Salem County Special Services

Salem County Special Services board of education expects pupils to treat each other with civility and respect, and will not tolerate acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying. Like other disruptive or violent behaviors, this conduct interferes with a pupil's ability to learn and a school's ability to educate its pupils in a safe environment.

The board prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying against any pupil.

"Harassment, intimidation or bullying" is defined as any gesture, written communication (including via any form of electronic communication), or verbal or physical act that is motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory handicap, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function or on a school bus and that:

A. A reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of harming a pupil or damaging the pupil's property, or placing a pupil in reasonable fear of harm to his/her person or damage to his/her property; or

B. Has the effect of insulting or demeaning any pupil or group of pupils in such a way as to cause disruption in, or interference with, the orderly operation of the school.

Any school employee, pupil or volunteer who has witnessed, or has reliable information that a pupil has been subject to harassment, intimidation or bullying must report the incident to the appropriate school official designated by the administration.

Acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall be reported to the site principal or his or her designee. Anonymous reports can be submitted in writing to the school office, addressed to the building principal or to his or her designee.

The building principal or his or her designee will promptly investigate reported acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying perpetrated by students.

Consequences, discipline and remedial action taken against a person who commits an act of harassment, intimidation or bullying, who engages in an act of reprisal or retaliation against a person who reports such action, or who falsely accuses another of bullying as a means of harassment, intimidation or bullying will be in accord with the student discipline code, the employees negotiated agreement, and New Jersey Administrative code and statute.

The chief school administrator shall take all necessary steps to publicize this policy, and shall inform pupils and staff that harassment, intimidation or bullying is prohibited on school property or any school-sponsored function. This information shall also be incorporated into the student handbook and employee training programs.

Students with disabilities

Classified pupils are subject to the same disciplinary procedures as non-disabled pupils and may be disciplined in accordance with their IEP. However, before disciplining a classified pupil, it must be determined that:

A. The pupil's behavior is not primarily caused by his/her educational disability;

B. The program that is being provided meets the pupil's needs.

Staff shall comply with state and federal law and the regulations of the New Jersey administrative code in dealing with discipline and/or suspension of all pupils with disabilities.

Implementation

The chief school administrator shall ensure that the rules for this policy are applied consistently and uniformly, and that all disciplinary sanctions are carried out with necessary due process.

First Reading: August 19, 2003

Second Reading: September 16, 2003

Policy Adopted: September 16, 2003

Revised Policy

First Reading: January 15, 2008

Second Reading: February 19, 2008