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District presents anti-bullying initiative led by behavior intervention specialists
Summary
District staff presented an anti-bullying initiative centered on kindness, developmental-appropriate interventions and a 'Safe to Say' anonymous reporting card; board members asked clarifying questions about school-level plans and sharing of best practices across buildings.
District staff member (presenter) delivered an overview of the district's anti-bullying campaign at the March 12 board meeting, describing a program built around kindness, belonging and Behavior Intervention Specialists (BIS) who lead school-level efforts.
The presenter said the initiative uses age-appropriate approaches: elementary schools emphasize kindness and the "Kindness Challenge," middle schools focus on distinguishing bullying from conflict and conflict-resolution skills, and high schools emphasize reporting and support. The district printed "Safe to Say" locker cards for secondary students so those who do not feel comfortable speaking up can submit anonymous reports, the presenter said.
The presenter described required BIS duties when notified of an incident: document the incident, report to the school administrator, and follow up with the student for ongoing support. Schools also run monthly activities such as classroom presentations, focus groups and video promotions; Strong Vincent was cited for student-created positive-messaging videos and a kindness-tree project used during awareness weeks.
Board members asked whether each school creates its own plan and whether ideas are shared; the presenter said schools share ideas and sometimes adopt activities from other buildings. Director Ms. Gillespie thanked the presenter; no formal action or vote was taken on the presentation.
Why it matters: The program details how the district routes reports and supports students, and clarifies the BIS role in follow-up and documentation. The presentation also names specific activities intended to build a culture of belonging across grade levels.
Next steps: No vote was requested. Board members and administrators will continue to monitor implementation through school-level reports and committee updates.
