WILBRAHAM — The Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School Committee approved an updated bullying prevention plan during its Sept. 4 meeting, focusing on in-school and online bullying as well as different types of bullying behavior.
While bullying prevention plans are suitable for 48 months under law, the district decided to update its plan a year in advance at the recommendation of the recent equity audit, which found “high rates of bullying,” Superintendent John Provost explained.
Created by the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, the updated bullying prevention plan outlines specific strategies to address incidents at a young age, such as utilizing the kindness project and equity circles, Provost said. It also includes resources from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on how to file a complaint.
“These reflect the feedback we’ve received from students and families encouraging us to begin explicit anti-bullying efforts at a younger age,” he stated, noting that the district was taking a “much more proactive approach through this plan.”
Provost highlighted that while the district has seen “the largest spike” of bullying at the middle school level, its behaviors develop earlier in the student’s life. As a result, the updated plan looks to reduce bullying within the district by addressing potential harassment behavior in younger ages, such as second or third grade.
Likewise, Provost stated that the higher levels of reported male bullying was likely a result of different types of bullying, explaining that male bullying was more “overt” than female bullying. “[Female bullying] can look more like social exclusion, which is really harder to pick up on,” Provost said.
Another notable change within the document is the inclusion of all staff when assigning professional development, Provost stated. Rather than specifically targeting teachers, the updated professional development will now look to assist all staff.
“We are expanding that to include all staff because we think all staff impact students’ lives and have the ability to create a culture that is resistant to bullying,” Provost explained.
Vision equity statement
At the Sept. 4 meeting, Provost also reviewed the district’s work to update its vision equity statement. This statement defines equity for the district in order to create a single definition and reduce confusion or assumptions from individuals, he said. Provost presented three draft statements to the board at the meeting.
The three draft statements were presented as follows. The first statement: “The Hampden-Wilbraham Public Schools is committed to fostering an inclusive, equitable and supportive learning environment where all students can thrive. We believe in providing individualized opportunities and resources for every student to achieve their full potential, celebrating diversity as a strength and ensuring all voices are valued, eliminating barriers to success and promoting a culture of respect and belonging, engaging with families and the community to support the growth and well-being of all students. Together we strive to create a district where every child is empowered to succeed,” as stated by Provost.
The second statement: “We commit to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student is seen, heard, valued and empowered. We embrace diverse identities and learning styles, ensuring equitable access to high quality instruction resources. Our goal is to dismantle systemic barriers and promote open, honest communication, allowing all members of our community to thrive intellectually, socially and emotionally as contributing members of a global society, provide inclusive differentiated instruction tailored to all students needs, foster a culture of acceptance, empathy and respect for all, promote collaboration amount students and staff in the community,” Provost said.
The third statement: “We are dedicated to fostering a supportive and inclusive environment where every student is seen, heard, and valued. We strive to provide equitable resources and individualized opportunities for all students, celebrate diversity and promote the culture of respect and belonging, dismantle barriers to success through collaboration with families in the community. Our goal is to empower every student to thrive as a confident and contributing member of society,” Provost said.
The three statements are currently still in draft form and will be finalized as one statement by the DEI Committee during the coming fall months, Provost stated.
