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Board approves county-funded ALAS anti-bullying pilot for two elementary sites, requires parental consent or question removal
Summary
The board approved a county-funded pilot of the ALAS bullying-prevention framework at two elementary schools but conditioned survey participation on active parental opt-in (or removal of a flagged question) after public concern about survey content and county data handling.
The Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District board voted 4-1 on Sept. 11 to pilot the ALAS (anti-bullying) framework at two elementary schools, with conditions to address parent concerns about a county-run student survey. The pilot is funded through a Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health grant and would initially cover Silver Spur and Dapple Gray elementary schools.
Staff described ALAS as a schoolwide framework — not a fixed curriculum — that trains a coach who forms a school committee, coordinates staff training, clarifies reporting procedures and runs classroom meetings to teach students what bullying is and how to report it. Dr Wildy said the program complements the district’s existing PBIS and Second Step efforts and includes family engagement and follow-up with affected students.
Multiple public commenters asked the board to review program materials and the survey instrument before approving the MOU. Sharon Yarber urged the board to conduct rigorous due diligence and to review the survey questions before students participate. "I don't think you expose kids to an experimental program unless you as a board have really done your due diligence," Yarber said. Other speakers supported the program but urged careful oversight and clear parental notification.
Board discussion focused on the survey the county uses to measure outcomes, data-sharing with Los Angeles County and the timeline for training. Board members expressed willingness to pilot ALAS if the district either required active parent consent for the survey or secured removal of the one survey question some board members found inappropriate for younger grades. Dr Wildy said the survey is a grant requirement but that parents may opt out.
The motion to approve the MOU included the condition that students would participate in the county survey only with active parental opt-in, or that staff would request the county remove the flagged question; the motion passed 4-1. One board member recorded a no vote citing privacy and survey concerns.
Next steps: staff will register teachers for training, work with principals and the district KOSA to implement the pilot, circulate survey questions to parents and return to the board with evaluation data at the end of the pilot year.
