Hernando County officials report rise in harassment; say high schools show no bullying disciplines

Jill Colossa, director of student services, told the board the district has seen increases in harassment and in bullying investigations in recent months and outlined how the district distinguishes bullying from isolated incidents. "Bullying definition really is systematically and chronically that inflicts physical harm or a distress," Colossa said, adding that cyberbullying and repeated off-campus conduct that affects school attendance fall under the district's purview when they disrupt a student's education.

Colossa presented three-year discipline data and said harassment codes have gone up while unsubstantiated investigations have declined. She also told the board the district has no bullying disciplines at the high-school level for the last three years, though harassment incidents are present in high schools. Colossa provided repeat-offender counts by year (2023–24: 6; 2024–25: 2, with one expelled; 2025–26: 1 student with two bullying disciplines who was not expelled because the student was in special education).

Student services staff said they have expanded prevention efforts, including districtwide presentations, an anti-bullying video contest, training for administrators and counselors, a district bullying-prevention committee and plans to evaluate evidence-based prevention programs. "We are making a deliberate focus on prevention training, awareness and increased parent education through district-wide presentations," Angela Miller Royal said.