Principals outline bullying response: reporting channels, ISI, PRISM training and SRO support

Jacobson Middle School and Tachby High School principals briefed the Tachapi Unified School District Board of Trustees on Aug. 12 about the district's bullying prevention, investigation and intervention procedures, outlining multiple reporting routes, safety steps when students express self-harm, and a mix of disciplinary and restorative responses.

The presentation, led by Principal Labatique and Principal Adamson, laid out how students and staff can report incidents in person to any adult on campus or via the Say Something app, and described immediate steps school staff take when a report indicates risk of self-harm. "The more legal definition of what we call bullying, it's an unwanted aggressive behavior that involves a real perceived threat or power imbalance," Principal Labatique said. "Bullying behavior is repeated and has the potential of being repeated."

The board heard why the district uses an investigation-first approach and routine follow-up checks. "Once we become notified ... the first thing we do is review the report. Depending on what has happened, we look at, do we need to do an immediate interim safety measure?" Principal Adamson said. He described…