Bullying

Defining Bullying

Bullying occurs when a student or group of students engages in written or verbal expression or physical conduct against another student and the behavior:

• Results in harm to the student or the student’s property,
• Places a student in fear of harm to himself or his property, or
• Is so severe, persistent, and pervasive enough that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment
• This conduct is considered bullying if it exploits an imbalance of power between the student perpetrator(s) and the student victim and if it interferes with a student’s education or substantially disrupts the operation of the school.
• Any student who believes that he or she has experienced prohibited harassment or bullying should immediately report the alleged acts to a teacher, counselor, or principal.

Examples of Bullying 

• Physical – harming someone’s body in any way, taking someone’s possessions, or damaging someone’s possessions in any way.
• Emotional – harming someone’s self-worth by verbal and nonverbal communication. This includes, but is not limited to, teasing, name-calling, insulting, intimidating, threatening, making gestures, staring/“mugging”, or eye-rolling.
• Social – Harming another person’s group acceptance through gossip, rumors, trying to ruin their reputation, arranging public humiliation, excluding others, getting others to exclude others, or interfering in someone’s making or keeping friends in any way.
• Electronic /Cyberbullying – Harming someone through the use of text messages, phone calls, emails, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, photos, or by any other electronic means.

Texas School Safety Center: What is Cyberbullying?  

Texas School Safety Center: Defining Bullying & Cyberbullying

Bullying vs. Harassment

The following link provides helpful information to clarify the difference between bullying and harassment.

What is the difference between bullying and harassment?

Cyberbullying

David's Law: SB 179

David's Law allows schools to combat and prevent cyberbullying by empowering them to investigate and address off-campus cyber-assisted bullying if it materially affects the school environment. “David’s Law” requires school districts to include cyberbullying in their district bullying policies and notify a child’s parents if he or she is a victim or alleged aggressor of bullying. It allows for schools to collaborate with law enforcement when serious or life-threatening cyberbullying situations arise. “David’s Law” gives parents and courts new tools to protect cyberbullying victims and strengthens options for schools and prosecutors in dealing with some of the most egregious forms of cyberbullying, such as suicide baiting. In recognition of bullying as a mental health issue, “David’s Law” also encourages schools to invest in counseling and rehabilitation services for both victims and aggressors of bullying.

Learn More About David's Law

How do I make a report of bullying?

Bullard ISD is committed to providing all students with a safe and nurturing learning environment. If any student currently enrolled in our district does not feel safe and secure at school, we want to know about it. Bullard ISD has resources and a communications process in place to assist families in discussing or reporting any concerns, including experiences with bullying, harassment, and threats. We can act on these concerns when we know about them and, as a result, better serve our students and families.

Students or parents in the school community can anonymously submit any suspicious activity, bullying, or other student-related issues to a school administrator(s) and BISD Police Department through the District STOPit reporting system.

The STOPit reporting system is simple, secure and enables students, staff, parents or community members to quickly report incidents related to bullying, cyberbullying, student depression, family problems, self-harm, drugs, gang-related issues, harassment, weapons on campus or unusual student behavior which may warrant immediate attention by school officials. The reporter of the incident can remain anonymous or can identify themself for further communications with school officials. Once you complete the STOPit report, you will receive a confirmation that your information has been submitted to the school district.

Parents may also email the student’s teacher, campus principal, or counselor. The following details must be provided to expedite the initial investigation and response:

• Campus name
• Name of Bullard ISD student (the alleged victim)
• Student ID number
• Parent name/contact information
• Names of witnesses
• Names of alleged perpetrators
• A detailed description of the alleged event
• Date of the alleged event
• Location of the alleged event
• Supporting documentation/or other evidence supporting the allegations (if applicable)
• Other information the reporter feels is relevant to the complaint

Please Note: For prompt reporting, we encourage students and parents to report issues through the STOPit app or link. In order to conduct a thorough investigation, it is important that reports include the specific information listed above. Bullard ISD will fully comply with applicable state and federal laws and regulations as well as Board Policies in response to reports. In emergency situations requiring immediate assistance, please call 911.