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Jennings County Schools to publish quarterly bullying data, outlines mental-health steps and privacy limits
Summary
At tonight's school-board meeting, district staff read a public information statement saying privacy laws limit some public responses and announced the district will post quarterly bullying-reporting data; staff listed prevention steps, training and new reporting options.
A district staff member told the Jennings County School Board on Monday that the district will publish a quarterly bullying-data sheet and outlined its approach to bullying investigations, student mental-health supports and limits on public disclosure under federal privacy law.
The district read an information statement at the start of the meeting explaining that student- and employee-privacy laws restrict what the district can say about specific cases and that it uses formal channels — ParentSquare, principals, central office contacts and an anonymous 'Say Something' portal — for reporting. “When we are able to share information, we strive to do so through appropriate channels, including public meetings and official communications,” the staff member said.
Why it matters: The statement is an effort to balance transparency with federal protections for student education records. The district said posting standardized quarterly data should give families and the public a clearer picture of reports and confirmed incidents while preserving privacy where disclosure is restricted.
What the district reported: The staff member read numbers the district said are on the first one-page data sheet. The transcript records the district saying it received 14 reports to its tip platforms this year (six submitted via a Google form from August to October and eight submitted through Say Something after that system was implemented in November). Later in the readout the district said total Say Something tips in 2026 were 18; the transcript’s counts are inconsistent and the district said it will publish the sheet on its website and update it each quarter for clarity.
The district also reported 16 confirmed bullying incidents through quarter three of the 2025–26 school year (four in quarter one, five in quarter two and seven in quarter three) and said it had investigated 21 peer-conflict reports (Q1:5; Q2:3; Q3:11). Confirmed incidents can lead to disciplinary consequences ranging from supportive safety plans to suspension or, when required, expulsion or referral to law enforcement, the statement said.
Prevention and supports: The statement listed current and planned measures, including annual student lessons on bullying prevention and online safety, expanded staff suicide-prevention and QPR training, additional mental-health first-aid training for counselors, and partnerships with Jennings County Health Department, Purdue Extension, specialists from Riley Hospital for Children and local providers such as Centerstone and Firefly. The district also said it plans a community advisory committee and a student advisory group for grades 5–12.
What the board did: The item was presented as information; the board did not take formal action on policy changes during the meeting. The staff member said the data sheet would be posted to the district website, with quarterly updates.
Context and next steps: The statement repeatedly noted the district cannot comment on pending litigation or specific personnel matters because of legal privacy requirements (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act). The district invited questions through established channels and said staff would continue to expand reporting and family outreach as the advisory work proceeds.
Ending: The board moved on to routine business after the readout; the staff member said the one-page data sheet should be posted on the district website "sometime next week."
