District presents K–4 lessons on bullying, plans board hearing on anti-bullying policy

Mrs. Thomas, the Diversity and Advocacy Committee (DAC) lead, told the board the district is presenting a package of lessons for grades K–4 that specifically address bullying and harassment as additions to the district’s SOAR (own it, act responsibly, be respectful) initiative. “These lessons are specific to the topics of bullying and harassment,” Mrs. Thomas said, describing two lesson strands: one focused on shifting from kindness to empathy and perspective-taking, and a second teaching a problem-solving process tied to existing social-emotional learning tools such as the SOAR solution wheels.

Dr. Mandege introduced the item and framed it as the product of several years of DAC work under Mrs. Thomas’s leadership. Mrs. Thomas said each grade-level group included at least three teachers; the PBIS specialist led the framework and teacher groups reviewed read-alouds and classroom materials. “We first established a criterion for consensus … we were looking for at least 76% of committee members to vote yes for it to move forward to the board of education,” she said. She reported unanimous approval for grades K–3 and two abstentions in the fourth-grade review because two committee members had not had time to review the materials outside the committee meeting.

Board members praised the materials. Dawn, a board member, said the distinction between “mean behavior” and bullying was critical and called the lessons “fantastic.” Another board member asked whether third graders know about social platforms such as TikTok; Mrs. Thomas responded that students often encounter media and social video content through platforms and YouTube, and lessons account for that exposure.

Staff noted the lessons are being presented to the board for review and that they plan to bring the PBAs lesson package to the next regular board meeting for a vote. In addition, the board chair announced the board will ask the full board at the next meeting to pass a resolution setting a hearing on policy 5207 (anti-bullying) before the district takes final action on related policy language.

Discussion points included adapting fourth-grade materials when students did not receive a third-grade lesson in prior years, offering multiple options for students who are uncomfortable confronting peers directly, and the role of families in reinforcing lessons at home. Mrs. Thomas and the PBIS team said classrooms and teachers will reinforce lessons throughout the year and that the district may refine lessons after first-year use.

The presentation and the vote schedule were characterized as a preparatory step: the board was asked to review the materials and to expect the item as an action item at the next regular meeting following the scheduled hearing on policy 5207.