Anti-Bullying Plan Heads to State For Approval

The BrocktonPost
BROCKTON--From the School Department:
The Brockton Public Schools has finalized a new Bully Prevention and Intervention Model Plan in accordance with the state’s new law prohibiting bullying and retaliation in schools.
At its December 7 meeting, the School Committee unanimously adopted the plan, which was developed over a number of months by a team of teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, parents, law enforcement officials and representatives of the special education, wellness and nursing departments, as well as community partners. The plan has been submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for final approval.
“This plan is comprehensive: there was an enormous amount of thought, hard work and expertise that was invested in its creation. The Brockton Plan is unique – it was created entirely by our staff, parents and partners to address the needs of our Brockton students today and in the future,” said Superintendent of Schools Matthew H. Malone in a prepared statement.
“We have built upon our strengths and closed the gaps so that our schools are safe, bully-free environments where all students can achieve," he said.
Throughout the fall, an anti-bullying steering committee met numerous times to develop the three-page plan and accompanying materials.
The group’s focus was to create a policy prohibiting bullying and retaliation in Brockton Public Schools, develop procedures for receiving and responding to reports of bullying, and establish protocols for supporting students who have been the victims of bullying while addressing the behavior of the aggressor.
Students in all grades will benefit from prevention curriculums that are culturally sensitive, are adaptable to diverse learning needs and support and empower students to understand the dynamics of bullying and to take appropriate action when necessary.
“No document is going to answer every question and cover every base when it comes to childhood bullying, but we believe that this plan is as all-encompassing as possible,” said Mary Ellen Kirrane, Department Head of Wellness, K-8.
“This plan gives the district a roadmap for not only addressing bullying, but also addressing the climate in our schools. It is our obligation to ensure that all students feel welcome, safe and comfortable seeking out trusted adults when a problem or concern arises,” she said.
The plan provides parent resources; a checklist of steps for staff to take to address the behavior and support the victim. The Steering Committee also developed resources and activities for classroom teachers to conduct lessons on recognizing bullying and how to respond to it.
The state’s anti-bullying law was signed by Governor Deval Patrick in May after a high school student in Western Massachusetts, who had reportedly been bullied by classmates, committed suicide.
Kirrane said the tragedy helped focus educators’ attention on the impact of bullying and sparked conversations among parents, students and schools about how best to address the problem.
“From this tragedy has come a state-wide recognition that bullying is an issue and we all need to address it together – schools, students, parents and communities,” Kirrane said.