Bullying & Cyberbullying

Examples of the types of conduct that may constitute bullying and are prohibited by the district include, but are not limited to:

1. Physical bullying:  An act that inflicts harm upon a person's body or possessions, such as hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking, breaking someone's possessions, or making cruel or rude hand gestures
    

2. Verbal bullying:  Acts that may include saying or writing hurtful things, such as teasing, name-calling, inappropriate sexual comments, taunting, or threats to cause harm
    

3. Social/relational bullying:  An act that harms a person's reputation or relationships, such as leaving a person out of an activity on purpose, influencing others not to be friends with someone, spreading rumors, or embarrassing someone in public
    

4. Cyberbullying:  An act such as sending demeaning or hateful text messages or emails, spreading rumors by email or by posting on social networking sites, or posting or sharing embarrassing photos, videos, websites, or fake profiles

Measures to prevent bullying include, but are not limited to:

1. Ensuring that each school establishes clear rules for student conduct and implements strategies to promote a positive and collaborative school climate.
    

2. Providing information to students through student handbooks, district and school websites, social media, and other age-appropriate means about district and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for engaging in bullying.
    

3. Encouraging students to notify school staff when they are being bullied or suspect that another student is being bullied, and providing means by which students may report threats or incidents confidentially and anonymously.
    

4. Conducting an assessment of bullying incidents at each school and, if necessary, increasing supervision and security in areas where bullying most often occurs, such as playgrounds, hallways, restrooms, and cafeterias.
    

5. Annually notifying district employees that, pursuant to Education Code 234.1, any school staff who witnesses an act of bullying against a student has a responsibility to immediately intervene to stop the incident when it is safe to do so (AR 5131.2).

A list of statewide resources, including community-based organizations, that provide support to youth who have been subjected to school-based discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying, and their families can be found HERE.

A list of statewide resources for youth who have been affected by gangs, gun violence, and psychological trauma caused by violence at home, at school, and in the community can be found HERE.

Employees shall support the District’s efforts to prevent hate-motivated incidents by learning to recognize the indicators of such actions and effectively taking steps to intervene immediately when such actions occur. Employees are expected to report such situations/incidents to their principal or other site administrator immediately after becoming aware of any such incident(s). All CUSD employees share a responsibility for creating an environment where students and staff know that hate-motivated incidents will not be tolerated. Employees are expected to encourage anyone alleging that they are a target of, or a witness to, a hate-motivated incident/crime to report this incident. Moreover, employees are expected to cooperate in any investigation of a hate-motivated incident. Finally, employees are expected to guard against any actions that could be considered retaliatory against anyone who has made a report or is participating in an investigation of a hate-motivated incident/crime.

Students shall be informed that Cabrillo Unified School District and its schools do not tolerate hate-motivated incidents or crimes. Hate-motivated incidents may result in school discipline, including but not limited to suspension or expulsion. Hate-motivated incidents may also result in involvement of the local law enforcement agencies. Students share a responsibility with district employees for creating a safe school environment, and students need to know they can do that by treating others with mutual respect and acceptance. Students are expected to be sensitive to how others might perceive their actions and/or words. Students are expected not to engage in or contribute to hate-motivated behaviors, actions, or words. In cases where students may be a witness to or a target of a hate-motivated incident/crime, they have a responsibility to report such an incident to the principal or other site administrator. Students are expected never to engage in retaliatory behavior or to ask, encourage, or consent to anyone taking retaliatory actions on their behalf. 

School and/or district administrators will investigate all reports of hate-motivated incidents, and administrators will ask students, staff, and other witnesses to document what occurred as part of that investigation. Administrators will collect and maintain copies of incident report forms for completeness and then determine whether additional information might be needed and what District policy procedures are to be followed. School administrators will determine whether additional resources or assistance might be required or suggested to the school. As appropriate, school administrators will confer with district administrators and provide a summary of the incident reports to the Superintendent (or designee) as often as necessary. School and/or district administrators will work to inform the school and/or community as appropriate, denounce any hate-motivated incident(s), and discuss how counseling resources, disciplinary responses, and/or restorative practices will address the incident. In cases where hate-motivated incidents require the involvement of law enforcement, CUSD employees shall be expected to cooperate with local law enforcement agencies to investigate any potential hate-motivated crimes.