FNSBSD board refines anti-bullying resolution language, asks administration to tighten wording
Summary
At its Dec. 1 work session the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board reviewed a proposed bullying resolution, agreed to remove committee-specific references, debated wording about supporting both victims and perpetrators, and asked administration to return a tightened draft for a regular agenda.
At a Dec. 1 work session the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District board reviewed a proposed anti-bullying resolution developed by the district’s diversity committee and directed administration to return a tightened draft for consideration on a future regular agenda.
Board members voiced a consensus to remove explicit references to the “diversity committee” from the formal whereas and resolved clauses so the document reads as a district-level resolution rather than a committee product. "I would suggest that change," said Mister Doran, urging the district name be substituted for the committee. Several board members, including Miss Julian and Miss Carol Hubbard, supported the edit.
The board also debated whether language committing the district to supporting "students who are both victims and perpetrators" could be confusing to families. Miss Maple, the committee’s new chair, said keeping the line provides clarity about the district’s supportive approach: "I like that it specifically says that because I don't think that it is an assumption that we support the person that is guilty of the behavior." Mister Doran suggested rewording or removing the sentence if it dilutes the resolution’s focus.
Members criticized a long "be it resolved" paragraph as repetitive and urged administration to break it into clearer, shorter resolved statements. Miss Carol Hubbard proposed softer wording for an evaluation clause — changing "ensures ongoing evaluation" to language such as "encourages and supports ongoing evaluation" — to reflect that most program evaluation is administered by district staff rather than the board.
Dr. Minor (administration) told the board the resolution does not introduce new services and that counseling and restorative practices referenced are already offered in schools. The board asked administration to produce a revised draft, with clarified and tightened language, and to circulate it to board members for comment so the item can be placed on a forthcoming regular meeting agenda.
The board did not take a formal vote on the resolution during the work session; members provided direction to staff and expected the item to return for formal action early next semester.
