Bullying and Harassment
Prevention Strategies and Online Resources
What is Bullying?
- Bullying is deliberate with the intentions to hurt someone.
- Bullying involves an imbalance of power with selected targets.
- Bullying is repeated behavior.
Bullying Definition:
The official definition as outlined by Iowa Code and addressed in our High School Parent/Student Handbook and Series 100 Board Policies reads as follows:
Harassment and bullying shall be construed to mean any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:
- Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or property
- Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student's physical or mental health
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's academic performance
- Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student's ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
PVCSD Bullying & Harassment Procedures:
Harassment and abuse are violations of school district policies, rules and regulations and, in some cases, may also be a violation of criminal or other laws. The school district has the authority to report students violating this rule to law enforcement officials.
Students who feel that they have been harassed should:
- Communicate to the harasser that the student expects the behavior to stop, if the student is comfortable doing so. If the student needs assistance communicating with the harasser, the student should ask the counselor, teacher, principal or trusted adult for help.
- If the harassment continues, the student will need to report it to a teacher, counselor or principal. You may also print and complete the bullying reporting form and bring it into the main office or email the completed copy to an administrator.
- The school official will begin the investigation and meet with the harasser to process the bullying and harassment issue and to develop a safety plan if appropriate at this time. If the issue is severe enough an immediate consequence will be issued. The school official will contact the parent/guardian of the harasser and the target individual making them aware of the situation.
- If there is another reported incident of bullying or harassment by the same student, then the consequences will increase and the school resource officer will be involved.
How to Report Bullying:
- Tell a trusted adult. If you are not comfortable reporting the issue to school officials please tell a trusted adult and ask them to contact the school or law enforcement.
- Report the issue to your counselor. Your counselor will then investigate the issue and act accordingly.
- Fill out the Online Bullying and Harassment Reporting Form. This form will be sent to an school administrator who will work with the counselor or School Resource Officer to investigate. Or, print and complete the Bullying and Harassment Reporting Form. You can bring the form into the main office.