I did a little research and I have to agree with Kim, The Lowell School Dept. has a required an Anti-Bullying Policy.
The link Kim as shown appears to be the Draft submitted at the Dec. 1st meeting
SC Mtg of 12/1/10
3. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan – ATTACHED TO AND MADE PART OF THESE MINUTES
Superintendent Scott read the report from Ann Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services.
Ann Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, stated that after the plan is reviewed and presented to the public, she will present the final plan to the School Committee at their December 15th meeting. If the full Committee approves, the final plan will be submitted to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on December 20, 2010.
Mr. Conway moved: To accept the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Draft Plan report as a report of progress and to place on file; seconded by Ms. Laraba. APPROVED
In the meeting Agenda for Dec. 15 under the REPORTS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT : Item 3 has listed 3. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
In the Minutes they have the following:
3. Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan
Dr. Chris A. Scott, Superintendent, stated that the report in front of the Committee was the result of many months of work. The new law was passed by the state last winter. Lowell Public Schools was ahead on this particular issue. Much of our student handbooks covers this so it looks like a repeat. Lowell received the legislation before it was passed; thus, we had time with this and incorporated much of it in our student handbooks already. In late summer the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education put forth some regulations standardizing the process throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The plan in front of the Committee is in compliance with those regulations. The last step involved in the process was last week when Ann Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, held a public forum to hear any comments our community had in regards to our plan. She asked Ann Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, to add her comments.
Ann Murphy, Assistant Superintendent for Support Services, stated that at the last meeting (December 1, 2010), she presented the Committee with the draft of the form. She has met with the principals and the assistant principals getting their feedbacks and working with the form to see how operationally they are going to implement the different sections of this Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. The community forum was this past Monday (December 13th). We had some feedback. The plan has been posted on the website. There have been some minor changes that she has made to the plan since the draft the Committee received, specifically on page 9 the section on taking disciplinary action. After listening to lots of feedback:
• parents
• teachers
• administrators
I took the language that was specifically written in the Parent and Student Handbook. This is so we would have consistency across all of our documents. “The language I have taken in that section is taken directly from the Parent and Student Handbook.” The only other change was that we added some of the research-based programs that we are using in the schools. “Tonight what we need is your approval for this plan. Once we have your approval, we will then submit it to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for their formal approval. With their approval we can begin implementing in January (2011).” Ms. Doherty moved: To accept the recommendation of the Superintendent and the Assistant Superintendent for Support Services to approve the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan; seconded by Mr. Conway. Unanimously approved on roll call. APPROVED .
School Committee member Jim Leary emailed to inform me that he will look into getting the final approved copy, posted to the School Dept. Website.
