Ohio schools are standing up to bullies [ChillicotheGazette]

Ross schools have adopted policies to protect students
Staff, wire reports


Bullying, name-calling and hazing have been daily incidents in school hallways and playgrounds since chalkboards were invented.
But instead of turning a blind eye, Ohio schools are trying to stand up to bullies.


Schools across the state are putting policies in place to comply with House Bill 276. The bill, signed into law earlier this year, forced schools to update or create policies to prohibit bullying. Ohio schools must implement procedures for documenting any harassment that is reported and have a disciplining procedure for students harassing others, according to the Ohio Revised Code. In Ross County, many schools already have adopted a new anti-bullying policy. However, some - such as Zane Trace - are waiting for the state-approved policy to ensure the district is in alignment with the state, said Superintendent Carolyn Everidge.

"As administrators, we have reviewed our policy and try to ... address bullying," she said. "We think and we want to train our staff to understand the definition of it."

At Eastern in Pike County, they are awaiting changes, if needed, to current policies from NEOLA - a group that provides the district with any needed policies as well as other policy or by-law information, said Superintendent Charles Shreve.


Although Everidge said the district is looking into different programs, many other districts already are implementing their own.

At Chillicothe City Schools, all buildings have been doing programming in alignment with the district motto, "Chillicothe respect. You have to give it to get it," said Superintendent Roger Crago. The high school also has been doing a mentoring program, pairing freshmen with seniors.
"It's like everything else, though, there's always room for improvement," Crago said.

Dave Warne, Adena superintendent, agreed.
"Each of our principals are working on positive behavior programs. It's an ongoing thing; you're always trying to improve that," he said, adding that each year administrators review what programs have and have not worked during the previous year.

Around the state, others are employing their policies and procedures.
Liberty Union-Thurston schools in Fairfield County defines hazing and bullying and explains the steps that must be taken if harassment or bullying happens.

According to the policy, the superintendent is to provide the board president with a semi-annual written report of all reported incidents of bullying. The report then will be posted on the district's Web site.
Lancaster City Schools is implementing a district-wide anti-bullying program in the 2007-08 school year, according to Tallmadge Elementary School Principal Donna McCance.

The program - which will uses puppets, stories and positive play to teach - will help teach students from preschool through eighth grade skills to build healthy relationships and how to address conflict.

(Jona Ison of The Chillicothe gazetteand Alaina Fahy of The Lancaster Eagle-Gazette contributed to this story.)

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