Glenwood Academy Anti-Bullying Policy 2022-2023
Glenwood Academy is committed to providing its students a safe and effective learning environment free from bullying, cyber-bullying, intimidation, and harassment which would diminish a student’s ability to learn and Glenwood’s ability to educate. Bullying is contrary to Illinois State law and the policies of Glenwood Academy.
DEFINITIONS:
Bullying includes cyber-bullying and means any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct including communications made in writing, electronically, direct toward a student or students that has or can reasonably be predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
Placing the student or students in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s or students’ person or property.
Causing a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s or students’ physical or mental health.
Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ academic performance; or
Substantially interfering with the student’s or students’ ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities or privileges provided by a school.
Bullying as defined in 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7, may take various forms, including without limitation one of the following: harassment, threats, intimidation, stalking, physical violence, sexual harrassment, sexual violence, theft, public humiliation, distruction of property, or retaliation for asserting or alleging an act of of bullying. This list is meant to be illustrative and non-exhaustive.
Cyber-bullying, as defined in 105 ILCS 5/27-23.7 is bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, including without limitation any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic systeme, photoelectronic system, or photo-optical system including, without limitation electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying includes the creation of a webpage, or weblog in which the the creator assumes the identity of another person or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages if the creation or impersonation creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in this Section. Cyber-bullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the materials on and electronic that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the effects enumerated in the definition of bullying in 105-ILCS 5/27-23.7
Bullying on the basis of actual or perceived race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender-related identity or expression, ancestry, age, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other distinguishable characteristic is prohibited at Glenwood Academy in each of the following situations:
During any school-sponsored education program or activity.
While in school, the cottage, school bus or Glenwood vehicle or school-sponsored off- campus activity or on Glenwood grounds.
Through the transition of information from a school computer, a school network or other electronic school equipment.
Through the transmission of information from a computer that is accessed at a non-school related location, activity, function or program or from an electronic device that is not owned or leased by Glenwood if the bullying causes a disruption to the educational process or orderly operations on Glenwood Academy. * (4) applies only in cases in which a Glenwood staff member or administrator receives a report of bullying through this means.
REPORTING:
When a student believes they or a peer have been the victim of bullying they should report the incident to a Glenwood Academy teacher, house parent, dean, counselor or administrator. All reports of bullying and or cyber-bullying must then be reported to a member of Glenwood’s Administrative Team if they are not the initial recipient of the report. Parents should report incidents of bullying and or cyber-bullying to a member of Glenwood Academy’s Administrative Team. Reports may be given verbally or in writing to the Glenwood Academy staff listed above. Anonymous reports will also be taken. If a student or parent/ guardian wishes to, they may use the written report form attached to this document. Students and parents/guardians should also report violations of the Glenwood Academy Bullying and Cyber-Bullying Policy to Glenwood Academy’s Administrative Team.
Contact information for Glenwood Academy’s Addministrative Team:
Mrs. Mary Hollie, CEO and President [email protected] 708-756-5054
Dr. Colleen Carter, Vice President Academic and Residential Services [email protected] 708-756-6011
Mr. Brian Harvey, Director of Residential Services [email protected]
708-756-6552
Mrs. Anne Budicin, Principal [email protected] 708-756-4663
INVESTIGATION:
Upon receiving a report of bullying and or cyber-bullying Glenwood’s Administrative Team will promptly collaborate with parents/guardians and students to determine a course of action to gather information, clarify facts and ensure the safety of students. Glenwood Academy’s Administrative Team will make all reasonable efforts to complete an investigation in no more than 10 school days from the date of the initial report. Appropriate school personnel will be involved in the process as deemed necessary. Consistent with Glenwood Academy policy parents/guardians will be informed at the start of the investigation and throughout the process. Parents will meet with Glenwood’s Administrative Team to discuss the findings of the investigation and the actions to be taken addressing the bullying and or cyber-bullying that has occured. Student privacy rights will be enforced throughout the process.
RETALIATION:
Retaliation against any student or person who reports a violation of Glenwood Academy’s Anti-Bullying Policy will be treated as bullying and determining interventions and consequences will be in accordance with Glenwood Academy’s Anti-Bullying Policy. Students will not be punished for reporting bullying and or cyber-bullying, even if Glenwood Academy’s Administrative Team determines no bullying has occurred; however, knowingly making false reports will be treated as bullying for purposes of determining interventions and remedial actions/consequences. False reports or retaliation for harassment, intimidation or bullying also constitute violations of this policy.
INTERVENTIONS:
Interventions will be provided as deemed appropriate for the reported incident. Restorative practices will include but are not limited to counseling/social work services, social emotional learning skill development, corrective discipline, community services, and psychological services. The interventions will be used to change the behavior of the perpetrator and remediate the impact on the victim. This includes age and offense-appropriate intervention(s), restoration of a positive climate, and support for victims and others impacted by the violation.
Students will be provided with age-appropriate information on the recognition and prevention of harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyber-bullying, and their rights and responsibilities under this and other Glenwood Academy policies and rules at orientation sessions and on other appropriate occasions, which may or may not include parents. Parents/guardians shall be provided with copies of this policy and procedures and appropriate materials on the recognition and prevention of harassment, intimidation, bullying and cyber-bullying and the policy will be posted on Glenwood Academy’s website.
If a student or parent/guardian remains aggrieved by Glenwood Academy’s Administrative response, the student may pursue the complaint by appealing to the President & CEO of Glenwood Academy.
Policy Evaluation
Glenwood Academy’s CEO and Vice President of Academic Affairs are authorized to direct the development and implementation of procedures addressing the elements of this policy, consistent with all components of procedures and policy. The process shall include but is not limited to factors such as:
Frequency of victimization
Student, staff, and family observations
Identification of areas of a school where bullying occurs
The types of bullying reported
Interventions and Data Collected
Bystander intervention and or participation
Information developed as part of the evaluation process will be posted on the school website. If the internet website is not available, information will be provided to school personnel, Glenwood Academy Board members, parents/guardians and students.
Bullying is contrary to State law and the policies of Glenwood Academy. Nothing in Glenwood Academy’s bullying prevention and response plan is intended to infringe upon any right to exercise free expression of the free exercise of religion or religiously based views protected under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution or under Section 3 of Article I of the Illinois Constitution.
DEVELOPMENT, NOTIFICATION, and POSTING
Glenwood Academy’s Anit-Bullying/Cyber-Bullying Policy is developed based on engagement from stakeholders including students, parents/guardians and Glenwood Academy staff. The policy is included in the Glenwood Academy’s Parent/Student Handbook which is distributed annually and is posted with all other Glenwood Academy rules and policies where deemed appropriate.
Glenwood Academy’s Anti-Bullying Policy can be viewed at: https://www.glenwoodacademy.org/anti-bullying-policy
This policy is fully consistent with Glenwood Academy’s policies.
References:
ISBE Bullying Pollicy Requirements,
http://www.iasb.com/law/ISSBEBullyingPolicies.pdf