Bullying Policy

 Bullying means: Any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal or physical act or threat that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for a student or staff member that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of:

• Harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally;
• Damaging a student's or staff member's property;
• Placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm; or
• Placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the student's or staff member's property.

 Bullying also means any form of intimidation harassment prohibited by the board of education of the  school district in policies concerning bullying adopted pursuant to K.S.A. 72-8256, or subsection (c) of  K.S.A. 72-8205, and amendments thereto. USD 351 will not tolerate these actions by students or staff.  Any act of bullying by either an individual student or group of students is prohibited on school  property, in a school vehicle or at school-sponsored functions. This policy applies to students who  directly engage in an act of bullying, to students who, by their behavior, support another student's act  of bullying, and to all staff members who engage in similar behaviors.  No teacher, administrator, or school district employee shall engage in, permit, or tolerate  bullying.  Retaliation against a victim, good faith reporter, or a witness to bullying is prohibited.  A person who engages in an act of bullying, reprisal, retaliation or false reporting of bullying,  shall be subject to discipline in accordance with school district policy and procedures. The school  district may take into account the following factors: the ages of the parties involved; the  developmental and maturity levels, special education needs of the parties involved, and the severity of  the behavior.