district has a written ban to stop threatening and harassing behavior.

"We do have kids who are bullies," Childs said. "We cannot allow that."

The new anti-bullying policy, which goes to a vote by the School Board on Tuesday, keeps the district in compliance with the Jeffrey Johnston Stand Up for All Students Act, which Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law in June.

In 2005, Johnston, of Cape Coral, committed suicide at age 15 after being harassed, sometimes via the Internet, for about two years. His death prompted his mother to launch a campaign for the statewide anti-bullying law.

Eric Storch, an associate professor of pediatrics and psychology at the University of South Florida, researched the effects of bullying while a faculty member at the University of Florida. Storch said the research showed that the negative effects on teenagers often carry over into adult years and lead to a "greater risk you will have increased level of depression, anxiety and loneliness."

"The short of it is, the whole idea that being bullied is some sort of rite of passage is archaic and not helpful in any way," Storch said.

Florida is at least the 30th state to have such a law in place, according to a report from the Florida House Policy and Budget Council staff.

Before the state law, 63 of 67 Florida public school districts, including Alachua County, had some form of anti-bullying policy in place.

Alachua County's current policy covers roughly four pages and includes language on the newest trend - cyber-bullying, or taunting a student via computer, phone or text messages.

The proposed 11-page policy also covers cyber-bullying and bans bullying of students or employees on campuses, school buses, bus stops and at school-sponsored events.

It says bullying is any "unwanted and repeated written, verbal or physical behavior ... that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment."

Bullying acts include threats, teasing, theft, physical violence and sexual, religious or racial harassment.

In the areas of cyber-bullying and cyber-stalking, messages sent through a school district's computer system are covered.

The new policy requires school officials to notify parents or guardians of both the victim and bullying student once a complaint is made, to complete investigations of complaints within 10 school days, to write an investigation report and to forward information on bullying incidents to the Florida Department of Education.

Students who violate the policy, and students who make false complaints could face suspension or expulsion.

Under the new policy, victims may be referred to counseling services and students who bully or harass may be sent to intervention, such as anger management classes.