Dearborn committee recommends cultural events, student media campaign and policy edits to reduce bullying

A district bully-prevention committee presented four district-level recommendations to the Dearborn City School District Board of Education, urging stepped-up cultural awareness, a student-led media campaign, policy edits to Board Policy 05/2001, and expanded professional development to prevent bullying.

The committee facilitator, Aynep Sarini, told the board the committee of about 30 members met three times between mid-October and February and included teachers, students, parents, social workers, principals and central-office staff. "We consulted with some middle school advisory groups in between," Sarini said, noting younger students were engaged between meetings and that their input is reflected in the recommendations.

The committee proposed four main district recommendations:

1) A districtwide cultural awareness day or a district event organized by a planning committee; schools would receive a theme and grade-level activities but retain flexibility to adapt them.…