The Medford Board of Education approved and adopted the harassment, intimidation, and bullying (HIB) policy for the school district.
The New Jersey Department of Education recently released an HIB compliance checklist that will be used by the Executive County Superintendent in reviewing a school district’s HIB Policy that was submitted prior to September 1, 2011. The 18-page compliance checklist requires a district’s HIB policy to include several provisions that were not included in the policy language sections of the most recent policy approved on August
22, 2011.
The board also revised the policy regarding reporting violence, vandalism, harassment, intimidation, bullying, alcohol and other drug abuse.
Information Summary:
A section of the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act revises the law regarding reporting of certain acts of violence and vandalism by school employees and now includes certain reporting to include acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying. The revision to this statute requires a revision to policy and regulation guides.
There is a new requirement for the superintendent to report acts of violence, vandalism and harassment, intimidation, or bullying to the board at a public hearing and to the New Jersey Department of Education two times per year. In addition, each school in the district and each district will be graded by the Department of Education in its efforts to implement policies and programs consistent with the provisions of the harassment, intimidation, and bullying prevention statutes.
The superintendent’s report and grades must be posted on the district and school websites.
The board also voted to revise policy on pupil discipline and code of conduct.
The Model Policy and Guidance language indicates consequences and remedial measures in response to a confirmed act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying shall be varied and graded upon consideration of many factors as there is no “one size fits all” consequence or remedial measure in response to a confirmed act of harassment, intimidation, or bullying.
The policy guide references the lengthy list of factors for determining consequences and remedial measures and examples of consequences and remedial measures.
This section includes a list of consequences the district may impose for acts of harassment, intimidation, and bullying.
The board also adopted a policy concerned with prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and head injuries.
The New Jersey Department of Education published its guidance for the prevention and treatment of sports-related concussions and head injuries on April 12, 2011. The guidance includes what is required in a policy.
New Jersey law requires a student-athlete be immediately removed from the activity or event and receive a medical evaluation by a physician or other healthcare professional. The student-athlete can only return to the activity with a written medical clearance.
Another law provides immunity to school districts for injury to any youth sports team organization athlete that uses school facilities provided the district obtains adequate insurance and the organization signs a statement that it will comply with the district’s policy.
