Kyrene board adopts first read of revised anti-bullying policy with clarifying language

At the June 24 meeting, the Kyrene Elementary District Governing Board approved the first read of revised Policy 5409, which reforms the formatting and clarifies the district's definition of bullying so that an investigating administrator must find all enumerated elements when determining whether conduct rises to bullying.

Assistant Superintendent Carrie Furie (presenting) said the change arose from a family complaint and staff review that revealed the policy language could be read inconsistently. Furie said the recommended edit does not change the intent of the policy but reformats the definition to require that administrators find that all three elements — a power imbalance, behavior that is severe/pervasive/persistent, and interference with a student's ability to participate or benefit from services — are present.

Board members discussed punctuation and phrasing to reduce ambiguity. Member Bonnie Davis asked whether the policy requires "severe, pervasive or persistent" or all three; staff clarified that the policy uses the second element as an "or" (severe or pervasive or persistent) but that the power imbalance, the severity/pervasiveness/persistence element and the interference element must all be present. Vice President Trina Nelson proposed replacing the word "that" in the sentence introducing the three elements with a phrase such as "where each of the following elements are met"; the board accepted that amendment.

Vice President Nelson moved to approve the first read as amended; Member Satri seconded. The board approved the first read of Policy 5409 as amended by a 5–0 vote.

District staff said the revision is primarily formatting and clarifying language so administrators apply the policy consistently in investigations. Staff indicated they would correct punctuation and numbering in the published policy text before final adoption steps.