Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (HIB) Protocols
Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying (HIB) Protocols
Prevention & Education: In each one of our schools, we take a proactive approach to educate our students on the definitions, processes, and reporting methods regarding harassment, intimidation, and bullying. Annually, and preferably at the beginning of each school year, our schools teach students how to prevent and respond to harassment, intimidation, and bullying. All schools have a bulletin board with reporting forms, copies of policy and procedures, and methods to report anonymously. Specific policies and procedures are available at these bulletin boards, as well as on our school district websites. Methods for reporting include:
- Online anonymously -- https://newport-wa.safeschoolsalert.com/
- Paper (with an anonymous option) – complete the reporting form located outside school offices and submit to the “bully box” at the bulletin board
- Call or talk to the school office – Each school's office staff can forward any reports to the appropriate administrator to intervene
Intervention:
For an action to be considered harassment, intimidation or bullying, it needs to meet the following definition found in RCW 28A.300.285:
Harassment, intimidation, or bullying means any intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act, including but not limited to one shown to be motivated because of his or her perception of the victim's race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or mental, physical, or sensory handicap or other distinguishing characteristics, when the intentional electronic, written, verbal, or physical act:
a) Physically harms a student or damages the student's property, or
b) Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's education, or
c) Is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating or threatening educational environment, or
d) Has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of the school.
Please note that harassment, intimidation and bullying are closely related, but they are not identical. Also remember that not every mean, unfriendly, inappropriate or otherwise unwanted action is harassment, intimidation or bullying.
If you believe a child is being bullied, contact the school – the child's teacher, the school principal, counselor, another trusted adult – to let them know of the situation.
Obtain a copy of the district's anti-bullying policy and procedures and follow the procedures for filing a written complaint. All districts are required to publish their anti-bullying policies and procedures. Schools usually have those policies and procedures available as well in their student handbooks. A model policy and procedure document is located on OSPI's website, and your school's policies should look similar to the model policy.
If the act was committed because of perception around a person's race, color, religion, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation of handicapping condition, it might be considered discriminatory harassment. If it was particularly vicious, causing significant physical harm to your child or his/her property, the aggressor may be guilty of malicious harassment. Contact the police if your child has been the victim of malicious harassment.
Once a complaint is submitted, the school is required to conduct an investigation.
Parents/families will be notified of the investigation and the results of that investigation.