Tonganoxie USD 464 is committed to maintaining an environment free from bullying, as herein defined.

Definitions - For the purposes of this policy, terms shall have the following meanings:

“Bullying” means: Any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act or threat either by any student, staff member (meaning any person employed by the school district) or parent (including a guardian, custodian or other person with authority to act on behalf of the child) towards a student or staff member that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that such gesture, act or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of:
(1) Harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally;
(2) damaging a student or staff member’s property;
(3) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm to the student or staff member; or
(4) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the student or staff member’s property;
(5) taunting, teasing or intimidation that is so severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment or it substantially disrupts the orderly operations of the district.

“Cyberbullying” means bullying by use of any electronic communication device through means including but not limited to: email, instant messaging, text messages, blogs, mobile phones, pagers, online games, and websites.

In addition, "Bullying" is also defined as any other form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the Board of Education in policies concerning bullying.

Prohibition - Bullying is prohibited while on or utilizing school property, in a school vehicle (any school bus, school van, other school vehicle or private vehicle used to transport students or staff members to and from school or any school-sponsored activity or event), or at a school-sponsored activity or event. No student shall use school-issued or personal devices to engage in cyberbullying as prohibited by Kansas law and this plan, regardless of whether such electronic communication originated on or off the school’s campus.

Jurisdiction - The school shall have jurisdiction to prohibit cyberbullying that causes a substantial or material disruption within the school even if the cyberbullying was done using the student’s personal device and even if the incident originated off school property.

Investigations - Investigations will be initiated if a school official has reasonable grounds for suspecting that a student violated the cyberbullying policy. Electronic devices will be confiscated and an investigation started. All searches will be limited to the scope of the incident at hand. Parents will be notified immediately if their child is involved in an incident. Any evidence of cyberbullying discovered during an investigation will be preserved. Screenshots of evidence will be saved as part of the investigation, as appropriate. If the picture is inappropriate in nature, the school will not save screenshots. The school will simply document the evidence. If, during the course of a cyberbullying investigation, images of nude minors are discovered, those images will not be distributed or saved by school personnel or shown to others. The school official will promptly turn them over to law enforcement.

Consequences - If a student is found to be in violation of this policy, they will be subject to disciplinary action.

For less severe incidents, the following may occur:

• No senior agreement or final exemptions (high school)

• Removal from athletic team, club, etc. for a game or games, up to the remainder of the season

• In school or out of school suspension

For more severe incidents, the following may occur:

• Student will be short term suspended pending an expulsion hearing. The term of any resultant suspension or expulsion may be reduced if the student completes an anti-bullying course off campus.

• If a student is in a student SAFE ZONE when images or video are captured and used for cyberbullying, the abuser will automatically be suspended pending an expulsion hearing. The SAFE ZONES are defined as areas where people have a reasonable expectation for privacy such as bathrooms and locker rooms.

• If a student sends a picture depicting nudity or lewd images, the student will be suspended pending an expulsion hearing, as appropriate. All images or messages suggesting that a potential crime has been committed will be turned over to law enforcement immediately.

• Any offense that results in administration recommending an expulsion hearing will be addressed by a team of no less than three building administrators. This panel of principals will review the incident to ensure that the recommendation of expulsion is appropriate.

District Compliance Coordinator
The Tonganoxie USD 464 Superintendent of Schools has been designated District Compliance Coordinator to coordinate compliance with this policy. All references in this policy to the District Compliance Coordinator shall include the superintendent’s designee as a person authorized to coordinate compliance with prohibited conduct under this policy.

Prohibited Conduct
Bullying of students or staff is prohibited by district policy. Any student, district employee, or third party who engages in prohibited conduct as above described shall be subject to disciplinary action, which may include, but is not limited to, expulsion from school, termination from employment, exclusion from all district property and programs and/or prohibited from conducting future business with the district.

Reporting of Prohibited Conduct
There is a Report Bullying link on our website for all students to anonymously report incidents. Students can also report an incident to any staff member, who will then report to building administration. All reports will be investigated. Parents will be notified immediately if their child is involved.

The district encourages all victims of prohibited conduct and persons with knowledge of prohibited conduct as above described to report the bullying immediately to the building principal or to the District Compliance Coordinator. The district will investigate all complaints of such prohibited conduct and take corrective action to end the conduct.

Any student or employee who believes that he or she has been subjected to prohibited conduct as above described may file a formal written complaint or informal oral complaint with the building principal. Any school employee who receives from a student a complaint of prohibited conduct as above described shall inform the building principal and provide the student the necessary information regarding both formal and informal complaint procedures to report the conduct to the District Compliance Coordinator, or to the building principal, and provide the applicable forms.

Education/Notice
During annual enrollment, all students are required to have a parent/guardian acknowledge that they have read and understand the bullying policy. The bullying policy is posted on the district website.

Student Signature __________________________________________________________________________ Parent Signature __________________________________________________________________________