BULLYING
BULLYING, TEEN DATING VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION POLICY AND
DISTRICT SAFE SCHOOL CLIMATE PLAN
5131.9
The Enfield Board of Education is committed to creating and maintaining an educational environment
that is physically, emotionally, and intellectually safe and thus free from bullying, teen dating
violence, harassment, and discrimination. In accordance with state law and the Board’s Safe School
Climate Plan, the Board expressly prohibits any form of bullying, teen dating violence behavior on
school grounds; at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function or program, whether on or
off school grounds; at a school bus stop; on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased or used by a
local or regional board of education; or through the use of an electronic device or an electronic mobile
device owned, leased or used by Board of Education.
The Board also prohibits any form of bullying, teen dating violence behavior outside of the school
setting if such bullying, teen dating violence (i) creates a hostile environment at school for the student
against whom such bullying, teen dating violence was directed, (ii) infringes on the rights of the
student against whom such bullying, teen dating violence was directed at school, or (iii) substantially
disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Discrimination and/or retaliation
against an individual who reports or assists in the investigation of an act of bullying, teen dating
violence is likewise prohibited.
Students who engage in bullying, teen dating violence behavior shall be subject to school discipline,
up to and including expulsion, in accordance with the Board's policies on student discipline,
suspension, and expulsion, and consistent with state and federal law.
For purposes of this policy, “Bullying, Teen Dating Violence” means the repeated use by one or
more students of a written, verbal, or electronic communication, such as cyberbullying, teen dating
violence, directed at or referring to another student attending school in the same school district, or a
physical act or gesture by one or more students repeatedly directed at another student attending school
in the same school district, that:
1) causes physical or emotional harm to such student or damage to such student’s property;
2) places such student in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself, or of damage to his or her
property;
3) creates a hostile environment at school for such student;
4) infringes on the rights of such student at school; or
5) substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school.
Bullying, teen dating violence shall include, but not be limited to, a written, verbal, or electronic
communication or physical act or gesture based on any actual or perceived differentiating
characteristics, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation,
gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, academic status, physical appearance, or
mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability, or by association with an individual or group
who has or is perceived to have one or more of such characteristics.
For purposes of this policy, "Cyberbullying" means any act of bullying, teen dating violence through
the use of the Internet, interactive and digital technologies, cellular mobile telephone or other mobile
electronic devices, or any electronic communications.
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