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Garfield Re-2 Policies

JICDE-Bullying Prevention and Education

JICDE

Bullying Prevention and Education

 

Statement of Purpose 

The Board of Education supports a secure school and positive climate conducive to teaching and learning that is free from threat, harassment, and any type of bullying behavior. The purpose of this policy is to promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying are regarded as unacceptable. 

 

Bullying and other behaviors as defined below are prohibited on district property, at district or school-sanctioned activities and events, when students are being transported in any vehicle dispatched by the district or one of its schools, or off school property when such conduct has a nexus to school or any district curricular or non-curricular activity or event. 

 

Prohibited Behavior 

● Bullying 

● Retaliation against those reporting bullying and/or other behaviors prohibited   

   by this policy 

● Making knowingly false accusations of bullying behavior 


 

Definitions 

 

Bullying is the use of coercion or intimidation to obtain control over another person or to cause physical, mental, or emotional harm to another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal, or electronically transmitted expressions  (i.e., cyberbullying) or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying is prohibited against any student for any reason, including but not limited to any such behavior that is directed toward a student on the basis of their academic performance, on the basis of their weight, height, body size, or any basis described in section 22-32-109(1)(ll)(I)(A), C.R.S. or any basis protected by federal and state law, including disability, race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, familial status, national origin, religion, hairstyles and hair textures, ancestry or the need for special education services, whether such characteristic(s) is actual or perceived. Included but not limited to those who federal and state laws prohibit discrimination upon the bases described in C.R.S. 22-32-109.” 

 

Retaliation is an act or communication intended as retribution against an individual who reports an act of bullying. Retaliation can also include knowingly making false accusations of bullying or acting to influence the investigation of, or the response to, a report of bullying.

 

False accusations of bullying are accusations that are untrue, made knowingly by an individual or group of individuals.  

 

Prevention and Intervention 

The superintendent will develop a comprehensive program to address bullying at all school levels and will ensure that the program is consistently applied across all students and staff. The program will be aimed at accomplishing the following goals: 

 

  1. We want everyone—students, staff, parents, and community members—to understand without question that bullying in any form is prohibited and that retaliation against anyone who reports bullying will not be tolerated. Our district is committed to creating a safe, respectful environment for all. 

 

  1. Train staff on an annual basis in taking proactive steps to prevent bullying from occurring, which includes but is not limited to training on the bullying prevention and education policy, how to recognize and intervene in bullying situations, and how to teach students the differences between conflict and bullying.  

 

  1. Provide education to students, parents, and staff regarding the difference between conflict and bullying, respectful disagreements, and how to set boundaries.  

 

  1. Implement procedures for immediate intervention, investigation, and confrontation of students engaged in bullying behavior. 

 

  1. Initiate efforts to change the behavior of students engaged in bullying behaviors through re-education on acceptable behavior, discussions, counseling, and appropriate negative consequences. 

 

  1. Foster a productive partnership with parents and community members in order to help maintain a bullying-free environment with a focus on healthy conflict resolution.  

 

  1. Support the student body to feel empowered to prevent future bullying appropriately without escalating the situation and to break the cycle of bullying through a layered continuum of supports.

 

  1. Help develop peer support networks, social skills, and confidence for all students. 

 

  1.  Support positive school climate efforts that clearly define, teach, and reinforce prosocial behavior. This includes intentional efforts to promote positive relationships between staff and students, as well as between students with other students. 

 

  1. Designate a team at each school that advises the school administration on the severity and frequency of bullying. The team at the school may include, but need not be limited to, school resource officers,  social workers, school psychologists, health professionals, mental health professionals, members of bullying prevention or youth resiliency community organizations, counselors, teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

 

  1. Survey students’ impressions of the severity and frequency of bullying behaviors in their school. School district administration will consider all student feedback. 

 

  1. Include students in the development, creation, and delivery of bullying prevention efforts as developmentally appropriate.

 

  1. Provide character education to students that includes, but is not limited to, evidence-based, age-appropriate social and emotional learning, as well as information on recognizing and preventing bullying behaviors.

 

  1. The district’s comprehensive program to address bullying will incorporate provisions for adequate due processes and safeguards for students accused of bullying behaviors in accordance with applicable law and Board policy. 


 

Reporting 

Anyone who believes they have been a target of bullying and/or other behaviors prohibited by this policy or who has witnessed such bullying and/or other prohibited behaviors is strongly encouraged to immediately report it to a staff member, parent/guardian, or via Safe2Tell. 


 

Investigating and Responding 

As part of the superintendent’s comprehensive program to address bullying,  procedures will be developed with the goal of immediate intervention and investigation in response to reports of students engaged in bullying and/or other behaviors prohibited by this policy. Procedures will include notification to parents/guardians of the results

of bullying investigations and their right to appeal investigatory findings to the district. The investigator and administrator will determine the details that will be shared within the applicable law, policy, and procedure.   

 

Supports and Referrals 

As part of the superintendent’s comprehensive program to address bullying,  a tiered system of support will be developed with the aim of accomplishing the following goals: 

 

● Initiate efforts to change the behavior of students engaged in bullying    

   behaviors. 

● Empower targets of bullying with tools to advocate for themselves to prevent retaliation or any resulting disciplinary action.  

● Support witnesses of bullying. 

 

A student who engages in any act of bullying, retaliation, and/or other behaviors prohibited by this policy is subject to appropriate disciplinary action, including but not limited to suspension, expulsion, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities. 

 

The severity and pattern, if any, of the bullying behavior will be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made. 

 

Bullying behavior that constitutes unlawful discrimination or harassment will be subject to investigation and discipline under related Board policies and procedures. 

 

Students targeted by bullying, when such bullying behavior may constitute unlawful discrimination or harassment, also have additional rights and protections under Board policies and procedures regarding unlawful discrimination and harassment.


 

Adopted: September 10, 2002 

Revised: August 28, 2012 

Revised: September 14, 2020 

Revised: November 10, 2021 

Revised: May 25, 2022 

Revised: May 28, 2025

 

LEGAL REFS.: C.R.S. 22-32-109.1 (2)(a)(I)(K) (policy required as part of safe schools  plan) 

 

CROSS REFS.: AC, Nondiscrimination/Equal Opportunity 

JB, Equal Educational Opportunities 

JBB*, Sex-based Sexual Harassment 

JICDA, Code of Conduct 

JICDD*, Violent and Aggressive Behavior 

JICJ, Student Use of Electronic Communication Devices 

JK, Student Discipline 


 

Garfield Re-2 School District No. Re-2

 

  • J - Students