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Adel DeSoto Minburn Community School District

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Bullying and Harassment

Bullying and Harassment

 

The ADM Community School District is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, employees, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board.

 

While formal processes are in place for students, parents, and staff to file a complaint about bullying and harassment, individuals who are unclear about how to report an incident, file a complaint, or respond to an incident, should seek help from a trusted adult or supervisor.

 

 

Social Behaviors

Students and staff at ADM and all schools experience and observe a wide variety of social behaviors and incidents throughout each school year. These behaviors and incidents can range from kind words and actions to student conflict, incidents of mean and rude behavior, and actions that constitute bullying or harassment. The social behavior scale below has been developed to help promote common vocabulary and definitions of behaviors that students, parents, and staff may experience, observe, or be informed about throughout the school year.

 

A diagram illustrates the spectrum of behavior, from kind to harassment, with a tiger logo at the center.

 

ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook

ADM has developed an Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook to provide ADM students, parents, and staff members with clear definitions of social behaviors that include harassment, bullying, peer conflict, and mean/rude behavior, as well as information about how to respond, report, and get help. Several key portions of the handbook are included on this website. However, students and parents are encouraged to review the handbook in full.

 

View ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook

 

 

Bullying Defined

The legal definition of bullying is outlined in Iowa Code 280.28. In order to meet the legal threshold to be considered bullying, the following must occur:

 

Diagram illustrating the definition of bullying, including repeated and targeted conduct.

 

 

Harassment Defined

Federal laws and policies related to Title VI, Title IX, IDEA, Section 504, and Civil Rights define harassment in the K-12 setting and protect members of different protected classes. In order to meet the legal threshold to be considered harassment, the following must occur:

 

Diagram illustrating the components that constitute harassment, including unwelcome conduct and a hostile environment.

 

 

How To Respond and Get Help

Students should take the following steps to seek help if they are experiencing the following social behaviors.

Peer Conflict

  • Use conflict- resolution skills to talk it out 
    • I-messages
    • Perspective Taking
    • Agree on a solution
    • Move on!
  • Talk to a trusted adult
  • Talk with your parents
  • Ask your school counselor for support

Mean/Rude Behavior

  • Focus on your circle of control
  • Walk away/ignore
  • Use  an I-message to share how you feel (I felt… when you…I need….)
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Tell a trusted adult 
  • Talk with your parents

Bullying

  • Do not engage
  • Do not bully back or retaliate
  • Note possible witnesses
  • If something happens at school, get help right away
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Report to a trusted adult ASAP
  • Talk with your parents
  • Complete complaint form (Google Doc, PDF)

Harassment

  • Do not engage
  • Do not retaliate
  • Note possible witnesses
  • If something happens at school, get help right away
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Report to a trusted adult ASAP
  • Talk with your parents
  • Complete complaint form (Google Doc, PDF)

 

 

Complaint Form

Per ADM Board Policy 104.R(1), complaints shall be filed within 180 days of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. Students, parents, or staff members may file a complain using the following form:

 

Google Document: ADM Anti-Bullying / Harassment Complaint Form

ADM Anti-Bullying / Harassment Complaint Form

 

 

How To File a Complaint

Students, parents, and staff should take the following steps to file a complaint.

 

 

A Student Believes They Are Being Bullied or Harassed

 

Option 1: Get Help From Staff

  • A student informs a staff member of their complaint.
  • The staff member will ensure that the student meets with a building administrator to fill out the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF).
  • The staff member will ensure that the completed complaint form is filed with a building administrator.

 

Option 2: File Complaint On Own

  • A student may fill out the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF) on their own and file it with a building administrator.

 

 

A Parent Believes Their Student is Being Bullied or Harassed

 

Option 1: Get Help From Staff

  • A parent informs a staff member of their complaint.
  • The staff member will direct the parent to fill out the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF)  and submit it to a building administrator or to meet with an administrator to fill out the form together.
  • The completed complaint form will be filed with the building administrator.

 

Option 2: File Complaint On Own

  • A parent may fill out the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF) on their own and file it with a building administrator.

 

 

A Staff Member Observes a Student Being Bullied or Harassed

 

Option 1: Meet With Administrator

  • A staff member who is uncomfortable completing the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF) should meet with a building administrator to discuss and complete the complaint form together.
  • The completed complaint form will be filed with the building administrator.

 

Option 2: File Complaint on Own

  • The staff member may fill out the complaint form (Google Doc, PDF) on their own and file it with the administrator on behalf of the alleged victim.
  • Note: If a staff member is unsure if the behavior observed is bullying, harassment, or discrimination they should meet with an administrator to discuss the situation of concern.