Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Bullying Prevention topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board proclaims October National Bullying Prevention Month; district outlines "dignity and belonging" rollout
Summary
The Rockwood Board of Education approved a proclamation designating October 2025 as National Bullying Prevention Month and heard an Educational Access update outlining a cohort-based 'teaching with belonging' plan and measures the district will use to track outcomes.
The Rockwood Board of Education approved a proclamation declaring October 2025 National Bullying Prevention Month and heard a detailed update on district efforts to teach and systematize “dignity and belonging.”
Dr. Collette Higgins, leading the Educational Access work, told the board the district is aligning behavior standards, PBIS elements and multi‑year prevention models to reduce bullying and disparities in student outcomes. “A preventative model with these components can effectively reduce bullying in schools,” Dr. Higgins said, describing peer mediation in middle schools and cohort-based training for staff.
Why it matters: the board framed the initiative as a district-wide commitment to student safety and equity. The proclamation cited research on bullying’s harm and the district’s existing compliance with state law. Higgins said the work will move from varied site-level implementations toward a consistent, supported set of practices across nearly three dozen sites.
Board members pressed for measurable outcomes. Higgins proposed using repeat staff and student survey instruments, SEL survey items and district data to track changes in attendance, behavior and academic disparities. “We’re giving that staff instrument again in November so we can have a reset of the whole program,” she said, noting the goal is to see a reduction or elimination of disparate outcomes.
On whether the district’s elimination of cell-phone use has reduced bullying, staff said it is too early to conclude. District staff reported three formal bullying reports this year and cautioned that many instances of bullying also occur off campus and after school hours.
The board approved the anti-bullying proclamation by voice vote. Next steps include continuing cohort training (two initial days followed by two follow-up sessions concluding in January) and a plan for district-level materials and slide decks to support local implementation.
