PDF Version (Click Here)

BP 5131.2 (Click Here)

Barstow Unified School District believes that all students have a right to a safe and healthy school environment. The district, schools, and community have an obligation to promote mutual respect, tolerance, and acceptance.

Barstow Unified School District will not tolerate behavior that infringes on the safety of any student. A student shall not intimidate, harass, or bully another student through words or actions. Such behavior includes: direct physical contact, such as hitting or shoving; verbal assaults, such as teasing or name-calling; and social isolation or manipulation. The 2015 School Crime Supplement - PDF (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics) indicates that, nationwide, about 21% of students ages 12-18 experienced bullying. The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 19% of students in grades 9–12 report being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Therefore, Barstow Unified School District recognizes that bullying is a serious issue, and expects students, parents, and/or staff to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee. Staff who witness such acts will be expected to take immediate steps to intervene when safe to do so. Each complaint of bullying should be promptly investigated. This policy applies to students on school grounds, while traveling to and from school or a school-sponsored activity, during the lunch period, whether on or off campus, and during a school-sponsored activity. Please see BP 5131.2 for additional information.

Bullying: unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or there is a pattern of pervasive behavior over time. Both kids, who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

In order for it to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of Power: Kids who bully use their power—such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity—to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or there is a pattern of pervasive behaviors over time .

Per the student conduct handbook, any student who engages in bullying may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion. Students are expected to immediately report incidents of bullying to the principal or designee. Students can rely on staff to promptly investigate each complaint of bullying in a thorough and confidential manner.

If the complainant student or the parent of the student feels that appropriate resolution of the investigation or complaint has not been reached, the student or the parent of the student should contact the principal or the Office of Pupil Services. The school system prohibits retaliatory behavior against any complainant or any participant in the complaint process.

To ensure bullying does not occur on school campuses, Barstow Unified School District will provide staff development training in bullying prevention and cultivate acceptance and understanding in all students and staff to build each school's capacity to maintain a safe and healthy learning environment.

Teachers should discuss this policy with their students in age-appropriate ways and should assure them that they need not endure any form of bullying. Students who bully are in violation of this policy and are subject to disciplinary action up to and including expulsion.