Newsletters 2014-15 Focus newsletter, [1] fall | Page 11

CREATING SAFE AND RESPECTFUL SCHOOLS PAGE 11 District in the lead meeting new state anti-bullying requirement Eliminating bullying and harassment Anoka-Hennepin School District is in good shape to implement the extensive requirements of the state’s new anti-bullying law. After much discussion and many revisions, the Minnesota Legislature approved a bill last spring that created a set of rules for Minnesota schools to follow to address the problem of bullying in schools. All Anoka-Hennepin schools provided training for students on bullying and harassment, and the district conducted numerous trainings for various groups of staff on a variety of specific topics related to bullying and harassment. Here are just a few efforts that were new last year. There was concern statewide that it would be difficult for many school districts to comply with the new law. Anoka-Hennepin already has the policies and procedures in place to comply with the new state law thanks to its focus on eliminating bullying and harassment from district schools and teaching students core values, like respect and compassion. The district has been working on bullying and harassment in the schools since 2003 when it put its first anti-bullying policy in place. And, it has been working on instilling it’s core values – respect, responsibility, appreciation of diversity, integrity and compassion – in students since the early 1990’s. Since hiring a full-time Title IX/equity coordinator in 2012, however, these efforts moved into high gear. The district has made great strides in educating staff and students about bullying and harassment and developing procedures for handling and tracking incidents. “We have been on this journey for over a decade, and now I feel we can say we have made significant progress,” said Jennifer Cherry, Title IX/equity coordinator. For the past 13 years, the Anoka-Hennepin schools have hosted a district-wide Anti-Bully Poster contest. Winners, like last year's seventh-grade winner, Brianna Xiong, from Anoka Middle School for the Arts, have their posters displayed in buildings across the district for the year. Over the next school year, staff from each of the secondary schools will receive bystander empowerment training and develop plans to implement a student leadership program in their own schools the following year. Over the years, all district schools have provided students with anti-bullying training of some type each year. These efforts have been school–specific rather than consistent throughout the district. Most of the training thus far has focused on knowing what bullying is and reporting it to adults when it happens. Coon Rapids and Blaine high schools took that an important step further with programs emphasizing what bystanders can do to stop bullying. Despite the progress, there is more work to be done and the district is With those efforts in We have been on this journey getting financial help to place, Cherry is begindo it. Cherry was thrilled ning to look more directfor over a decade, and now I to receive a call from the ly at prevention and crefeel we can say we have made Bush Foundation recently ating more consistency announcing they are significant progress. throughout the district. funding the district’s She pointed to Anoka grant proposal for just - Jennifer Cherry, Title IX/equity coordinator High School as an excelunder $200,000 to prolent example of this new emphasis. The school vide more training for middle and high school embarked on a positive messaging campaign students. It will also fund the work of two outside this past year as a way to work toward building a facilitators who have been working with the disschool culture free of bullying and harassment. trict’s Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Task Force. “Rather than focusing on the bad things that can The bulk of the grant will be used to train midhappen and what to do about them when they dle and high school students to prevent bullying do, they are highlighting positive school culture and intervene when they see it happening. It and positive messaging,” said Cherry. builds on the bullying awareness program devel“The emphasis is shifting. It’s on promoting oped at Coon Rapids High Schools and the positive environments and really getting to the bystander empowerment program developed at heart of what it means to be respectful. We need Blaine High School, both through grants from to look at how we ensure students are behaving Anoka County and the Anoka-Hennepin in respectful ways and accepting of each other’s Educational Foundation. differences. Both students and educators told us A small group of Blaine teachers received trainthis is important and that they need more tools ing in “Green Dot,” a national program aimed at to help do this.” curtailing bullying and violence community wide. The Anti-Bullying/Anti-Harassment Task Force They used this as the basis for the school’s of students, staff, parents and other community Bengal Bystander program, which trains student members also recognized the need for this in a leaders to work with their peers. “Blaine started recommendation to the School Board to begin a by training their National Honor Society students communitywide campaign to spread messages of to be leaders. This year they will expand that to kindness. ■ their Link Crew leaders,” said Cherry. “ ” Report bullying and harassment If your child or someone else you know experiences bullying, harassment, discrimination or violence at school, please complete the online report form available at www.anoka.k12.mn.us/complaintform, or contact the designated Title IX building lead (below). School Name Contact Name School Name The district’s Bullying/Cyberbullying Policy and the Harassment, Violence and Discrimination Policy are available on the district website and in the Anoka-Hennepin Schools Policy Handbook mailed to homes of all enrolled students. Contact Name School Name Contact Name Secondary schools Middle schools Other school sites Andover . . . . . . . . . . . Bob Bursaw Anoka . . . . . . . . . . . Erick Lakanen Blaine. . . . . . . . . . . Amber Schultz Champlin Park . . . . . Chris Nelson Coon Rapids . .