The Principal of each school (or principal’s designee) shall serve as the Safe School
Climate Specialist. The Safe School Climate Specialist shall investigate or supervise the
investigation of reported acts of bullying and act as the primary school official
responsible for preventing, identifying and responding to reports of bullying in the
school.
V. Development and Review of Safe School Climate Plan
A. The Principal of each school shall establish a committee or designate at least one existing
committee (“Committee”) in the school to be responsible for developing and fostering a
safe school climate and addressing issues relating to bullying in the school. Such
committee shall include at least one parent/guardian of a student enrolled in the school, as
appointed by the school principal.
B. The Committee shall: 1) receive copies of completed reports following bullying
investigations; 2) identify and address patterns of bullying among students in the school;
3) implement the provisions of the school security and safety plan, if applicable,
regarding the collection, evaluation and reporting of information relating to instances of
disturbing or threatening behavior that may not meet the definition of bullying, 4) review
and amend school policies relating to bullying; 5) review and make recommendations to
the Coordinator regarding the Safe School Climate Plan based on issues and experiences
specific to the school; 6) educate students, school employees and parents/guardians on
issues relating to bullying; 7) collaborate with the Coordinator in the collection of data
regarding bullying; and 8) perform any other duties as determined by the Principal that
are related to the prevention, identification and response to school bullying.
C. Any parent/guardian serving as a member of the Committee shall not participate in any
activities which may compromise the confidentiality of any student, including, but not
limited to receiving copies of investigation reports, or identifying or addressing patterns
of bullying among students in the school.
D. The Board of Education shall approve the Safe School Climate Plan developed pursuant
to Board policy and submit such plan to the Department of Education. Not later than
thirty (30) calendar days after approval by the Board, the Board shall make such plan
available on the Board's and each individual school in the school district's web site and
ensure that the Safe School Climate Plan is included in the school district's publication of
the rules, procedures and standards of conduct for schools and in all student handbooks.
VI.
Procedures for Reporting and Investigating Complaints of Bullying
A. Students and parents (or guardians of students) may file written reports of bullying.
Written reports of bullying shall be reasonably specific as to the basis for the report,
including the time and place of the alleged conduct, the number of incidents, the target of
the suspected bullying, and the names of potential witnesses. Such reports may be filed
with any building administrator and/or the Safe School Climate Specialist (i.e. building
principal), and all reports shall be forwarded to the Safe School Climate Specialist for
review and actions consistent with this Plan.
B. Students may make anonymous reports of bullying to any school employee. Students
may also request anonymity when making a report, even if the student’s identity is
known to the school employee. In cases where a student requests anonymity, the Safe
46