Safe School Climate & Bullying Information

District Safe School Climate Plan 


The Bethel Board of Education is committed to creating and maintaining a physically, emotionally, and intellectually safe educational environment free from bullying, teen dating violence, harassment, and discrimination. To further foster safe, engaging learning environments in every District school, a District Safe School Climate Committee was established in June 2010.

The District Safe School Climate Plan represents a comprehensive approach to address bullying, teen dating violence, and cyberbullying, as well as “mean behavior,” and sets forth the Board’s expectations for creating a positive school climate and thus preventing, intervening, and responding to incidents of bullying, harassment, or mean behavior.

The District Safe School Climate Plan can be accessed here.


What Does the Survey Say??

We are extremely concerned about some cultural shifts in our society that are impacting our children’s mental health.  It is our hope that if we come together and work as a community, we can positively affect change.   We want our children to be kind, happy, and empathetic individuals who care about themselves and others in the community.  Additionally, we want our children to effectively handle stress and engage in civil discourse when they have disagreements with others in order to manage difficult social interactions/conflict (particularly online). 

 

To that end, the Bethel Public Schools, the Bethel Board of Education, and the Bethel Cares Coalition co-sponsored an interactive community forum, What Does the Survey Say?? on January 27, 2020

 

The presentation What Does the Survey Say??  provided some district data (Developmental Assets Survey Executive Summary) on the social-emotional well-being of our students, the Developmental Assets Survey, and trends we are seeing in our schools. The majority of forum our District Safe School Climate Committee members, parents, staff, and community partners spent time together discussing actions we can take as a larger community to ensure the social and emotional well-being of all of our children. 

 

We will continue to update you on the workshops, actions, and progress we make as a larger community to ensure the social and emotional well-being of all of our children.




Bullying Information: 

Definition of Bullying

A. “Bullying” means: an act that is direct or indirect and severe, persistent or pervasive, which:
 
1. causes physical or emotional harm to an individual; 

2. places an individual in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm or 

3. infringes on the rights or opportunities of an individual at school.

B. Bullying shall include, but need not be limited to, written, oral, or electronic communication or physical act or gesture-based on any actual or perceived differentiating characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, socio-economic status, academic status, physical appearance, or mental, physical, developmental, or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.   


REPORT OF SUSPECTED BULLYING BEHAVIORS OR TEEN DATING VIOLENCE FORM

BULLYING & TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION POLICY


Safe School Climate Specialists - Contact Information


Harassment, Including Sexual Harassment Information: 


SEXUAL HARASSMENT IS PROHIBITED based on Federal Law - Title IX of
the Education Amendments of 1972, and State Law – Sec. 10-15c. Harassment - based on sexual orientation is also protected under State Law – Sec. 10-15c.

Harassment is Illegal

Complaint Form  Regarding Sexual Harassment (Student)

Complaint Form  Regarding  Harassment, Including Sexual Harassment (Personnel)

Complaint Form Regarding  Sex Discrimination Other Than Sexual Harassment (Student)

Complaint Form Regarding Sex Discrimination Other Than Sexual Harassment (Personnel)

Title IX Training Materials

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Discrimination: 

The conditions or privileges of employment in the school district, including the wages, hours, terms and benefits, shall be applied without regard to race, color, religion, age, marital status, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry, mental or physical disability, Veteran status, or genetic information, except in the case of a bona fide occupational qualification. The Board of Education seeks to extend the advantages of public education with fully equality of educational opportunity to students and personnel. 

Report Form for Complaints of Discrimination

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Bethel Student Data Privacy Policies:

Student Data Privacy