Bullying

BULLYING

Anti-Bullying Policy

The Milpitas Unified School District prohibits any discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying of any student based on the student's actual race, color, ancestry, national origin, ethnic group identification, age, religion, marital or parental status, physical or mental disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or gender expression; the perception of one or more of such characteristics; or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics.

Prohibited discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying includes physical, verbal, nonverbal, or written conduct based on one of the categories listed above that is so severe and pervasive that it affects a student's ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity; creates an intimidating, threatening, hostile, or offensive educational environment; has the effect of substantially or unreasonably interfering with a student's academic performance; or otherwise adversely affects a student's educational opportunities.

What Bullying Is

Repeated aggressive behavior that might include the following

Intended to cause harm (physical or emotional)
An attempt by one or more individuals to gain power over another
Physical: Hitting, kicking, pushing, destroying property
Verbal/Written: Threatening, name-calling, teasing, taunting
Social/Emotional: Terrorizing, spreading rumors, intimidating, humiliating, blackmailing, isolating
Cyber-bullying: Using technology to bully others verbally, emotionally and/or socially

What Isn't Bullying

Not liking someone
Accidentally bumping into someone
A single act of telling a joke about someone
Expression of unpleasant thoughts or feelings regarding others
Arguments or disagreements
Being excluded from a game or group on the playground (unless being done regularly and with intention to hurt the feelings of another)
Isolated acts of harassment, aggressive behavior, intimidation or meanness

Report Bullying

Filing a Report

Students, parents, and community members are encouraged to notify school staff, the assistant principal(s) or principal when they are being bullied or have witnessed another student being bullied or harassed. Complaints may be filed with the site principal or supervisor, or the appropriate Title IX coordinator:

The Uniform Complaint Procedures shall govern the process for investigating and resolving a complaint of bullying, harassment, and sexual harassment. The Uniform Complaint Procedures Board Policy 1312 and Administration Regulations 1312.3 may be found in the MUSD Parent Student Handbook, the MUSD website, and at each school or department site. Students may submit complaints on the MUSD Student Discrimination / Harassment / Assault Complaint and Title IX Grievance Form (AR 5145). When the circumstances involve cyber-bullying, individuals with information about the activity are encouraged to save and print any electronic or digital messages that may constitute cyber-bullying. This evidence will assist the administrator or supervisor in completing his/her investigation of the complaint.

Confidentiality

Reasonable efforts will be made to keep a report of bullying or harassment and the result of the investigation confidential. The Board also prohibits any form of retaliation against any student who files a complaint or report regarding an incident of discrimination, harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

See something? Say something.

Keep Schools Safe by Sharing Safety Concerns. Contact your school principal or Contact Us 408-635-2600, ext. 6077

Complaints regarding Title IX for Staff: Assistant Superintendent, Human Relations,
Jonathon Brunson;
(408) 635-2600, x6071

Complaints regarding Title IX for Students: Director of Student Services,
Mary Jude Doerpinghaus
(408) 635-2600, x6009

Click here to file a report online.

Resources

United States Department of Education Office for Civil Rights

Complaint Forms Overview
Complaint Form
Contact Information: (800) 421-3481 or ocr@ed.gov