UNDERSTANDING HIB (Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying)

1. UNDERSTANDING HIB(Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying) Sparta Middle School

2. HIB LAW • January 5, 2011 Governor Christie signed into law the “Anti‐Bullying Bill of Rights” • New law went into effect September 2011 • Updated during 2011/2012 School Year

3. KEY ISSUES IN NEW LAW • Clarifies responsibility for conduct away from school grounds • Stresses the importance of School Safety Teams • Continues to require an Anti‐Bullying Specialist in every school (Jaclyn Margolies) • Continues to requires an Anti‐Bullying Coordinator for district (Dr. Varley) • Updated investigation, reporting, discipline, appeal procedures • Updated reporting requirements on incidents of bullying • Updated grading procedure for schools and districts • Updated training requirements (Staff Training must occur yearly)

4. Definition HIB means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or series of incidents, that: * is reasonably perceived as being motivated by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic *takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, or off school grounds if it can be shown to impact school performance*substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students, and that: a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property*has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students *creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.

5. Difference Between Normal Conflict and Bullying Normal Conflict: • Involves people with similar degrees of power • Involves a mutual disagreement or difference in interests or goals • Is reciprocal; both parties participate in the conflict • Both parties are responsible for wrongdoing • Can be fairly resolved by compromise or negotiation • A normal part of growing up and of life Bullying: • Involves an imbalance of power • Is one‐sided • Involves hurtful behavior on behalf of one party against another • Bully is responsible for wrongdoing • The intent is to physically or emotionally hurt someone • Can be an isolated incident

6. Follow the Path of a HIB Complaint • HIB report is made – verbally or on electronic anonymous form • Investigation begins within one school day of HIB report and is completed within ten days • Determination if action is a Code of Conduct Violation or a HIB • Vice Principal notifies parents of that decision. If it is deemed an HIB violation an investigation begins. • The completed investigation goes to the principal • The report then goes to the superintendent and the BOE • The Vice Principal(s) then notify the parents of the results • If report is deemed a Code of Conduct, Principal or Vice Principal(s) decides disciplinary procedure.

7. What you can do if you think you or another person are being bullied • Talk to a school administrator, a guidance counselor or the HIB specialist about the situation. • Define what takes place in school, what happens when there is free time, etc. and how you (they) feel when the incident(s) takes place. • Discuss ways you (they) can respond to a bully (e.g. walking away, telling an adult, or asking for help from peers.) • Reporting a bullying incident is crucial for the victim and the bully • Know that by reporting bullying, help will come and it will be supported by the school staff. • Talk with your friends about bullying to see how you can support your school climate • Bullies rarely target other s in groups, maintain a peer group that is unified • All complaints must be investigated and all parents involved must be contacted • This is your school – you can help keep it a safe environment

8. ANTI‐BULLYING COORDINATOR(Dr. Varley) • Appointed by Superintendent • Coordinates/strengthens district HIB policy to prevent, identify, and address HIB Collaborates with anti‐bullying specialists, BOE and Supt. • Meets with the anti‐bullying specialists • Provides data, in collaboration with the supt. to the NJDOE

9. ANTI‐BULLYING SPECIALIST(Mrs. Jaclyn Margolies) • Person you can access to ask questions and get help from if you think you are involved in a HIB • Chairs the school safety team • Leads the investigation of reported HIB • Acts as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying, and addressing incidents of HIB in the school • Assists the principal in appropriately applying the range of ways for responding to HIB established by the school board • Provides input to local school board on annual re‐evaluation, reassessment, review of policy

10. SCHOOL CLIMATE COMMITTEE • Formed to develop, foster, and maintain a positive school climate, including HIB issues • Meets monthly during the school year • Consists of the principal, a teacher in the school, the school anti‐bullying specialist (serves as chair), a parent/guardian of a student in the school, and other members determined by the principal

11. FACTORS THAT INFULENCE BULLING • Strong need for power and dominance • Rewarded for their behavior (material or psychological rewards) • Intentional in nature; imbalance of power (i.e. physical size) • Negative family factors (e.g. internal parent conflict) • Parental stigmatization: abusive, neglectful, hostile parenting

12. CHARACTERISTICS OF BULLIES Reactive Bully Proactive Bully • Automatic, defensive response to an immediate and often misperceived threat • Emotionally driven • Organized; purposeful, and often premeditated • Driven by insecurity • No remorse

13. CHARACTERISTICS OF VICTIMS Passive Victims At Risk Victims • Are quiet, cautious and/or sensitive • Lack confidence • Are physically weaker than peers (boys) • Mature physically earlier (girls) • Are afraid of getting hurt • Find it easier to associate with adults rather than peers • Children with disabilities or other health care needs • Children who are obese • Children who are LGBT

14. COMMON CHARACTERISTICS • Hyperactive or have difficulty concentrating • Quick tempered, try to fight back if provoked • May be bullied by many children • May be disliked by adults in their environment • Try to bully younger, weaker children

15. WHOSE THE VICTIM? • Display the social-emotional problems of victimized children AND the behavioral problems of children who bully: • Poor relationships with classmates • Lonely • Poor academic achievement • Higher rates of drug/alcohol abuse • More frequent fighting

16. ANTI‐BULLYING SPECIALIST • Mrs. Jaclyn Margolies: • 973-729-3151 • Ext: 319 • jaclyn.margolies@sparta.org