REPORTING

The Principal or Assistant Principal of each building is responsible for the implementation and oversight of the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan. It is an expectation of the District that all staff members are required to report any suspected bullying or harassment they see or learn about. Staff, students and parents/guardians will report incidents of suspected bullying or retaliation by completing an online Incident Report Form and submitting it to the Principal or the Assistant Principal. Reports may be accepted orally and then will be recorded in writing by any staff member who receives information about alleged bullying. Reports made by students, parents or guardians, or other individuals who are not school or district staff members, may be made anonymously but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report. The District will promptly and reasonably investigate all allegations of harassment, including bullying. Use of an Incident Reporting Form is not required as a condition of making a report. The school or district will:

include a link to the Incident Reporting Form in the principals’ beginning of the year communication;
make it available in the school’s main office, the counseling office, the school nurse's office, and other locations determined by the principal or designee; and
post it on the school’s website

North Attleborough Public Schools believes that all students deserve every opportunity to achieve academic success in a safe, secure learning environment. All negative behavior that is reported through the online reporting form will be investigated, including but not limited to name-calling, occasional conflict, intended meanness and/or unintentional rudeness. If these behaviors are one-time events, they do not meet the definition of bullying set out by Massachusetts State law. The discipline procedures outlined in the student handbook will be followed for all behavioral infractions.

If an incident is determined to be bullying, progressive discipline will be followed according to the student handbook. The range of disciplinary actions that may be imposed include: verbal warnings, written warnings, reprimands, detentions, short-term or long-term suspensions, notification to NA Police Department, or expulsions from school as determined by the school administration. False reports will not be tolerated and will result in disciplinary action for anyone deliberately providing false information. At the beginning of each school year, the school or district will provide the school community, including administrators, staff, students, and parents or guardians, with written notice of its policies for reporting acts of bullying and retaliation. A description of the reporting procedures, resources, and information about the plan will be made available to parents or guardians on the school or district website.

OBLIGATIONS TO NOTIFY OTHERS

Notice to parents or guardians. Upon determining that bullying or retaliation has occurred, the Principal or designee will promptly notify the parents or guardians of the target and the aggressor of this, and of the procedures for responding to it. There may be circumstances in which the principal or designee contacts parents or guardians prior to any investigation. Because of the legal requirements regarding the confidentiality of student records, the principal or designee cannot report specific information to the target’s parent or guardian about the disciplinary action taken unless it involves a “stay away” order or other directive that the target must be aware of in order to report violations. Notice will be consistent with state regulations at 603 CMR 49.00.

Notice to Another School or District. If the reported incident involves students from more than one school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private special education day or residential school, or collaborative school, the principal or designee first informed of the incident will promptly notify by telephone the Principal or designee of the other school(s) of the incident so that each school may take appropriate action. All communications will be in accordance with state and federal privacy laws and regulations, and 603 CMR 49.00.

Notice to Law Enforcement. At any point after receiving a report of bullying or retaliation, including after an investigation, if the Principal or designee has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor, the principal will notify the local law enforcement agency. Notice will be consistent with the requirements of 603 CMR 49.00 and locally established agreements with the local law enforcement agency. Also, if an incident occurs on school grounds and involves a former student under the age of 21 who is no longer enrolled in school, the principal or designee shall contact the local law enforcement agency if he or she has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.

In making this determination, the Principal will use the plan as a guide and follow applicable school or district policies and procedures. In addition, the Principal will consult with law enforcement (if applicable) and other individuals the Principal or designee deems appropriate.

INVESTIGATING

The Principal or designee will investigate promptly all reports of bullying or retaliation and, in doing so, will consider all available information known, including the nature of the allegation(s) and the ages of the students involved. The following will take place:

Interview target of alleged bullying
Interview any witnesses, including staff, parents or guardians
Interview alleged aggressor

The Principal or designee will promptly notify the parents or guardians of the target and the aggressor about the results of the investigation and, if bullying or retaliation is found, what action is being taken to prevent further acts of bullying or retaliation. All notice to parents will comply with applicable state and federal privacy laws and regulations.

Joseph W. Martin, Jr. Elementary School