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Home My WebLink AboutWA Resolution 22-23 amending the Bullying Policy to Include CyberbullyingWESTLAKE ACADEMY WA RESOLUTION 22-23 A RESOLUTION OF THE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES APPROVING A AMENDED BULLYING POLICY TO INCLUDE CYBERBULLYING. WHEREAS, Westlake Academy's mission is to support students as they become compassionate, life-long learners through an internationally -minded, balanced education that empowers students to contribute to our interconnected world; and WHEREAS, The proposed resolution supports updating the Bullying Policy; and WHEREAS, Westlake Academy would be in compliance with State guidelines; and WHEREAS, the Board of Trustees finds that the passage of this Resolution is in the best interest of the citizens of Westlake as well as the students, their parents, and faculty of Westlake Academy. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF WESTLAKE ACADEMY: SECTION 1: That, all matters stated in the recitals herein above are found to be true and correct and are incorporated herein by reference as if copied in their entirety. SECTION 2: That, the Board of Trustees Westlake Academy, hereby approves the Westlake Academy Bullying Policy attached to this resolution as Exhibit "A': SECTION 3: If any portion of this resolution shall, for any reason, be declared invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such invalidity shall not affect the remaining provisions hereof and the Council hereby determines that it would have adopted this Resolution without the invalid provision. SECTION 4: That this resolution shall become effective from and after its date of passage. PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS 3RD DAY OF OCTOBER 2022. Sean Kilbride, President WA Res 22-23 Pagel of 3 ATTEST: Amy M. Piuk a, Board Secretary APPROVED AS TO FFORM: Janet Bubert, School Attorney 4_ Sean 'Wi�lson-�Hea4lof School WA Res 22-23 Page 2 of 3 Res 22-23 Exhibit "A" WA Res 22-23 Page 3 of 3 BOT Attachment -WA Policy No. 3.03: Bullying Policy Policy No. 3.03: Date Board Adopted: Date Board Amended: Effective Date: Policy Category: Policy Name: TOWN OF WESTLAKE WESTLAKE ACADEMY BOARD OF TRUSTEES POLICY August 3, 2009 September 11, 2017 September 11, 2017 Parent, Student and Faculty Relations and Expectations Bullying Policy Policy Goal: Creation of a supportive and safe learning environment Policy Description: Westlake Academy policy and procedures are designed to promote a safe and productive learning environment. Westlake Academy shall prohibit bullying, including cyberbullying, as defined by applicable law, Texas Education Code 37.0832, and this policy. The procedures necessary to implement this policy will be published in the Parent/Student Handbook and on the Academy website. Prohibited Conduct Bullying, which includes cyberbullying (social media posts, texting, use of digital communication platforms or), means a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means, or physical conduct that: 1. Has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student's person or of damage to the student's property; 2. Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; 3. Materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or 4. Infringes on the rights of the victim at school. 5. Includes cyberbullying. Cyberbullying means bullying that is done through the use of any electronic communication device, including through the use of a cellular or other type of telephone, a computer, a camera, electronic mail, instant messaging, text BOT Attachment — WA Policy No. 3.03: Bullying Policy messaging, a social media application, an Internet website, or any other Internet - based communication tool. The prohibited conduct identified in this policy applies to: Bullying that occurs on or is delivered to school property or to the site of a school -sponsored or school -related activity on or off school property; Bullying that occurs on a publicly or privately -owned school bus or vehicle being used for transportation of students to or from school or a school -sponsored or school -related activity; and Cyberbullying that occurs off school property or outside of a school - sponsored or school -related activity if the cyberbullying: a. Interferes with a student's educational opportunities; or b. Substantially disrupts the orderly operation of a classroom, school, or school -sponsored or school -related activity. Westlake Academy prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith makes a complaint or who is involved in an investigation concerning an incident of alleged bullying. A student who intentionally makes a false claim, provides false information, or refuses to cooperate with an investigation regarding bullying shall be subject to appropriate disciplinary action. Procedures for Reporting & Investigating Bullying Complaints Complaints about bullying conduct should be made as soon as possible after prohibited conduct occurs using the procedures identified in the Westlake Academy Parent/Student Handbook. Failure to timely report may impair the Academy's ability to investigate and effectively address the conduct. Westlake Academy will establish procedures for reporting and investigating bullying complaints, which will be included in the Parent/Student Handbook and available on the Academy's website. The procedures shall include: Actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying; 2. Procedures for reporting an incident of bullying or cyberbullying, including a procedure for a student to anonymously report an incident of bullying; 3. Procedures for providing notice of an incident of alleged bullying to: a. A parent or guardian of the alleged victim on or before the third business day after the date the incident is reported; and b. A parent or guardian of the alleged bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident; 4. Procedures for investigating a reported incident of bullying, including taking prompt interim action calculated to prevent bullying during the course of an investigation, if appropriate; BOT Attachment ; — WA Policy No. 3.03: Bullying Policy 5. Procedures for determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred, reporting the investigation findings, and appealing the findings of the investigation; 6. Opportunities for access to counseling for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying. Academy staff shall take all reasonable measures to respect the privacy of a complainant, a person against whom a complaint is filed, and any witnesses or persons contributing information to a bullying investigation. However, limited disclosures may be necessary in order to conduct a thorough investigation. Disciplinary Consequences If the results of an investigation indicate that bullying occurred, the Academy shall impose appropriate disciplinary consequences in accordance with the Westlake Academy Code of Conduct and may take other corrective action that is reasonably calculated to address the conduct. In the event an investigation concludes that improper conduct occurred that did not rise to the level of bullying, as defined by this policy, the Academy may take appropriate action in accordance with the Student Code of Conduct or any other corrective action deemed appropriate by Academy administrators. Any conduct that constitutes bullying, including cyberbullying, shall be considered a serious offense that may result in a student's expulsion from Westlake Academy. A student shall be expelled if the student 1. Engages in bullying that encourages a student to commit or attempt to commit suicide; 2. Incites violence against a student through group bullying; or 3. Releases or threatens to release intimate visual material of a minor or a student who is 18 years of age or older without the student's consent. Westlake Academy will not impose disciplinary action against a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student's use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying. Any disciplinary action related to bullying imposed on a student with a disability will comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). Dates Amended: 10/06/15 09/12/2022