Cheshire board reviews new school-climate policy replacing bullying definition

The Cheshire School District Board of Education held a first reading of a state-aligned school-climate policy that would replace the district’s existing bullying policy and refocus district work on school climate, restorative practices and targeted interventions rather than on labeling incidents as bullying.

The change follows a 2023 revision to the state bullying definition that centers on a real or perceived power imbalance, district presenters said. The proposed policy sets out required elements including an annual safe-school-climate survey, training for staff, reporting timelines and a school climate improvement cycle, and it ties some reporting requirements to an effective date of July 1, 2025.

Board members and staff said the law’s new emphasis shifts attention toward improving school culture and quicker, education-focused responses. Staff stated the district already uses social-emotional learning,…