Internet Safety

POLICY 411.1 The District and Board of Education are committed to providing a safe, secure, respectful and nurturing learning environment for all students in school buildings, on school grounds, school buses and at school-sponsored activities. The District consistently and vigorously addresses bullying behavior so that there is no disruption to the learning environment and learning process. The policy applies to both on school grounds and during activities that occur off school property.

Definitions (see Policy 411.1 for full descriptions): Bullying - Deliberate or intentional behavior using words or actions intended to cause fear, intimidation or harm. Cyberbullying - All forms of bullying in cyberspace commonly referred to as cyberbullying are prohibited under this policy.

Cyberbullying includes, but is not limited to the following misuses of technology: teasing, intimidation, threatening, or terrorizing another person or group of people by sending or posting inappropriate and hurtful e-mail messages, instant messages, text messages, digital pictures or images, or website postings, including blogs or any other messages via cyberspace.

The following are used throughout K-12 to help students distinguish between bullying behavior and other types of concerning interactions:

• Teasing: Everyone is having fun; no one is getting hurt; everyone is participating equally.
• Conflict: No one is having fun; there is a possible solution to a disagreement; equal balance of power.
• Mean Moment: Someone is getting hurt on purpose; reaction to a strong feeling or emotion; an isolated event (does not happen regularly).
• Bullying: Someone is being hurt on purpose; repetitive (happens often); imbalance of power.

Reporting Bullying and Filing a Complaint An individual who believes he/she is being subjected to bullying is encouraged to advise the person who is engaging in such conduct (the accused) of their objections to or bullying behavior. If the victim of such behavior is unable or unwilling to advise the person alleged to be engaging in bullying behavior, or if this fails to resolve that behavior, the individual should immediately report the behavior to a teacher, principal, associate principal or district administrator and file a complaint. Complaints against the building principal or associate principal should be filed with the Superintendent, Corey Golla (gollcor@sdmfschools.org), Director of Pupil Services, Kathy Young (younkat@sdmfschools.org), or Director of Human Resources, Cari Brust (bruscar@sdmfschools.org). Complaints against the Superintendent should be filed with the Board president, Faith VanderHorst (fvanderhorst@sdmfschools.org).

Reports of bullying may be made verbally or in writing and may be made confidentially. All such reports will be taken seriously and a clear account of the incident is to be documented.

FBI Kids | Federal Bureau of Investigation

imperative that young people learn the ins and outs of

online safety from an early age.