The Brockton Public Schools is committed to providing a safe, positive, and productive educational environment where students can achieve the highest academic standards. No student shall be subjected to harassment, intimidation, bullying by a student, bullying by a staff member or cyber bullying.
“Bullying” is the repeated use by one or more students or school staff members of a written, verbal, or electronic expression, or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:
“Perpetrator” is a student or a member of a school staff including, but not limited to, an educator, administrator, school nurse, cafeteria worker, custodian, bus driver, athletic coach, advisor to an extracurricular activity or paraprofessional who engages in bullying or retaliation.
“Cyber-bullying” means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which shall include, but shall not be limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a:
Cyber-bullying shall also include the creation of a web page or blog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person or knowingly impersonates another person as author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying.
Cyber-bullying shall also include the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying.
Bullying and cyber-bullying may occur in and out of school, during and after school hours, at home and in locations outside of the home. When bullying and cyber-bullying are alleged, the full cooperation and assistance of parents and families are expected.
For the purpose of this policy, whenever the term bullying is used it is to denote either bullying by one or more students, school staff members, or cyber-bullying.
Bullying is prohibited:
Bullying and cyber-bullying are prohibited at a location, activity, function or program that is not school-related or through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased or used by the Brockton school district if the act or acts in question:
As prescribed by Chapter 86 of the Acts of 2014, the Superintendent and his/her designee shall develop, adhere to, and update a plan to address bullying prevention and intervention, in consultation with teachers, school staff, professional support personnel, school volunteers, administrators, community representatives, local law enforcement agencies, students, parents and guardians.
The bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be reviewed and updated at least biennially, and shall address the requirements detailed in Chapter 86, including the following provisions:
Moreover, the school committee recognizes the district’s obligation to collect and report bullying data to DESE, including:
Additionally, as required by chapter 86, the Brockton Public Schools will administer a DESE-developed survey at least once every four years to assess “school climate and the prevalence, nature, and severity of bullying in schools.”
The Principal will be responsible for the implementation and oversight of the bullying prevention and implementation plan within his/her school.
Students, who believe that they are a target of bullying, observe an act of bullying, or who have reasonable grounds to believe that these behaviors are taking place, should report incidents to a member of the school staff. The target shall, however, not be subject to discipline for failing to report bullying.
Each school shall have a means for anonymous reporting by students of incidents of bullying. No formal disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.
Any student who knowingly makes a false accusation of bullying shall be subject to disciplinary action.
Parents or guardians, or members of the community, are encouraged to report an incident of bullying as soon as possible.
A member of a school staff shall immediately report any instance of bullying the staff member has witnessed or become aware of to the school principal or their designee.
The Principal or his/her designee, upon receipt of a report of bullying, shall promptly contact the parents or guardians of a student who has been the alleged target or alleged perpetrator of bullying. If the alleged perpetrator of bullying is a staff member, then the principal should also contact the executive director of Human Resources to discuss further action.
The school principal or a designee shall promptly investigate the report of bullying, using a Bullying/Cyber-bullying Report Form which may include interviewing the alleged target, alleged perpetrator, staff members, students and/or witnesses.
Support staff shall assess an alleged target’s needs for protection and create and implement a safety plan that shall restore a sense of safety for that student.
Confidentiality shall be used to protect a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or is witness to or has reliable information about an act of bullying.
If the school Principal or a designee determines that bullying has occurred he/she shall take appropriate disciplinary action and if it is believed that criminal charges may be pursued against the perpetrator, the principal shall consult with the school’s resource officer and the Superintendent to determine if criminal charges are warranted. If it is determined that criminal charges are warranted, the local law enforcement agency shall be notified.
The investigation shall be completed within fourteen school days from the date of the report. The parents or guardians shall be contacted upon completion of the investigation and informed of the results, including whether the allegations were found to be factual, whether a violation of this policy was found, and whether disciplinary action has or shall be taken. At a minimum the Principal or his/her designee shall contact the parents or guardians as to the status of the investigation on a weekly basis.
Disciplinary actions for students who have committed an act of bullying or retaliation shall be in accordance with district disciplinary policies.
Each school shall document any incident of bullying that is reported per this policy and a file shall be maintained by the Principal or designee. A monthly report shall be provided to the Superintendent.
Confidentiality shall be maintained to the extent consistent with the school's obligations under law.
Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying, shall be prohibited.
The Brockton Public Schools shall provide counseling or referral to appropriate services, including guidance, academic intervention, and protection to students, both targets and perpetrators, affected by bullying, as necessary.
Annual training shall be provided for school employees and volunteers who have significant contact with students in preventing, identifying, responding to, and reporting incidents of bullying.
Age-appropriate, evidence-based instruction on bullying prevention shall be incorporated into the curriculum for all K to 12 students.
Annual written notice of the relevant sections of the bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be provided to students and their parents or guardians, in age-appropriate terms.
Annual written notice of the bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be provided to all school staff. The faculty and staff at each school shall be trained annually on the bullying prevention and intervention plan applicable to the school.
Relevant sections of the bullying prevention and intervention plan relating to the duties of faculty and staff shall be included in the school employee handbook.
The bullying prevention and intervention plan shall be posted on the Brockton Public Schools website.
LEGAL REFS.: Title VII, Section 703, Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended
Federal Regulation 74676 issued by EEO Commission
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
603 CMR 26:00
M.G.L. 71:37O; 265:43, 43A; 268:13B; 269:14A
Chapter 86 of the Acts of 2014 [amendment to G.L.c.71, § 370]
REFERENCES: Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Model Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
APPROVED/UPDATED: June, 2016; October, 2018
CROSS REFS.: AC, Nondiscrimination
ACAB, Sexual Harassment
JBA, Student-to-Student Harassment
JICFA, Prohibition of Hazing
JK, Student Discipline Regulations