Bullying
The Calcasieu Parish School District believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. All schools within the district have an obligation to promote mutual respect. Behavior that infringes on the safety of any student will not be tolerated. A student shall not bully or intimidate any student through words or actions. Such behavior includes, but is not limited to direct physical contact, verbal assaults, the use of electronic methods, and social isolation and/or manipulation. The school district policy prohibiting bullying is included in the Student Code of Conduct and includes but is not limited to the following:
• Any student who engages in bullying will be subject to disciplinary actions up to and including expulsion.
• Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or his/her designee.
• School administrators will promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.
• If the complainant student or parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached after consulting the school principal, the student or parent of the student should contact the local superintendent or his/her designee.
• The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.
This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling on a school bus to and from school or during a school-sponsored activity. Disciplinary action will be taken following each confirmed incident of bullying.
The following actions will be taken when bullying is reported:
1. INVESTIGATION – Upon receipt of any report of bullying, the school administrator(s) and his/her designee will conduct an immediate investigation of the incident. The investigation will begin no later than the next business day in which the school is in session after the report is received. The investigation will be completed no later than 10 school days after the date the written report of the incident is submitted to the school official. The investigation shall include interviewing all parties involved separately. Physical evidence of the bullying incident will be reviewed, if available.
2. NOTIFICATION – Parents or legal guardians of the victim, the bully, and witnesses will be notified of the investigative procedure. If the incident involves an injury or similar situation, appropriate medical attention will be provided, and the parent/guardian will be notified immediately.
3. DISCIPLINE – Upon confirming that bullying has occurred, the bully will be charged with bullying and will receive age-appropriate consequences which shall include, at minimum, disciplinary action and/or counseling.
4. FOLLOW UP – Complainants will be promptly notified of the findings of the investigation and appropriate interventions taken at the school level.
5. DOCUMENTATION – Written documentation containing the findings of the investigation, including input from the student’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s), and the decision by the school official will be prepared and placed in the school records of both the victim and bully.
Access the online Bullying Report Form, created by the Louisiana Department of Education for use by all school districts in the state, by clicking the following link: