ALL reports of bullying WILL be investigated. 

Bullying as defined in State law means overt, unwanted, repeated acts or gestures, including verbal or written communications or images transmitted in any manner (including digitally or electronically), physical acts committed, aggression, or any other behaviors committed by a student or group of students against another student with the intent to harass, ridicule, humiliate, intimidate, or harm the other student and create for the targeted student an objectively hostile school environment that:

1. places the targeted student in reasonable fear of harm to the targeted student's person or property;
    

2. has a substantially detrimental effect on the targeted student's physical or mental health;
    

3. has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's academic performance; or
    

4. has the effect of substantially interfering with the targeted student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, and privileges provided by the school.

Here is a presentation from Mrs. Erica Tomano and Mr. Alex Griffin on the Jay School Corporation's approach to Bullying Prevention and Response.

All Jay School Corporation employees are trained annually on Bullying Recognition and Response through the Safe Schools Vector Solutions program.

Redkey

• Redkey Elementary Calendar of Prevention Activities

East Elementary

• Teachers complete classroom lesson

• Character Counts program- monthly

• Mrs. Davidson meets with Students who have conflict 

East Jay

• Teachers complete classroom lessons by 10/1 for bullying. 

• Mrs. Addington has taught a full week during specials (26 sections) on the following topics: 

• Bullying (Semester 1)

  • Kindness

  • Empathy 

• Bullying (Semester 2)

  • Students create materials from these lessons.  Empathy notes, kindness notes, are posted on lockers from these lessons. (Confidence builders)

• Signs around the school, related to first semester teaching:  “Is it Bullying?”

• Student Council built a Bully Box located in the library, and the counselor went to every single class and explained the Bully Box process/procedure

• See Something/Say Something signs are located around the school. We have classroom discussion regarding this app and how it works with Chromebooks.

• 6th Grade Health Curriculum discusses Relationships (Healthy, social, interpersonal) 

• Mrs. Addington regularly meets with groups of kids and has lunch to discuss conflict/bullying.  Students request meetings and groups meet with her to discuss issues.  (Students sign up to meet with her.)

• All cases of bullying are investigated by Office Personnel

West Jay

• WJE Bullying Prevention

Jay County Jr-Sr High

• Students can report Bullying through the Say Something App anonymously, to a Guidance Counselor, a teacher (who then reports to Guidance or administration),  or directly to  administration. 

• Students were shown the Say Something App Student Training at the beginning of the year during Advisory (Due Date was October 1st).

• Say Something fliers posted around the school, on our website and reiterated to parents when they call with issues or concerns.

• YSB Safe Place has come into the building and spoken with students during Advisories about reporting threats, harassment, abuse.

• If a student reports harassment, bullying, conflict  to Admin or GC they investigate.

  • 1st Report of issue - Students are told to steer clear, etc. Warned that further issues can lead to Disciplinary action. Parents of both parties called. 

  • 2nd Report - Disciplinary Action, Conflict Resolution, Continue parent contact, “No Contact Contracts”

  • 3rd Report - Disciplinary Action, Conflict Resolution, Continued parent contact, “No Contact Contracts 

  • Currently documented in Skyward for administrative view.

• Covered in curriculum

  • Interpersonal Relationships (Chapter at the beginning of the semester)

  • 8th Grade Health each 9 week under “Conflict Resolution” Chapter

  • HS Health covers a Bullying Unit

Bloomfield

• Teachers complete classroom lessons for bullying. 

• Signs around the school and also classrooms, related to bullying 

• See Something/Say Something signs are posted around the school. We have classroom discussion regarding this app and how it works with Chromebooks. (Specifically a conversation with Mr. Dues and Classroom Teachers on the App and anti-bullying for 6th Graders)

• Character Counts Program (CIA) to help keep students in a positive mindset and displaying character with each other

• All cases of bullying are investigated by Office Personnel

There are two types of investigations - formal and informal 

Informal - Informal investigations are completed in matters of alleged bullying that are resolvable or where there is no history or pattern of persistent bullying or conflict. Complaints submitted anonymously also shall be investigated using this informal method. The informal report is intended to expedite the conflict resolution process and support. Informal reports will be documented in the student information system (Skyward).

Formal - Formal investigations are completed when allegations are severe and/or persistent or at the request of the parent, staff member or student. The formal report is intended for complex cases, when matters are in dispute, or when parent(s)/student/staff request the formal investigation. The parent will receive a written report after the following process is complete:

Step I

Any complaints, allegations or rumors of bullying may be presented to the building principal or assistant principal. Students also may report their concerns to teachers or counselors, who will be responsible for notifying the appropriate administrator on the same day that the teacher or counselor receives the complaint or, if the teacher or counselor receives the complaint after the end of the instructional day, no later than the next instructional day. 

All such information will be reduced to writing and will include the specific nature of the offense, corresponding dates, location of the offense, the identity of the reported bully, and the identity of any witnesses. If the person filing the complaint is an adult, s/he must sign the charge affirming its veracity. If the person filing the complaint is a minor, s/he may either sign the charge or affirm its veracity. If a student is unable to complete the written complaint form or sign a complaint, the staff member taking the complaint will complete the written complaint using the information the student has provided verbally. 

Step II

The administrator receiving the complaint shall promptly investigate. Parents of the targeted student and the reported bully will be notified of the nature of any complaint involving their child within one (1) instructional day of the administrator's receipt of the complaint. The administrator will arrange such meetings as may be necessary with the targeted student and reported bully within two (2) instructional days after receipt of the complaint. The targeted student and reported bully will have an opportunity to submit evidence and a list of witnesses, if not already included in the complaint, at those meetings. The entire investigation, including interviews of the targeted student, the reported bully, and all witnesses, shall be completed within five (5) instructional days after receipt of the information or complaint. 

All findings related to the complaint will be reduced to writing, including any discipline to be imposed or other remedial action to be taken. The written findings must be reduced to writing within seven (7) instructional days after receipt of the complaint. Consequences for the bully may range from positive behavioral interventions to expulsion. Consequences will depend on the severity of the offense and consider the developmental ages of the targeted student and the bully, the bully’s disciplinary history, and any other relevant factors. Remedial action may include but is not limited to counseling for the targeted student and/or the bully, training of the bully and/or school staff, assignment of a contact person who will provide support to the targeted student, academic assistance or support for the targeted student such as tutoring, an opportunity to retake tests, or additional time to complete classwork, the development of a behavioral intervention plan for the bully, and a change of placement, as appropriate for the targeted student and/or the bully. No change of placement will be imposed on the targeted student unless that remedy has been requested by the targeted student. 

The administrator conducting the investigation shall notify the complainant, targeted student, reported bully, and the parents of the targeted student and reported bully in writing of a summary of the investigation findings upon conclusion of the investigation and, if the investigator finds that bullying has occurred, an explanation of what remedial action will be taken, including the decision to impose discipline on the bully. 

When permitted by law, the disciplinary action taken against a student found to have engaged in bullying will be reported to the parents of the targeted student. The written summary of the investigation must be provided to the complainant, targeted student, reported bully and the parents of the targeted student and reported bully on the same day that the written findings are reduced to writing if possible but no later than the next instructional day. A copy of the written notification, including notes detailing the date and circumstances of notification, together with any other documentation related to the incident, including the written findings, any disciplinary action, shall be forwarded to the Superintendent.

Step III

If the complainant is not satisfied with the decision at Step II, s/he may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent or designee. Such appeal must be filed within five (5) instructional days after receipt of the Step II decision. The Superintendent or designee will arrange such meetings with the complainant and other affected parties as deemed necessary to review and discuss the appeal. The Superintendent or designee shall provide a written decision to the complainant’s appeal within five (5) instructional days after receipt of the appeal. This appeal process shall be recorded in the findings provided to the complainant and respondent. 

Requests for an appeal should be submitted to jgulley@jayschools.k12.in.us