December 22, 2011

Excerpts from our District Strategic Plan:

• “To prepare each student to be a successful and responsible member of society.”
• We believe - mutual respect and social responsibility are fundamental expectations within the educational community.
• We provide a safe educational environment which fosters active, challenging learning experiences.

Dear Parents,

More and more it seems, we are hearing of tragic incidents resulting from students being bullied. In these cases, either the bullying went unreported or it was not addressed satisfactorily. I believe the entire North Smithfield School “community” – teachers, staff, students, administrators, and parents - are committed to preventing these kinds of tragedies from occurring.

That being said, there is an impression that children appear to have less “social interactions” skills than in the past - often times resulting in more prevalent face-to-face confrontations, group harassment, and social media “bullying/harassment”– than before. This poses different kinds of “challenges” for educators and parents.

During the last school year, I created an Anti-Bullying Workgroup that is co-chaired by John Lahar, Middle School Principal, and Michelle Taylor, a parent in our district. Additional members include Michelle Halloran, School Social Worker; Rusty Brown, Director of Pupil Personnel Services; Malinda Howard, Parent; and Pam Shayer, N.S. Prevention Coalition Coordinator. I often attend as well.
 

How They Will Need Your Help - Please

• Part of our Workgroup’s responsibility is to survey students’, staff, and parents’ experiences with bullying in the district. We ask that you take the time to complete the survey. These surveys will be used to help define the nature and scope of bullying in the district and will serve as a baseline. You can go directly to the survey by clicking on the hyperlink that follows: www.surveymonkey.com/s/nspsbullyingsurveyparents.

The “WHAT” of Their Work
This Workgroup has been:

• Evaluating the district’s existing bullying policy with the intent of revising;
• Collecting and reviewing policies from other districts in both RI and MA;
• Meeting with building administrators to identify resources, issues, and bullying complaint protocol within each building;
• Establishing a process to collect “data” relevant to this issue within the district;
• Researching potential resources, programs, or school/district-wide approaches; and,
• Awaiting guidance from the RI Department of Education as a result of new legislation, the “Safe Schools Act,” passed by the General Assembly during the spring 2011 session.

You can find the Workgroup’s minutes and goals on our district webpage tab, “Anti-Bullying.”

Bullying Prevention “Programs” or Approaches
Most importantly, we have begun to evaluate and research approaches / strategies currently available to determine which might be a “best fit” for our district - one that embraces the core of our educational programming; an approach/strategy that will foster a school culture that invites children to learn in an atmosphere where they feel supported by both their peers and school staff.

As you likely realize, this approach will take some time. Members of our Workgroup will be visiting schools to view some of the prevention programs in action.

In the Meantime
That does not mean, however, that bullying is not being addressed. The district takes all reported/suspected incidents of bullying seriously; ensuring timely follow up, careful research, and appropriate action.

The safety and wellbeing of our students has always been and remains among the highest priorities in the district. Any bullying incidents should continue to be reported to the school principals or other school staff to ensure prompt attention to these matters. Follow the procedures provided in the Student Handbooks.

Additionally, if you have ideas or suggestions for the Anti-Bullying Workgroup, you may contact Michelle Taylor at michelleptaylor [at] verizon [dot] net or John Lahar at jlahar [at] nsps [dot] us.

You will see a new tab titled, “Anti-Bullying,” on our website dedicated to communicating the efforts of the Anti-Bullying Workgroup. I encourage you to check this space frequently for updates.

Respectfully,
Stephen Lindberg, Superintendent of Schools