Resident urges Lacey Township to expand anti-bullying policy to cover staff

Tony Rizzoli, a resident, told the Lacey Township School District Board of Education on June 12 that policy 5512 — the district harassment, intimidation and bullying policy — should apply to employees, not only students.

"At the top of the 25 pages of this policy, it says for students. I kind of don't agree with that," Rizzoli said, arguing that the policy's provisions "can apply not only to students but to all employees of the District." He said he was concerned that parents who criticize district staff at meetings sometimes become the targets of intimidation toward their children at school.

Why it matters: The district's written policies define how complaints and discipline are handled. Expanding the policy's stated scope would change who is identified explicitly as covered by anti-bullying protections and could affect complaint-handling and personnel processes.

During the exchange Rizzoli also asked about enrollment. Esther Zielinski, the superintendent, provided a point of information: "That's 4,030," she said, adding that the count includes academies, preschool and all district buildings and that about 33 out-of-district placements are included in that figure.

The board did not take action on Policy 5512 at the meeting. Rizzoli spoke during the public-comment portion; board members and district staff did not propose a motion or vote related to changing the policy during the session recorded in the transcript.

The topic was raised during public comment and not on the formal agenda for revision. If the board later places Policy 5512 on a future agenda for revision, that item will require formal notice and a vote at a public meeting.