Massachusetts Anti-Bullying Law and Title IX
The following procedures are a guideline for infractions of the Massachusetts AntiBullying Law and infractions of Federal Title IX Civil Rights Legislation. Serious violations of these two laws will be handled at the discretion of the Principal, may not involve the guideline below, and may result in suspension from school beyond the third offense level.
Harassment/Sexual Harassment/Title IX:
1st offense – Warning (meet with equity officer)
2nd offense – Two days of school-day detention or in school suspension
3rd offense – Two days of out-of-school suspension
Serious violations – Up to 10 days out-of-school suspension pending an expulsion hearing with the Principal
Disciplinary responses will reflect the severity of the action. The steps above are the minimal response to harassment or sexual harassment.
Bullying/Cyberbullying/Title IX:
1st offense – Two days of school-day detention or in school suspension followed by a meeting with the Equity Officer
2nd offense – Two days out-of-school suspension followed by meeting with Adjustment Counsellor
3rd offense – Five days out-of-school suspension pending an expulsion hearing with the Principal
Serious violations – Up to 10 days out-of-school suspension pending an expulsion hearing with the Principal
Bullying Policy
Bullying of any type has no place in a school setting. The Martha’s Vineyard Public Schools will endeavor to maintain a learning and working environment free of bullying.
Bullying is defined as the repeated act of one or more individuals intimidating one or more persons through verbal, physical, mental, or written interactions. Bullying can take many forms and can occur in virtually any setting. It can create unnecessary and unwarranted anxiety that may affect attending school, walking in corridors, eating in cafeterias, playing in the school yard or recreation areas, participating in or attending special and extracurricular activities, or riding on the bus to and from school each day.
Examples of bullying include but are not exclusive to:
- Intimidation, either physical or psychological;
- Threats of any kind, stated or implied;
- Assaults on students, including those that are verbal, physical, psychological, and emotional; and
- Attacks on student property.
The School Committee expects administrators and supervisors to make clear to students and staff that bullying in the school building, on school grounds, on the bus or school-sanctioned transportation, or at school-sponsored functions will not be tolerated and will be grounds for disciplinary action up to and including suspension and expulsion for students and termination for employees.
The District will promptly and reasonably investigate allegations of bullying. The principal, or his/her designee, of each building will be responsible for handling all complaints by students alleging bullying.
Definitions
Aggressor is a student who engages in bullying, cyber bullying, or retaliation.
Bullying is the repeated use by one or more students 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/herself or of damage to his/her property; (iii) creates a hostile environment at school for the target; (iv) infringes on the rights of the target at school; or (v) materially and substantially disrupts the education process or the orderly operation of a school. Bullying includes cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying is bullying through the use of technology or any electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers, and the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to, e-mail, instant messages, text messages, and internet postings.
Hostile environment is a situation in which bullying/cyber bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule, or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of the student’s education.
Target is a student against whom bullying, cyber bullying, or retaliation is directed.
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student who reports bullying/cyber bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying/cyber bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying/cyber bullying.