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Harrisburg City SD to pilot standardized bullying-investigation forms and follow-up process
Summary
District staff presented a new, districtwide checklist, online and paper reporting forms, and a pilot at Camp Curtin to standardize bullying investigations, emphasize counselor roles, require action plans for both alleged victims and aggressors, and document follow-up.
The Harrisburg City School District presented a new, standardized process for investigating reports of bullying and announced a pilot of the procedures at Camp Curtin. Doctor Nordholm, a member of the student services team, told the board the effort is meant to give every building the same investigation steps, reporting channels and follow-up timelines.
The presentation proposed both an online reporter and a paper form that will be posted on each school’s website and printed with building-specific contact information. “We have the need to have a systematic process that can be used in all the buildings with all the same steps,” Doctor Nordholm said, explaining that submitted reports would be directed to the head administrator of the building where the alleged incident occurred.
The new process separates roles in the investigation: school counselors or social workers would interview the alleged victim, while an administrator or designee—not the counselor—would interview the accused student and document both interviews. Counselors, Nordholm said, should not be placed in disciplinary roles and are expected to focus on the therapeutic and mental-health aspects of a response.
The proposal also requires a written action plan for both the alleged victim and alleged aggressor, including a measurable goal, a named staff member responsible for follow-up and a scheduled follow-up date. “Documenting an action plan for both the victim and the aggressor allows interventions to be implemented to assist both learners,” Nordholm said, noting many existing plans focus only on supports for victims.
Examples of interventions listed during the presentation include referrals to school counselors or social workers, Student Assistance Team (SAP) referrals, PBIS/MTSS team interventions, school-based therapy and increased supervision in identified locations; schedule changes are described as a last resort. Nordholm recommended monitoring each case for at least 30 days, with follow-up assigned to a named staff member so the responsibility is not lost in daily operations.
Board members raised practical questions during the discussion: how anonymous paper reports would be handled, how an “imbalance of power” is determined for students on the same grade level, and when progressive discipline would replace counseling interventions. Nordholm and board members agreed the pilot at Camp Curtin will be used to refine those details before a districtwide rollout and administrator training over the summer.
The board did not vote on the procedures at the March 11 meeting; Nordholm said the district will pilot the new forms and trainings and then expand after adjustments are made.
