JICK

NEPN/NSBA Code:  JICK

BULLYING

It is the intent of the MSAD #60 Board of Directors to provide all students with an equitable opportunity to learn.  To that end, the Board has a significant interest in providing a safe, orderly and respectful school environment that is conducive to teaching and learning.

The Board believes that bullying, including cyberbullying, is detrimental to student well-being and to student learning and achievement.  It interferes with the mission of the schools to educate their students and disrupts the operations of the schools.  Bullying affects not only students who are targets but also those who participate in and witness such behavior.

Bullying Prohibited

Bullying, including cyberbullying, harassment and sexual harassment are not acceptable conduct in MSAD #60 and are prohibited. 

Retaliation for the reporting of incidents of such behavior is also prohibited. 

In adopting this policy, it is not the Board’s intent to prohibit students from expressing their ideas, including religious, political and philosophical views that may offend the sensibilities of others, or from engaging in civil debate.  However, the Board does not condone and will take action in response to conduct that directly interferes with students’ rights at school under applicable laws or with the educational mission, operations, discipline or general welfare of the schools.

Definitions

 Bullying

Bullying is unwanted, intentional, and repeated aggressive behavior involving a real or perceived power imbalance, causing physical or emotional harm.

A. Examples of conduct that may constitute bullying include, but are not limited to: 

1. Intentional and pervasive taunting, name-calling, belittling, mocking, put-downs, or demeaning humor; 

2. Behavior that is likely to harm someone by damaging his or her relationships/reputation with others, including but not limited to gossip, spreading rumors, and social isolation;

3. Non-verbal threats and/or intimidations such as use of aggressive, menacing, or disrespectful gestures;

4. Threats of harm to a student, to his/her possessions, or to other individuals, whether transmitted verbally or in writing; 

5. Blackmail, extortion, demands for protection money, or involuntary loans or donations; 

6. Blocking access to school property or facilities; 

7. Stealing or hiding books, backpacks, or other possessions; 

8. Stalking; and 

9. Physical contact or injury (not considered rising to the level of assault) to another person or his/her property.

B. Interferes with the rights of a student by:

1. Creating an intimidating or hostile educational environment for the student; or

2. Interfering with the student’s academic performance or ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by the school; or

C. Is based on:

1. A student’s actual or perceived characteristics identified in 5 MRSA § 4602 or 4684-A (including race; color; ancestry; national origin; sex; sexual orientation; gender identity or expression; religion; physical or mental disability) or other distinguishing personal characteristics (such as socioeconomic status; age; physical appearance; weight; or family status); or

2. A student’s association with a person with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics or any other distinguishing characteristics; and that has the effect described in subparagraph A. or B. above.

D. For the purpose of this policy, bullying does not mean teasing, put-downs, talking trash, trading of insults, or similar interactions among friends, nor does it include expression of ideas or beliefs so long as such expression is not lewd, profane, or does not interfere with student's opportunity to learn, the instructional program, or the operations of the schools. This does not preclude teachers or school administrators from setting and enforcing rules for civility, courtesy, and/or responsible behavior in the classroom and the school environment.

Under Maine law:

Sexual orientation means a person’s actual or perceived heterosexuality, bisexuality, homosexuality, or gender identity or expression. 

Gender identity means gender-related identity, appearance, mannerisms, or other gender-related characteristics of an individual, regardless of the individual’s assigned sex at birth.

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including but not limited to, a transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted by the use of any electronic device including, but not limited to, a computer, telephone, cellular telephone, text messaging device.

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NEPN/NSBA Code:  JICK

Examples of conduct that may constitute cyberbullying include, but are not limited to the following actions on any electronic medium (depending on the severity of cyberbullying, it may be necessary to involve law enforcement):

1. Posting slurs or rumors or displaying any defamatory, inaccurate, disparaging, violent, abusive, profane, or sexually oriented material about a student on a website, an app, in social media, or any other electronic platform; 

2. Posting misleading or fake photographs or digital video footage of a student on websites or creating fake websites or social networking profiles in the guise of posing as the targeted student; 

3. Impersonating or representing another student through the use of that other student’s electronic device or account to send e-mail, text messages, instant messages (IM), phone calls or other messages on a social media website; 

4. Sending e-mail, text messages, IM, or leaving voice mail messages that are mean or threatening, or so numerous as to bombard the target’s e-mail account, IM account, or cell phone; and 

5. Using a camera phone or digital video camera to take and/or send embarrassing or “sexting” photographs of other students.

Retaliation

Retaliation means an act or gesture against a student for asserting or alleging an act of bullying. Retaliation also includes reporting that is not made in good faith on an act of bullying.  

Application of Policy 

This policy applies to bullying that:

A. Takes place at school or on school grounds, at any school-sponsored or school-related activity or event or while students are being transported to or from school or school-sponsored activities or events; or

B. Takes place elsewhere or through the use of technology, but only if the bullying also infringes on the rights of the student at school as set forth in the definition of bullying.

Consequences for Policy Violations

Students

Students who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action which may include suspension, expulsion or a series of graduated consequences including alternative discipline or other behavioral interventions. 

The Board retains the right to impose disciplinary consequences for bullying and other conduct that occurs at any time or place that substantially disrupts the instructional program, operations of the schools or welfare of students.

Any student violating this policy may also be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

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NEPN/NSBA Code:  JICK

School Employees and Others

Administrators, professional staff and all other employees who violate this policy may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including dismissal, and in accordance with any applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Volunteers, contractors and visitors who violate this policy will be barred from school property until the Superintendent is satisfied that the person will comply with Maine’s bullying law and this policy.  

Any person violating this policy may also be subject to civil or criminal penalties.

Any school-affiliated organization that authorizes or engages in bullying or retaliation is subject to forfeiture of Board approval/sanctioning and/or suspension or revocation of its permission to operate on school grounds.

Appeals

Any student or parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with the outcome of a bullying investigation may submit a written appeal to the Superintendent within ten (10) business days of receiving the investigative findings.

The Superintendent or designee shall review the appeal and issue a written response within fifteen (15) business days of receiving the appeal. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final.

Staff Training

MSAD #60 will provide professional development and staff training in bullying prevention and response.

Delegation of Responsibility 

The Superintendent/designee will be responsible for developing and implementing procedures in accordance with applicable law to implement this policy.  

The Superintendent will designate the school principal and/or other school personnel to be responsible for implementation/enforcement of this policy and associated procedures on the school level.

A student or his/her parent/guardian who is dissatisfied with a decision of the Superintendent or designee related to the taking or not taking of disciplinary action in the course of implementing this policy may appeal, in writing, to the Superintendent within 10 busienss days of notice of the decision. The Superintendent’s decision shall be final. 

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NEPN/NSBA Code:  JICK

Dissemination of Policy

The Superintendent will be responsible for providing this policy, any associated administrative procedures and the names of the person(s) responsible for implementing the policy/procedure at the school level in writing to students, parents, school employees and volunteers in handbooks, on the school unit’s website and by such other means (if any) as may be determined by the Superintendent.

Legal Reference: 20-A M.R.S.A. § 1001(15), 6554

Cross Reference:

AC - Nondiscrimination, Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action 

ACAA – Harassment and Sexual Harassment of Students

ACAA-R Student Discrimination and Harassment Complaint Procedure 

ACAD – Hazing 

AD – Educational Philosophy/Mission

ADAA – School System Commitment to Standards for Ethical and 

     Responsible Behavior

ADF - School Unit Commitment to Learning Results

GCI – Professional Staff Development

IJNDB-R - Student Computer and Internet Use and Internet Safety

JI - Student Rights and Responsibilities

JIC - Student Code of Conduct

JICC - Student Conduct on School Buses

JICIA - Weapons, Violence and School Safety

JK - Student Discipline

JKD - Suspension of Students

JKE - Expulsion of Students

KLG - Relations with Law Enforcement Authorities

Adopted: October 19, 2006

Revised: June 25, 2009

   January 16, 2020

   April 2, 2026

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