Forms that allow students and parents to report bullying are expected to help officials in schools within the Falls district deal with a problem that’s been in the national spotlight.
Beth Shermoen, West End Elementary sixth grade teacher and superintendent intern, last week presented and explained components of a bullying referral form to the Falls School Board.
“(I) feel it would be very effective for our school,” she told the board at the Oct. 21 meeting.
The form, Shermoen said, was assembled by a local anti-bullying committee and school administrators and will be available to all district students, parents and guardians to report a potential bullying situation.
Based on the information on the form, “The office will determine if (the incident) is bullying or conflict,” Shermoen said, adding language surrounding the issue of bullying, harassment and conflict is often difficult to determine.
“That is probably one of the biggest components we are struggling with as a district,” Shermoen said of the definitions. “Currently, Minnesota state law doesn’t lay out what is harassment, what is conflict and what is bullying.”
Shermoen said while she is currently interning with Falls Superintendent Nordy Nelson for her superintendent’s license, it was during her internships with elementary principal Melissa Tate and secondary principal Tim Everson she was able to extensively research the district’s bullying policy.
“I reviewed our district’s policy in-depth and compared it to other district’s policies across Minnesota,” she said of her research. “I also compared it to other districts in states across the U.S. with stricter bullying laws.”
Shermoen told board members Minnesota has one of the weakest bullying laws in the nation. The law requires school districts to have a policy against bullying, but it doesn’t specify what the policy should say or who should be protected. It doesn’t require training for educators or learning activities for students on bullying prevention or intervention. It also doesn’t address what should be done to help students who engage in bullying to examine their attitudes and change their behavior.
Last year, Shermoen said a task force was appointed by Gov. Mark Dayton to review the law and assess anti-bullying policies in Minnesota schools. A bill, the Safe and Support Minnesota Schools Act, was passed by the state House of Representatives, but failed to make it to the Senate because of the controversy surrounding language in the bill.
“In January, the same bullying task force will come together and it appears they’re going to hash out the language,” Shermoen said. “Once it gets passed within the Senate, the new law would go into effect in May of the following school year.”
In the meantime, she suggested the district look at and apply modifications to its bullying policy where it can, while keeping in mind the new legislative session could bring changes.
“I foresee ISD 361 being a leader in how new policies will be aligned to recommendations and how they actively pursue preventative measures, education, interventions and supports,” Shermoen said.
She said she believes the bullying referral form is a step in the right direction and administrators said they agree.
“I know in previous districts where I’ve been, a referral form was used,” Nelson said. “It helps us determine what is actually bullying and what is conflict.”
While some districts accept anonymous reports, Nelson made it clear that wouldn’t be the case locally.
“All forms will need to have names on it,” he said, adding the identity of the person filling out the form needs to be included. “If there is no name on a form, it won’t be addressed.”
The superintendent and Everson both said they predict the form will be used more at the secondary level.
“It will most likely be used more at the high school since all our students are mature enough to be able to complete the form,” Everson said. “It is a reporting option that will allow us to track reports and give us contact information for those reporting incidents.”
The forms will be available in the main offices of Falls Elementary, West End Elementary and Falls High School. They can also be accessed in classrooms and on the district’s website. Once filled out, forms can be returned to teachers, the main offices or a site located in the counselor’s office for more privacy.
On a positive note
Shermoen said while the district continues to stay proactive against bullying, it is implementing changes that are producing positive results.
“PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention and Supports) has been very successful among staff, students and the community,” she said. “I’ve been noticing positive changes not only in the classroom, but in the hallways as well.”
The program, intended to address behavior issues in a positive way, is now only offered at the elementary level, but Everson said the high school is gearing up to implement it next fall.
In addition to PBIS, Shermoen said Friends Against Abuse received grants funded by the local Marshall N. Knudson Family Fund to begin individual and group support programs in both Falls Elementary and Falls High schools.
Shermoen said the programs began last spring for students selected by the district social worker and school administrators.
“(The support groups) are facilitated by a local national certified counselor, (and) the focus is on social problem-solving and emotional support toward improving students’ life skills, self confidence, and self esteem,” she said. “Funding will continue through 2013-2014.”
