Lee schools define bullying, penalties

In the past, the Lee County School District has called it aggression.

They’ve referred to threats and intimidation.

But a new student code of conduct passed last week by the Lee County School Board makes clear that what the words translate to is bullying, spelling out to middle and high school students that cruel behavior is against the rules.

Connie Jones, the district’s chief academic officer, said the change to include a separate section for bullying in the documents is meant as a clarification.

The new code of conduct sets penalties for student behavior and also defines bullying, calling it “unwanted and repeated verbal or physical behavior with connotations by a student that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment, cause discomfort or humiliation or unreasonably interferes with the individual’s school performance or participation.”

“We tried to use language that will enable the principal to use judgment on a case-by-case basis,” Jones said. “Each situation is unique in the degree and exactly what was said and the way in which it was said.”

The bullying entry has teeth. A minor first offense could bring detention, a work detail or suspension. A serious first offense carries the possibility of administrative review and reassignment or expulsion.

Under the harassment entry in the code, a minor first incident can result in a conference with a teacher, principal, counselor or parents, among other lesser disciplines. A first serious offense rates a review or expulsion.

The addition of an entry on bullying comes after the district was disappointed to find anti-bullying legislation defeated in Tallahassee this spring.

The School Board, which passed a resolution of support for the law, expects the matter to be considered again next year.

School Board member Jeanne Dozier, who closely monitors the legislative sessions, said she thinks support in the state capital was high for a bill addressing aggressive behavior in schools but that time constraints kept the proposed law from being considered. Passed unanimously by the Florida House, the bill was never read on the Senate floor.

Though the Lee County School District addresses bullying behavior in its codes, not all districts do, she said.

“The purpose of it is to ensure that students everywhere are protected,” she said. “I think everyone wants to protect the safety and the rights of the children.”

Perhaps no one wants that more than Debbie Johnston, a Cape Coral teacher and parent of 15-year-old Jeff Johnston, a high school student who committed suicide last year. His parents believe his depression was caused by bullying that began in middle school.

Since Jeff’s death, Johnston has been an avid advocate for change both locally and in the state capital, speaking frequently with the governor and the legislators who brought forward the anti-bullying bill. This September, she plans to take her fight to Washington, D.C., escorting a group of Lee County schoolchildren to the Suicide Prevention Action Network’s 11th annual National Awareness Event.

Bullying is often a contributing cause of suicide in teens, she said.

Johnston, who worked at the same middle school where she said Jeff was the target of aggressors, said that until the policy change, there was little a teacher could do to stop the behavior.

Some bullies were disciplined under guidelines for peer conflicts, others under those for sexual harassment or intimidation.

None worked very well, she said.

“All rights were on the side of the bully,” she said. “There was a tremendous burden of proof on the administration and the victim. It was very difficult to get witnesses to come forward because of fear of retaliation, and, unfortunately, the bullies don’t bully in front of the teachers.”

With bullying now addressed in the code of conduct, Johnston said, she hopes teachers continue to be briefed on how best to handle a bully in the classroom. Jones said all instructors will review the changes to the code before going back into the classroom in August.

“The most important thing to do is training and education of students to raise awareness to increase sensitivity and respect,” she said.

Parts of code

Excerpts from the 2005-2006 Lee County School District Student Code of Conduct:

-- THREAT/INTIMIDATION: The declaration by word or act to do bodily harm to another person or to his or her property, or forcing another person to do something, or preventing another person from doing something by coercion, bullying, or making him or her afraid.

Harassment against any person, student or staff (including sexual harassment):

a. First offense, minor: Level I (possible conference with teacher, principal, counselor or parents, referral to a community agency or adjustment of student’s program)

b. Repeated offense: Level II or III (possible detention, work detail, in-school alternative educational placement, Saturday-school/before or after school suspension, internal suspension or external suspension. Also, possible administrative review and reassignment, expulsion)

c. First offense, serious: Level III (possible administrative review, expulsion)

From the 2006-2007 Lee County School District Student Code of Conduct:

-- BULLYING: Unwanted and repeated verbal or physical behavior with connotations by a student that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile or offensive educational environment, cause discomfort or humiliation or unreasonably interferes with the individual’s school performance or participation.

Bully-related activity against any person:

a. First offense, minor: Level II (possible detention, work detail, in-school alternative educational placement, Saturday-school/before or after school suspension, internal suspension or external suspension)

b. First offense, serious: Level III (possible administrative review, expulsion).