Local superintendents are looking forward to laws being developed that aim to end bullying in schools.
A statewide task force in early August presented recommendations to Gov. Mark Dayton presenting ways to prevent bullying. The final report stated the recommendations require “immediate and urgent action.”
“Policies for schools to stem bullying need to have stronger discipline options allowing schools to address bullying,” said International Falls Public School Superintendent Nordy Nelson.
Nelson said he believes “replacing existing weak statutes with stronger language related to discipline,” should be put into place. He added that effective identification of bullying behavior is key to preventing bullying in schools.
South Koochiching-Rainy River Superintendent Jerry Struss there is always room for improvement in bullying prevention.
“It’s a critical issue,” he said. “There are so many areas now with cyber bullying and bullying inside and outside of school — we have to take that very seriously.”
Local districts have put forward efforts to address bullying. The Littlefork-Big Falls School District’s bullying policy was recently revised to address ways to minimize the problem. Staff at the district review policies with students from the start of the school year, the school counselor goes into classrooms to educate, and two assemblies are held each year pertaining to anti-bullying education, said L-BF Superintendent Fred Seybert.
“The concept of ‘zero-tolerence’ is made very, very clear,” Seybert said. “As a school district, we pride ourselves on the ability to continue to provide a safe and secure learning environment for everyone.”
He added that students at the district focus more on learning and that bullying has been a “non-issue” because staff step in to keep bullying to an “absolute minimum.”
The task force presented to the governor eight recommendations:
• Repeal existing, ineffective statutes, and replace with stronger law.
• Adopt the recommended operational definitions pertaining to bullying, harassment and intimidation to increase effective identification and response to these issues.
• Establish baseline policies within every school district that emphasize the equal, strong protection of all students.
• Create policies and practices that enhance communication between school personnel, students, parents and communities on the subject of strategies and techniques to reduce bullying.
• Create a uniform, baseline data collection system regarding bullying issues to facilitate monitoring of these issues.
• Create interagency and interdepartmental collaborations within the state of Minnesota to assist schools in their anti-bullying efforts.
• Create a “School Climate Center” within the Minnesota Department of Education to provide information and assistance to schools in their anti-bullying efforts, improve safe-learning spaces for students, school-wide, and increase discipline.
• Fiscal resources must be made available at the state and local levels to facilitate these efforts, as outlined by the task force.
The task force that recommended the changes want to make sure every district provides a safe environment to all students and schools, according to its report.
The task force was comprised of 15 members — four legislators and nine members of the public, as well as the commissioner of education and the commissioner of human rights. Dayton also appointed additional members with experience in psychology, education, pediatrics and anti-bullying advocacy.
The group held public meetings and took input from those around the state. Expert panels presented best practices, interventions and support options for school districts.
“Every student deserves to feel safe and supported at school,” said Brenda Cassellius, Minnesota commissioner of education and task force member. “The task force, informed by the courageous voices of students and experts across the state, has yielded recommendations that will help create positive learning environments where students can thrive.”
The next step for the task force is to work with Dayton and the legislature to pass legislations “that will best serve Minnesota students.”
“We can no longer tolerate harassment, intimidation and bullying in any form in our schools,” said Kevin Lindsey, Department of Human Rights commissioner. “I look forward to when we will have legislations capable of helping keep our children happy, healthy and safe.”
