Bullying Policy

BULLYING AND CYBERBULLYING ARE PROHIBITED

Bullying and cyberbullying of a student, whether by other students, staff, visitors, Board
members, parents, guests, contractors, vendors and volunteers, is prohibited. All pupils are
protected under this policy, and bullying and cyberbullying are prohibited without regard to its
subject matter or motivating animus.

DEFINTION OF BULLYING

“Bullying” means any written, verbal, or physical act, or any electronic communication, including,
but not limited to, cyberbullying, that is intended or that a reasonable person would know is
likely to harm one (1) or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing any of the following:
A. Substantially interfering with the educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one

A. Substantially interfering with the educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one
(1) or more pupils.
B. Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school
district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in
reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.
C. Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental
health.
D. Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation
of the school.
“Cyberbullying” means any electronic communication that is intended or that a reasonable
person would know is likely to harm one (1) or more pupils either directly or indirectly by doing
any of the following:
A. Substantially interfering with the educational opportunities, benefits, or programs of one
(1) or more pupils.
B. Adversely affecting the ability of a pupil to participate in or benefit from the school
district’s or public school’s educational programs or activities by placing the pupil in
reasonable fear of physical harm or by causing substantial emotional distress.
C. Having an actual and substantial detrimental effect on a pupil’s physical or mental
health.
D. Causing substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation
of the school.
Since “bullying” also includes “cyberbullying,” any reference in this policy to “bullying” shall also
be deemed to refer to “cyberbullying.”

Bullying and cyberbullying are prohibited at school. “At school” is defined as on school
premises, at school- sponsored activities or events, in a school-related vehicle, or using
telecommunications access device or a telecommunications service provider if the
telecommunications access device or telecommunications service provider is owned by or
under the control of the school district. “Telecommunications access device” and
“telecommunications service provider” mean those terms as defined in Section 219a of the
Michigan Penal Code (MCL § 750.219a).

Bullying and cyberbullying that does not occur “at school,” as defined above, but that causes a
substantial disruption to the educational environment may be subject to disciplinary action in
accordance with this policy and applicable law.

REPORTING AND INVESTIGATING REPORTS OF BULLYING

Every student is encouraged to report any situation that he or she believes to be bullying
behavior directed toward a student to a teacher, a counselor, administrator, or other staff
member. Staff members shall report any reports made by students or situations that they
believe to be bullying behavior directed toward a student to the School Leader. Complaints
against the School Leader shall be reported to the Board.

Under state law, a school employee, school volunteer, student, or parent or guardian who
promptly reports in good faith an act of bullying to the appropriate school official designated in
this policy and who makes this report in compliance with the procedures set forth in this policy is
immune from a cause of action for damages arising out of the reporting itself or any failure to
remedy the reported incident. This immunity does not apply to a school official responsible for
implementing this policy or for remedying the bullying, when acting in that capacity.

Retaliation or false accusation against a target of bullying, a witness, or another person with
information about an act of bullying is prohibited. Suspected retaliation should be reported in the
same manner as suspected bullying behavior. Making intentionally false accusations of bullying
is likewise prohibited. Retaliation and making intentionally false accusations of bullying may
result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.

All complaints about bullying that may violate this policy shall be promptly investigated and
documented. The School Leader or designee is responsible for the investigation. If the
investigation results in a finding that bullying has occurred, it shall result in prompt and
appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including expulsion for students, up to and including
discharge for employees, and up to and including exclusion from school property for parents,
guests, volunteers, and contractors. Individuals may also be referred to law enforcement
officials.

The Board may utilize restorative practices that emphasize repairing the harm to the victim and
school community in the correction of bullying behavior, which may include victim-offender
conferences that:
A. Are initiated by the victim;
B. Are approved by the victim’s parent or legal guardian or, if the victim is at least
15, by the victim;
C. Are attended voluntarily by the victim, a victim advocate, the offender, members
of the school community, and supporters of the victim and the offender (the
“restorative practices team”); and
D. Would provide an opportunity for the offender to accept responsibility for the
harm caused to those affected, and to participate in setting consequences to
repair the harm, such as requiring the student to apologize; participate in
community service, restoration of emotional or material losses, or counseling;
pay restitution; or any combination of these. The selected consequences and
time limits for their completion will be incorporated into an agreement to be
signed by all participants.

Where the investigation results in a finding that bullying has occurred, both the parent or legal
guardian of a victim of bullying and the parent or legal guardian of a perpetrator of the bullying
shall be notified promptly in writing. In addition, administrators investigating alleged bullying may
notify parents of the victim or perpetrator of bullying sooner than the conclusion of the
investigation if circumstances dictate such earlier notification.

The School shall document any prohibited incident that is reported and shall document all
verified incidents of bullying and the resulting consequences, including the required notification
of parents or guardians and any discipline and referrals.
The School Leader is the school official responsible for ensuring that this policy is implemented.

CONFIDENTIALITY

The School will comply with all applicable laws regarding confidentiality of personally identifiable
information within education records. In addition, the identity of an individual who reports an act
of bullying or cyberbullying shall be and remain confidential. The School Leader, or the School
Leader’s designee, shall ensure that the name of an individual who reports an act of bullying or
cyberbullying is withheld from the alleged perpetrator and the perpetrator’s parent(s), legal
guardian(s) and representative(s), and is redacted from any report of bullying or cyberbullying
that is publicly disclosed.

NOTIFICATION

This policy will be annually circulated to parents and students, and shall be posted on the
School website.

REPORTING

As required by state statute, the School shall provide a report of all verified incidents of bullying
and other required information to the Michigan Department of Education on an annual basis,
according to the form and procedures established by the Department.
As required by state statute, the School’s procedures with respect to bullying are contained
within this policy, and thus no administrative guidelines accompany this policy.

Approved 06/2017