The Salem Public Schools is committed to providing all students and staff with a safe, healthy, and welcoming learning environment. Additionally, SPS is committed to ensuring its students experience equitable educational opportunities free from bullying, harassment, discrimination, prejudice, and hate crimes. All community members are expected to treat each other with respect and appreciate the different and richly diverse personal qualities and skills of members of our school community. View the full Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan.
For the full text of policy 5401.01 Prohibition of bullying and cyberbullying, please click the link.
Is it bullying?
When someone says or does something unintentionally hurtful, and they do it once…..
That MAY be considered DISRESPECTFUL.
When someone says or does something intentionally hurtful and they do it once
or both parties are equally being intentionally hurtful…….
That IS DISRESPECTFUL.
When someone says or does something verbally, physically, or written/electronically that
intentionally hurts someone, continues the behavior even when told to stop or shown that the
the person being targeted is upset and has a perceived power imbalance over the target…
That IS BULLYING.
Bullying, as defined in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, is the repeated use by one or more students/staff of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:
- i. causes physical or emotional harm to the target or damage to the target’s property
- ii. places the target in reasonable fear of harm to himself or herself or of damage to his or her property
- iii. creates a hostile environment at school for the target
- iv. infringes on the rights of the target at school
- v. materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school
What happens when I submit a Bullying Incident Form?
Step 1: Initial Report
| Task: | Appropriate Staff: | Timeline: |
| Receive Initial Report: | Principal/Assistant Principal | Within 24 hours of receiving complaint |
| Necessary Forms: Bullying Incident Form | ||
| Notify family of the alleged target of intent to investigate | Principal/Assistant Principal | Within 5 school days |
| Set up meeting with alleged target and identify safety concerns | Principal/Assistant Principal | As soon as possible, or next school day |
Meeting with Alleged Target
| If safety concerns are identified with alleged target/aggressor, then: | If No safety concerns are identified with alleged target/aggressor, then: |
| Create a safety plan considering ALL aspects of the school day and identify a trusted adult. | Take statement from the alleged target |
| Notify parent of the Safety Plan Notify the trusted adult of the Safety Plan | |
| Notify teachers of the safety plan and the identified trusted adult | |
| Take statement from the alleged target |
Meeting with Alleged Aggressor
| If Yes, Safety Concerns | If No, Safety Concerns |
| Develop a plan to separate the alleged aggressor from the target | Take statement from the alleged aggressor |
| Notify parent of the alleged aggressor and target there is a plan | |
| Notify teachers of the aggressor and target of the allegation and the plan | |
| Take statement from the alleged aggressor |
Step 2: Witness Statements
| Task: | Appropriate Staff: | Timeline: |
| Staff documents statements from all witnesses | Principal/Assistant Principal Teacher(s)Support Staff | Within five school days |
| Assess if the situation meets standards for bullying❏ Power Imbalance ❏ Repeated/or potential of repetition ❏ Intentional | Principal/Assistant Principal | Within five school days |
Step 3: Conclusions and Report of Findings
| Task: | Appropriate Staff: | Timeline: |
| Does the allegation involve a protected class? (race, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, genetics, or active military status) | Principal/Assistant Principal | Immediately contact Executive Director of Student Support Services |
| Make determination on whether or not bullying occured | Principal/Assistant Principal | Within five schools days of initial report |