JDHB September 22.pdf (95 KB)

​JDHB​

​Boulder Valley School District​ ​Adopted:​​June 9, 2020​ ​Revised:​​June 11, 2024​ ​BULLYING​ ​Boulder Valley School District prohibits all forms of harassment and bullying in order to foster​ ​a school climate conducive to learning, teaching, and working. The purpose of this Policy is to​ ​encourage reporting of bullying, to promote consistency of approach in preventing and​ ​responding to bullying, and to create a safe, equitable, and positive climate that regards all​ t​ypes of bullying, including on the basis of a protected class, as unacceptable.​ ​Definitions​ ​● ​Bullying: Any conduct or communication that is written, verbal, physical, or visual ​(specifically including but not limited to cyberbullying and electronic communications) ​that is intended to coerce, intimidate, or cause any physical, mental, or emotional harm ​to any student. ​● ​“Harassment” is any unwelcome verbal, written, graphic, visual, physical, or other ​conduct directed at an individual or group of individuals on the basis of any real or ​perceived class membership protected by federal and/or Colorado law that is ​subjectively offensive to the individual alleging harassment and is objectively offensive ​to a reasonable individual who is a member of the same protected class. The conduct ​or communication need not be severe or pervasive to constitute discrimination or ​harassment and is a violation of Board Policy if: ​○ ​Submission to the conduct or communication is explicitly or implicitly made a ​term or condition of the individual’s participation in a School District program or ​activity; ​○ ​Submission to, objection to, or rejection of the conduct or communication is ​used as a basis for decisions affecting the individual; or ​○ ​the conduct or communication has the purpose or effect of unreasonably i​nterfering with the individual’s educational or work performance or creating an i​ntimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or working environment. ​● ​Retaliation: An act or communication intended as retribution against an individual who ​reports an act of bullying, discrimination and/or harassment. Retaliation can also i​nclude knowingly making false accusations of bullying, discrimination and/or

​harassment or acting to influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of​ ​bullying, discrimination and/or harassment.​ ​Prohibited Behavior​ ​Bullying, harassment, and discrimination are prohibited against any student for any reason,​ i​ncluding but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of​ ​academic performance or any basis protected by federal and state law, including disability,​ ​race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, national origin, religion,​ ​ancestry, immigration status, the need for special education services, or physical​ ​characteristics, whether such characteristic(s) is actual or perceived.​ ​Bullying and other behaviors as defined are prohibited on School District property, at School​ ​District or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in​ ​any school or School District vehicle, or off school property, including on social media, when​ ​such conduct has a nexus to school or any School District curricular or non-curricular activity​ ​or event.​ ​Prevention​ ​Prevention efforts are most effective when implemented school-wide. Well-designed​ ​prevention efforts can reduce, eliminate, and prevent bullying behaviors as well as​ ​significantly improve the overall school climate. Effective prevention is designed to​ ​accomplish the following:​ ​1. ​To send a clear message to students, staff, families, and community members that ​bullying, discrimination, harassment and retaliation against a student who reports ​bullying, discrimination, or harassment will not be tolerated. ​2. ​To train school staff in taking proactive steps to prevent bullying, discrimination, and ​harassment from occurring, including but not limited to training on this Policy, how to ​recognize and intervene, and positive school climate practices. ​3. ​To implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation ​of students engaged in harmful behavior. ​4. ​To support positive school climate efforts that clearly define, teach, and reinforce ​prosocial behavior. ​5. ​To designate a team of persons at each school who collect and monitor data related to ​bullying, discrimination, and harassment through surveys and discipline data to i​mprove prevention efforts. ​6. ​To implement social emotional learning and prevention at the school or classroom l​evel. The use of prevention programs may vary according to maturity level, grade l​evel, and learning environment.

​All students involved in bullying, discrimination and/or harassment --whether they are the​ t​argeted student, impacted student, or a witness-- may experience negative outcomes​ i​ncluding impacts on mental health, substance abuse, and suicide. Parents/guardians, school​ ​staff, and community all play a role in supporting our students when providing for their​ ​physical, social and emotional needs.​ ​Reporting and Investigation​ ​All students who believe they have been targets of bullying, harassment, discrimination,​ ​hazing, intimidation, or threatening behavior are encouraged to immediately report the​ ​situation to a school employee. All students who witness bullying, harassment, and/or​ ​discrimination are expected to make all reasonable efforts to seek the help of school staff.​ ​Reports can be made verbally, in writing, or online.​ ​All School District employees who receive reports of and/or witness student bullying,​ ​discrimination and/or harassment in any circumstance, shall immediately take appropriate​ ​action to stop the behavior. Such behaviors shall be reported to school administration.​ ​ ​ ​Each school administrator shall ensure that reports of bullying are promptly and thoroughly​ i​nvestigated in accordance with applicable law. Schools are directed to attend to the needs of​ t​he students, including the target(s) of the behavior and the alleged bully(s), during an​ i​nvestigation.​ ​Violation of this Policy will be assessed by examining the totality of the circumstances,​ i​ncluding but not limited to:​ ​a. ​Frequency of the conduct or communication, recognizing that a single incident may ​rise to the level of bullying, harassment or discrimination; ​b. ​Number of individuals engaged in the conduct or communication; ​c. ​Type or nature of the conduct or communication; ​d. ​Duration of the conduct or communication; ​e. ​Location where the conduct or communication occurred; ​f. ​Whether the conduct or communication is threatening; ​g. ​Whether a power differential exists between the individual alleged to have engaged in ​bullying, harassment, or discrimination and the individual alleging the bullying, ​harassment, or discrimination; ​h. ​Any use of epithets, slurs, or other conduct or communication that is humiliating or ​degrading; i​. ​Whether the conduct or communication reflects stereotypes about an individual or ​group of individuals in a protected class; or j​. ​Whether the conduct includes an act of physical violence. ​Based on all of the information available, schools must determine whether it is more likely​ t​han not that the alleged bullying occurred. Such a determination does not require certainty or​ i​rrefutable evidence.​

​School administrators shall communicate regularly with parents/guardians of all students​ i​nvolved, including alleged targets, alleged bullies, and witnesses. A written summary of the​ i​nvestigation and its findings must be provided to the parent/guardian of any student alleging​ t​o have bullied or been bullied within 60 (sixty) days after receiving the report. Upon a​ ​showing of good cause, the school administrator may extend the deadline for up to 30 (thirty)​ ​additional calendar days. Impacted students and their parents/guardians must receive written​ ​notice of the extension.​ ​Supports and Interventions​ ​Violations of this Policy are detrimental to the welfare and safety of the target as well as​ ​disruptive to the school learning environment. Schools are encouraged to consider systemic​ ​and individual interventions. In deciding on appropriate responses, the school shall consider​ t​he circumstances surrounding the behavior, the severity of the conduct, and whether the​ ​conduct represents a pattern. Interventions and discipline for student bullying may include​ ​ ​ ​ I​n its sole discretion, the School District may conduct a threat assessment regarding bullying​ ​behavior. A referral to law enforcement shall be made when appropriate.​ ​The Board expects that parents/guardians shall be informed about their student’s significant​ ​behaviors and school interventions, including discipline. Also, the Board expects schools will​ ​notify parents about threat assessments and referrals to law enforcement, as appropriate and​ ​as soon as possible which may be after the referral has been made.​ ​Resources for students who have experienced bullying are available through:​ ​● ​Safe2Tell: 877-542-SAFE (7233) ​● ​National Sexual Assault Telephone and Online Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) ​● ​Colorado Crisis Services: 1-844-493-8255; Text "TALK" to 38255 ​● ​Moving to End Sexual Assault (MESA) Hotline: 303-443-7300; Text “BRAVE” to 20121 ​Appeals​ I​f parents/guardians/students are not satisfied with the outcome of the school’s investigation​ ​and resolution, they may pursue additional School District review. Board Policy AC governs​ t​he review of allegations concerning discrimination or harassment on the basis of a protected​ ​class. Board Policy KE governs the review of all other allegations of bullying.​ ​LEGAL REFERENCES​ ​● ​C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1 (1)(b) (definition of bullying) ​● ​C.R.S. § 22-32-109.1(2)(a)(I)(K) (policy required as part of safe schools plan) ​CROSS REFERENCES​

​●​ ​AC - Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity​ ​●​ ​JB - Equal Educational Opportunities​ ​●​ ​All JD and JR policies - Student Conduct and Discipline Code​ ​●​ ​KE - Complaints and Concerns​