Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Reporting Procedure

The Merced City School District has a no tolerance policy against bullying in all forms. Student safety is a top priority for the district and does not allow any behaviors that infringe on the safety or emotional or physical well-being of any student. Merced City School District has developed strategies for bullying prevention and intervention to help keep students safe and ensure a healthy learning environment. The district has an extensive board policy on bullying that covers a variety of areas, including cyberbullying, bullying prevention, intervention, complaints and investigation, discipline and enforcement mechanisms.

Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention Resources

Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Reporting Procedures

Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Reporting Procedures

The Merced City School District believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. The district, schools, and community have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance. The Merced City School District will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student. A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation. The Merced City School District expects students and/or staff to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee. Staff who witness such acts take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of bullying should be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling to and from school or a school-sponsored activity, during the lunch period, whether on or off campus, and during a school-sponsored activity. To ensure bullying does not occur on school campuses, the Merced City School District will provide staff development training in bullying prevention and cultivate acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to build each school's capacity to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.

Student Code of Conduct

The Student Code of Conduct includes, but is not limited to:

Any student who engages in bullying or cyberbullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.
Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying or cyberbullying to the principal or designee.
Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying or cyberbullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached, the student or the parent of the student should contact the principal. The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.

Reporting Procedures

Reporting Procedures:

It is the district’s expectation that all bullying and cyberbullying incidents will be reported.

If school personnel witness an act of discrimination harassment, intimidation, or bullying, he or she shall take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so (EC 234.1 (b) (1)). Many times the situation can be rectified before it requires complicated interventions.
Referrals to the school counselor
Referral to the office
All reports are to remain confidential, as appropriate.
We also take steps to protect the individual who makes the report from retaliation (EC 234.1 (b) (1))

* Extreme cases of bullying always go directly to the school principal.

Investigating and Responding to Bullying and Cyberbullying

Investigating and Responding to Bullying and Cyberbullying:

Once a bullying or cyberbullying report is received, our school’s administration will begin an investigation immediately. If it is determined that bullying has occurred, our school’s administration will:

Take appropriate disciplinary action
Notify the family of the bullied student
Notify the family of the student who bullied
Provide immediate consequences for any student who retaliates against students who report bullying
Students knowingly making false accusations of bullying may be subject to disciplinary action

Training and Bullying Prevention

Training and Bullying Prevention:

Our schools take a proactive approach to dealing with bullying and cyberbullying by providing the following training and prevention education for our students and staff:

Directly teaching students our positively stated school rules across multiple environments.
Classroom presentations and/or assemblies by administrators and counselors.
Staff members are trained and provided with resources to help create positive classroom climates to minimize the likelihood that bullying will occur.

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Bullying and Cyberbullying Prevention and Reporting Procedure