Bullying Prevention
Student safety and health is a top priority for South Dakota school boards. Some issues, like student bullying, are challenging to confront, particularly in light of the new challenges presented by technology.
South Dakota school boards voiced their support for the adoption of local bullying prevention policies during the 2008 ASBSD Delegate Assembly, adopting a standing position on school wellness that encouraged local action to protect students from the harmful effects of bullying.
School Wellness Standing Position
ASBSD believes that wellness is related to students' overall well-being and their readiness to learn. A growing body of research links student wellness to positive academic results, affirming the important role school wellness plays in student achievement.
Local school boards should work with community stakeholders to promote policies and practices that encourage and enable wellness, including healthy food choices, nutrition education, regular physical activity, and a coordinated approach to addressing health. Comprehensive local policy includes multiple aspects of student well-being, including drug resistance, suicide prevention, violence prevention and all forms of bullying.
ASBSD urges local school boards to adopt policy that promotes healthy lifestyles and student safety, but opposes state mandates, whether funded or unfunded, which would limit the authority of local school districts to design appropriate wellness programs that reflect school and community standards.
Bullying Prevention Resources
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ASBSD Sample Student Bullying Policy (
word)
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ASBSD Sample Student Bullying Administrative Regulations (
word)
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ASBSD Sample Policy on Cyberbullying (
word)
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NSBA Leadership Insider on Harassment and Bullying (
pdf)
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ASBJ Focus on Cyber Bullying (
pdf)
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ASBJ Focus on Relational Bullying (
pdf)
Taking a Stand: Preventing Bullying in Schools
ASBSD sponsored a comprehensive bullying prevention seminar in April, 2009. The event, titled Taking a Stand: Preventing Bullying in Schools, provided members with important information and documentation on how schools in South Dakota and across the nation are stepping up bullying prevention efforts.
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Download the Taking a Stand supplemental book (PDF)
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Download NSBA Senior Staff Attorney Tom Hutton's PowerPoint presentation on Bullying Prevention (PowerPoint)