Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means:

Any intentional written, verbal, graphic, or physical act that a student or group of students exhibited toward other particular student more than once and the behavior both:

1. Causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and

2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student.

Cyber / On Line / By Electronic Means:

Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying also means electronically transmitted acts i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistance (PDA) or wireless hand-held device that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both:

1. Causes mental or physical harm to the other student/school personnel; and

2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student/school personnel.

By Electronic Means  or “Electronic act" means an act committed through the use of a cellular telephone, computer, pager, personal communication device, or other electronic communication device.

Violence within a dating relationship means:.

Violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim.

The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on the reporting party’s statement and with consideration of the length of the relationship, the type of relationship, and the frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship.

For the purposes of this definition:

Dating violence includes, but is not limited to, sexual or physical abuse or the threat of such abuse.

Focus on the difference between caring, supportive relationships and controlling, manipulative, or abusive relationships. It is during the critical preteen and teen years that young people begin to learn the skills needed to create and foster positive relationships.

A school-sponsored activity: shall mean any activity conducted on or off school property (including school buses and other school-related vehicles) that is sponsored, recognized or authorized by the Ohio Board of Education.

Determining when a behavior constitutes a Verifiable Incident:

In evaluating whether conduct constitutes harassment, intimidation or bullying, special attention should be paid to the words chosen or the actions taken, whether such conduct occurred in front of others or was communicated to others, how the perpetrator interacted with the victim, and the motivation, either admitted or appropriately inferred.

Note:  When we report a verifiable act of bullying, harassment, or intimidation to the Board of Education, we are reporting incidents that, after investigation, rise to the level of severity explained above. 

School administrators, counselors, and other school personnel regularly intervene with or work with students regarding behaviors that are not ideal or acceptable. 

Bullying is NOT:

1) Excluding someone – It is not considered bullying if children exclude someone on the playground now and then or don’t invite someone to a party. Repeated and deliberate exclusion, however, can be bullying.

2) Disliking someone – Children may verbally or nonverbally communicate their dislike of another child. This is problematic but does not rise to the definition of bullying or harassment as long as they don’t start rumors or verbally abuse the other child.

3) Accidental physical harm – A child might unintentionally bump into or trip another child. This it is not bullying if it is not deliberate.

4) Being “bossy” – It is natural to want friends to play a certain way, and some children take the role of being the director. Learning to lead skillfully is a lifelong process, and most kids haven’t mastered it.

5) Telling a joke about someone (once) – While this is not great behavior, it is not considered bullying unless there are repeated instances. Of course we should teach our children that one single joke about someone may hurt that child’s feelings, and it’s not okay.

6) Arguments – children and young adults  argue, and arguments will inevitably happen at school.

Types of Conduct:

Harassment, intimidation or bullying can include many different behaviors including overt intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate another student or school personnel. 

Examples of conduct that constitutes prohibited behaviors include:

1. Physical violence and/or attacks;

2. Threats, taunts and intimidation through words and/or gestures;

3. Extortion, damage or stealing of money and/or possessions;

4. Exclusion from the peer group or spreading rumors; and,

5. Repetitive and hostile behavior with the intent to harm others through the use of information and communication technologies and other Web-based/online sites (also known as “cyber bullying”), such as the following:

6. Posting slurs on Web sites where students congregate or on

7. Web logs (personal online journals or diaries);

8. Sending abusive or threatening instant messages;

9. Using camera phones to take embarrassing photographs of students and posting them online; and,

10. Using Web sites to circulate gossip and rumors to other students;

11. Excluding others from an online group by falsely reporting them for inappropriate language to Internet service providers.

The Difference Between Bullying and Unkind Behavior

By Sherri Gordon 

StopBullying.gov

What Is Cyberbullying

Center for Disease Control: Fast Facts: Preventing Bullying

Bullying Prevention Strategies and Resources for K-12 Schools

Bullying and Cyberbullying

Cyber Safety

Know Bullying App

Anti Harassment Intimidation And Bullying Resources

Child Sexual Abuse, Dating Violence and Sexual Violence Prevention

For Parents of Teens

Understanding Bullying in Ohio’s Schools 

Department of Education and Workforce Development: Anti-Bullying: Resources for Parents

Anti-Bullying: Strategies and Resources for Educators