KO Revised Bullying Policy Includes 'Cyber Bullying'
The Keystone Oaks School Board on Thursday revised its anti-bullying policy to include cyber bullying.
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In a cyber age where technology seems to change every season, even simple school policies are playing catch-up.
On Thursday, the Keystone Oaks School Board revised the district's anti-bullying policy to include cyber bullying.
Whereas the policy formerly defined bullying mainly as a physical or verbal act, it now defines bullying as "an intentional and unwelcome electronic (cyber), written, verbal, or physical act, or a series of acts," that has several specified characteristics.
Superintendent William Stropkaj said that under the revised policy, the school can investigate bullying cases that occur both inside and outside of a school setting, in particular, if the bullying is interfering with a student's education or creating a threatening environment.
"We're going through all our policies, as we do from time to time, to make sure they are up to date and appropriate. Cyber bullying is something you have to be very careful about," said school board President Gary Alward. "You have to be careful with social media. That's a very new thing, and the use of it is growing all the time."
The text of the revised anti-bullying policy can be found in the agenda packet for the Nov. 15 meeting, which is attached to this article as a PDF document.
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Ed M
7:53 am on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
I have no problem with a school district policing what goes on at the school or at school events but when they start policing what kids do when they aren't at school, well that is none of their business.
Nazy H
4:35 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
It would be nice if KO would just enforce the bullying policy. And Ed, I guess you have never had a child be bullied before.
Ed M
10:39 pm on Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Actually Nazy, I have. And what kids do off school property is none of the school district's business.
Ron Gustaveson
12:46 pm on Friday, November 23, 2012
Webcam Spying is a BIG part of Cyber Bullying. The best way to protect yourself and kids from webcam spying is to use a Webcam Cover. C-SLIDE makes the BEST webcam cover on the market today. Check them out at http://www.c-slide.com
Ed Ewing
5:37 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
I have a special needs child and whether he is bullied at school or through a text or via Facebook it's bullying. And I won't go for it. Guess I just love my child a little more than some.
Jessica Weingartner
6:36 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
Nazy do you have an experience where you don't feel that KO has handled bullying properly? Because I do! Maybe if we can get more people to speak out they'll do something about it.
Nazy H
7:22 pm on Thursday, January 24, 2013
yes, i have two special needs children and my older boy was bullied every year, mainly on the bus from k through 3rd grade a dormont. i filed a compliant with the fed govt for last year's bullying because friends were manipulating him and he didn't know, because of his disability and a class laughed at him because he couldn't tie his schoes, part of his autism. now that they are at myrtle this year, all the bullying is stopped the same day. dr. s will make sure anything like bullying is immediately tanken care of. contact him with concerns!