Bullying Resources
Providing a safe learning environment is a critical element that all schools must focus on if we are to achieve our goal of providing our children with a quality education. Bullying is a serious issue that every administrator in every school in our country must handle. Research indicates that more than half of all school-aged children nationwide will be involved in bullying this year as a person impacted by bullying or a perpetrator.
Byron USD is committed to providing all students and staff a safe learning environment where all forms of bullying including, physical, emotional, and cyber is not tolerated. Byron USD further prohibits bullying at all school-related activities and school-sponsored events on and off our school sites and during or after school hours. Our goal is to foster mutual respect and empower our students in moments of adversity.
Bullying Prevention
What is bullying?
Bullying is intentional harmful behavior initiated by one or more students and directed toward another student. Bullying exists when a student with more social and/or physical power deliberately dominates and harasses another who has less power. Bullying is unjustified and often is repeated over time. Bullying differs from conflict. Two or more students can have a disagreement or conflict. Bullying involves a power imbalance element where a bully targets a student who has difficulty defending himself or herself.
Bullying may take many forms and can include:
picking on others
making hurtful and racist comments
any form of physical violence, such as hitting, pushing or spitting
suggestive comments or other forms of sexual abuse
forcing others to act against their will
verbal threats of aggression against property or possessions
using put-downs or belittling others’ abilities and achievements
using offensive names, dehumanizing, intimidating, teasing or spreading rumors about others or their families
acts of vandalism
Who are the bullies?
Any person who aims in some way to hurt someone else by causing either physical or emotional pain is a bully. Some bullies do the hurting themselves, some are ringleaders who get others to bully on their behalf and some are members of a group. Others unintentionally encourage bullies by being onlookers when bullying occurs; they fail to intervene or report the bullying. Often bullies justify their behavior by saying they were only teasing or having fun. If the person being teased does not like it or want it, and yet others persist with it, then it is a clear case of bullying. It is cruel and unfair behavior.
Bullying is a serious issue
Bullying is against school rules and against the law. The Byron Union School District takes bullying extremely seriously and will strictly enforce consequences for those involved. School leaders can only investigate incidents they know about. It is critical that parents, students and staff work in partnership to immediately report suspected incidents of bullying. All of us have a duty to ensure our schools are safe environments for all students. School leaders will immediately investigate reports and take action to stop bullying from occurring.
Reporting Bullying:
A Bullying Report Form is available in the school office as well as on the school website. This form can be submitted to the school office and will be delivered to the principal. The principal will accept anonymous submissions, however, it will make the investigation more difficult and prevent any communication about the resolution of the complaint. The school staff can also assist those who need help completing the form.
Byron Union School District Bullying Report Form
Byron Union School District Board Policy
The Governing Board recognizes the harmful effects of bullying on student learning and school attendance and desires to provide safe school environments that protect students from physical and emotional harm. District employees shall establish student safety as a high priority and shall not tolerate bullying of any student.
No student or group of students shall, through physical, written, verbal, or other means, harass, sexually harass, threaten, intimidate, cyberbully, cause bodily injury to, or commit hate violence against any other student or school personnel.
California Education Code Section 48900
48900. A pupil shall not be suspended from school or recommended for expulsion unless the superintendent or the principal of the school in which the pupil is enrolled determines that the pupil has committed an act as defined pursuant to any of subdivisions (a) to (r), inclusive:
(r) Engaged in an act of bullying. For purposes of this subdivision, the following terms have the following meanings:
(1) "Bullying" means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2, 48900.3, or 48900.4, directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
(A) Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil's or those pupils' person or property.
(B) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health.
(C) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance.
(D) Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
(2) "Electronic act" means the transmission of a communication, including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image, or a post on a social network Internet Web site, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager.
(3) "Reasonable pupil" means a pupil, including, but not limited to, an exceptional needs pupil, who exercises average care, skill, and judgment in conduct for a person of his or her age, or for a person of his or her age with his or her exceptional needs.