October is Bullying Prevention Month, and Goddard Public Schools is bringing the Bullying Prevention Team back together to tackle a shared goal: How can schools, families, and the community work together to prevent bullying and best support students when concerns arise?
On Tuesday, September 22, educators, parents, staff, and community leaders gathered to review current policies and processes and to share what they are seeing and hearing across school communities. Participants highlighted what is already working well, identified opportunities to grow, and raised fresh ideas that hadn't yet been considered. The conversation centered on prevention, proactive approaches, clear communication with families, and making it easy to report concerns.
Looking Ahead & Helping Every Student Feel Safe, Valued, and Ready to Learn
Every student deserves to feel safe, to belong, and to focus on learning. Bullying can take many forms, including physical acts, hurtful words, social exclusion, and harmful electronic communication. Team members emphasized the important role adults play in listening carefully, gathering the full story, and responding to the behavior, even when it isn't ultimately classified as bullying.
The team generated new ideas for teaching and modeling respectful behavior, communicating more consistently across schools, and empowering students to speak up when they see someone being mistreated. They will also continue exploring these topics, and at least one more meeting is planned this school year.
“I’m grateful to the parents, educators, and community members who came together for this conversation,” said Scott May, Executive Director of Early Learning and Student Services. “Their perspectives help us see where families need clearer information and how we can work together to make sure students feel safe, heard, and supported.”
Building a Shared Understanding
A key theme was the difference between bullying and peer conflict. Kansas State Statute 72-6147 states, “‘Bullying’ means: (A) Any intentional gesture or any intentional written, verbal, electronic or physical act or threat either by any student, staff member or parent towards a student or by any student, staff member or parent towards a staff member that is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that such gesture, act or threat creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment that a reasonable person, under the circumstances, knows or should know will have the effect of: (i) Harming a student or staff member, whether physically or mentally; (ii) damaging a student’s or staff member’s property; (iii) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of harm to the student or staff member; or (iv) placing a student or staff member in reasonable fear of damage to the student’s or staff member’s property; (B) cyberbullying; or (C) any other form of intimidation or harassment prohibited by the board of education of the school district in policies concerning bullying adopted pursuant to this section or subsection (e) of K.S.A. 721138, and amendments thereto.”
The USD 265 Bullying Prevention Plan describes peer conflict as a disagreement or fight between students without a perceived imbalance of power. The team saw an opportunity to offer clearer, more consistent explanations of this distinction so students and families feel confident understanding it, while also encouraging bystanders to speak up or take action whenever someone needs help.
Participants reviewed the USD 265 Bullying Incident Report Form. Because some parents were not aware the form existed, the team discussed ways to make both the form and its instructions easier to find and understand. Families don’t need to have every detail of an incident before reaching out. Schools are always ready to listen and be productive, while it’s important to remember that disciplinary actions are never made public and that many details of student-related incidents must remain confidential.
Families, students, staff, and community members with concerns about an incident can find information, resources, and the report form on the USD 265 Bullying Information & Resources webpage: https://www.goddardusd.com/page/anti-bullying. The form asks for information about the student, when and where the incident happened, what was said or done, and how to contact the person making the report. Students can also talk with a teacher, counselor, or school administrator, and families can contact their child's school directly.
Anyone interested in creating positive impact alongside the Bullying Prevention Team is welcome to email Scott May at scottmay@goddardusd.com or call 316-794-4000.