Bullying
Bullying and Harassment
The Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District prohibits discrimination, harassment, intimidation, and bullying based on the actual or perceived characteristics of a person’s disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics. This policy applies to all acts related to school activity or school attendance occurring within a District school.
(Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District Board Policy 5145.3)
Bullying Definition
Bullying is defined as any severe or pervasive physical or verbal act or conduct, including communications made in writing or by means of an electronic act, and including one or more acts committed by a pupil or group of pupils as defined in Section 48900.2 (Sexual Harassment), 48900.3 (Hate Violence) , or 48900.4 (Harassment, Threats, or Intimidation), directed toward one or more pupils that has or can be reasonably predicted to have the effect of one or more of the following:
Placing a reasonable pupil or pupils in fear of harm to that pupil's or those pupils' person or property.
Causing a reasonable pupil to experience a substantially detrimental effect on his or her physical or mental health.
Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her academic performance.
Causing a reasonable pupil to experience substantial interference with his or her ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.
(2) "Electronic act" means the transmission of a communication, including, but not limited to, a message, text, sound, or image, or a post on a social network Internet Web site, by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, wireless telephone or other wireless communication device, computer, or pager.(California Education Code 48900 (r))
Report Bullying
Any person that has been a victim of, or witnessed bullying or harassment on school grounds, during school activities, or going to and coming from school is highly encouraged to report the incident immediately to a counselor, administrator, or other adult personnel on campus. Students/Parents/Guardians should report the incident to the school site administration.
Investigation
The principal or designee shall promptly investigate all complaints of bullying or harassment. The student who filed the complaint shall have the opportunity to describe the incident, present witnesses and other evidence of the bullying or harassment, and put his/her complaint in writing. Once the school administration receives a written complaint, the administration shall initiate an impartial investigation of the allegation of bullying within five school days.
If the bullying/harassment is based on the actual or perceived characteristics of a person’s disability, gender, gender identity, gender expression, nationality, race or ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or association with a person or group with one or more of these actual or perceived characteristics, the principal or designee shall present a written report to the student who filed the complaint, his/her parent/guardian, accused individual and his/her parent/guardian within 30 school days of the reported incident. The report shall include his/her findings, decision, and reason for the decision. If the student is in disagreement with the outcome of the investigation, an appeal can be filed at the District Office, Educational Services Department, located at 12797 Third Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399.
Transfer Request
A child who has been determined by district personnel to have been the victim of an act of bullying, as defined in California Education Code 48900 (r), shall, at the request of the person having legal custody of the student, be given priority for interdistrict attendance under any existing interdistrict attendance agreement. Under State law, the student is entitled to transfer to another school within or outside the District if the allegation of bullying is founded. Placement at a requested school is contingent upon space availability. Transfer requests can be obtained at the District Office, Educational Services Department, located at 12797 Third Street, Yucaipa, CA 92399.
(California Education Code 46600 (b))
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Additional Resources
Anti-Bullying Tip Sheet