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Quincy Public Schools updates bullying-prevention plan; principals briefed PTOs, staff study program impact
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Summary
The district presented its biannual bullying prevention plan update, the results of a public-comment period and district surveys, and ongoing evaluation of Open Parachute and Sandy Hook Promise implementations; staff reported site-level PTO briefings and a student anonymous-report that prompted school intervention.
Quincy Public Schools staff presented an update to the district’s biannual bullying-prevention plan at the May 7 meeting, summarizing recent site-level briefings with parent-teacher organizations, a public-comment window, survey results and preliminary program-evaluation work.
Miss Papill and district staff said principals gave PTO briefings describing the policy’s definitions (bullying, cyberbullying, retaliation), reporting and investigation procedures, and possible safety responses. The district ran a public-comment period and a questionnaire and received 61 survey responses; common themes included requests for clearer, more accessible communications about how schools respond to reports, and perceptions among some parents that disciplinary consequences were “too lenient.” Staff said the district will work to better explain response steps and safety plans to families without disclosing confidential student information.
Quincy staff highlighted two lines of program evaluation. The district administered the Youth Risk Behavior Survey to gather data about students’ sense of safety, name-calling and online harassment. Separately, Dr. Haley of the Open Parachute program is analyzing pre/post learning-survey data combined with discipline, attendance and achievement measures; staff said analysis results are pending and expected to provide evidence about program impact. The district has classroom- and school-level prevention work embedded in existing curricula (Open Parachute, Steps to Respect, social-skills curricula) and reported expanded Sandy Hook Promise programming and Promise clubs at secondary sites.
A staff member cited a recent anonymous online report that included sufficient detail for school administrators to investigate and take action; staff said anonymous reporting remains a valuable channel for students and caregivers who fear identification.
Committee members stressed the importance of communicating to families that schools take reports seriously even when they cannot disclose disciplinary details because student records are protected. “Parents want something to say to their child — not the details, but that we addressed it and are supporting both students as needed,” a committee member said; staff agreed to emphasize that line of communication while preserving student confidentiality.
The district said its updated plan will remain on the website, include linked resources for parents (DESE guidance, Netsmartz, reporting forms), and be accompanied by site-level materials. Site presentations to PTOs and the public-comment summary were cited as part of the plan’s stakeholder development.
No regulatory or policy vote was required at the meeting; staff confirmed the updated plan will remain available online and continue to be implemented and evaluated.
