December 16, 2013 at 6:00 PM - Bethel Board of Education Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Key Points of the Briefing:

1. The revised version of the policy includes harassment because forms of harassment often occur simultaneously with bullying (gay bashing, racial slurs, sexual harassment, etc.).These behaviors may cause a hostile learning environment for the victim that must not only be stopped, but must be re-dressed by the district if the district is found to be negligent.These behaviors may also activate victim protections under federal civil rights and anti-discrimination statutes; thus they cannot be minimized or ignored by the district’s schools.

    

2. The Board must be aware of the fact because bullying is often a form of harassment, there are “protected classes” of students covered by Title IX and other federal statutes.

    

3. Here are some resources you will find useful:

Bullying and Harassment - http://www.sde.ct.gov/sde/bullyingandharassment

Summary of the Briefing:

The earlier version of this policy has been in place for three years in the district.  This revision is necessary because the guidance from the State Department of Education and the Civic Rights Compliance Office has made it clear that bullying, cyberbullying, and harassment are to be very aggressively monitored and eradicated as they diminish students’ ability to learn in non-hostile, non-discriminatory environments.

Topic:  Updates and Changes for #5131.6 (Alcohol, Drugs, and Tobacco); #5131.1 (Smoking on a School Bus), #1331 (Smoke Free Environment); and #4118.231/#4218.231 (Drug and Alcohol Use and Possession)

Key Points of the Briefing:

1. In policy #5131.6, nicotine delivering devices (e-cigarettes) are included in the list of banned smoking-related products;

1. In policy #5131.6, the use of medical marijuana by any 18 year old who holds a certificate authorizing the palliative use of marijuana, is still banned on a school bus, at school, or at a school-related event despite PA 12-55 (An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana), because possession of marijuana remains illegal under federal law;

    

2. In policy #5131.1, the use of nicotine delivering devices are banned from all school buses;

     

3. In policy #1331, the use of nicotine delivering devices and other smoking-related substances are banned from our facilities;

     

4. In policies #4118.231 and #4218.231, the use of medical marijuana is strictly prohibited at work by any employee holding a certificate authorizing the palliative use of medical marijuana;

     

5. In policies #4118.231 and #4218.231, the Board prohibits all smoking-related substances, including nicotine delivering devices by all employees.

Summary of the Briefing:

These four policies have been updated to address the use of nicotine delivering devices (e-cigarettes) or the use of medical marijuana by students and employees.  Please see red print.