School committee approves updated bullying intervention plan after public questions about reporting and staffing

The Northampton School Committee voted Sept. 11 to adopt an updated Northampton Public Schools bullying intervention plan after public commenters urged clearer communication about reporting, language, and staffing needed to carry out safety plans.

Superintendent Dr. Bonner summarized the district's use of DESE resources to develop the plan and gave preliminary figures from last school year: "For the last school year, there were a total of 47 incidents reported. And of those 47, 28 were substantiated," she said, adding that she will provide a school-by-school disciplinary and demographic breakdown in October.

Public speakers during the meeting urged the district to make reporting guidance easier to find on the district website, provide materials in additional languages, and avoid stigmatizing language on forms. Cindy Mahoney, who identified herself as a parent from Florence, asked why the district's DESE report showed only one incident for Northampton in 2023–24 and recommended clearer outreach during school open houses. Others asked that references to "SPED" on investigative forms be replaced with less stigmatizing wording such as "student with an IEP or 504 plan."

Committee members asked staff to clarify how oral reports and anonymous submissions will be recorded and whether the district audits safety plans for staffing needs. Director of Student Services Scott Holloway said staff will add clarifying language so that oral reports by students or guardians are recorded in writing; he also noted that principals determine investigators and that the process can include more than one administrator or an administrator from another building where appropriate.

Member Michael Stein and others pressed for stronger implementation and suggested auditing safety-plan staffing as the district audits IEP staffing. The committee approved the plan (motion made by Member Agna; seconded by Member Gacy) with a small edit to replace "SPED" language on the form and with clarification language requested by members. The vote carried on a roll call; committee members who participated recorded approval except for recorded dissent noted in the meeting record.

The district also said staff received training on cyberbullying awareness and that families will be reminded of reporting channels through newsletters and the website. The approved plan will be posted on the district site and staff will provide more detailed data and school-level breakdowns in October.