- April 23, 2024
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Communication is key for action to follow.
That was the main principle behind Flagler Schools’ anti-bullying update at the School Board workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 17.
David Bossardet of Flagler Schools told the Board that his main goal this school year is to bring awareness to families about how Flagler Schools define bullying and harassment, as well as who the points of contact are for parents and students to report potential bullying incidents and what the investigation process involves.
He said this school year, the district had Flagler Schools principals assign designated investigative personnel at each school to be the main point of contact for parents, students and community members to come to if there is a concern about a possible bullying incident. This is in addition to the option to report the incident online at the district’s website: flaglerschools.com/district/report-bullying-incident
“One new thing we’ve done this year is I’ve met with transportation,” Bosserdat said. “I met with all the bus drivers and kind of explained their role in terms of identifying bullying issues, speaking with their students and who the bus drivers report issues to.”
Board member Andy Dance voiced his approval of reaching out to transportation.
“I’m glad to see the focus because we had that discussion about how do we get more people to ride the buses for smaller car lines,” Dance said. “And the only way that’s going to happen is if there’s a trust with the parents that issues that happen on the bus are going to be handled and followed through, so we have to build that trust.”
Board member Janet McDonald said there are many reading materials available for concerned parents to educate themselves on the best ways to communicate with their students about bullying.
“I always say we need to allow our parents to be parents and work with us,” Bosserdat said. “So, it starts with some of those conversations.”
While Bosserdat emphasized that having principals name a main point of contact at each school will encourage uniformity across the district, he said that doesn’t mean the main point of contact is the only person trained at each school to handle bullying reports.
During the first two weeks of school, school-wide training ensured that all staff had an understanding of what exactly bullying is, the Florida State Statutes that the district must follow when completing investigations and the importance of encouraging anti-bullying conversations on campus.
“I think it goes back to building relationships with your students and really having those conversations with them, whether it’s in the hallway or before school, after class or things like that,” Bosserdat said. “That way, students feel comfortable coming to you if there is an issue.”
Board member Colleen Conklin agreed that communication could help lead to change.
“A lot of the times, those students bullying are bullying because they’re feeling a void because there’s something going on with those kids specifically,” Conklin said. “Connecting them to some additional resources may be helpful as well.”
“I always say we need to allow our parents to be parents and work with us. So, it starts with some of those conversations.”
- David Bosserdat, Flagler Schools
Conklin and Board member Maria Barbosa praised the fliers the district now has available for parents about Flagler Schools’ definition of bullying and how it’s handled, though both noted that it would be best to find a way to distribute the fliers to parents even without them asking for more information.
Bosserdat concluded by pointing out that October is National Bullying Prevention Month, and on Oct. 25, Flagler Schools is encouraging everyone to wear orange.
“But the goal is to keep this going throughout the year,” Bosserdat said. “Even though it’s Bullying Awareness Month, and we’re bringing attention to it this month, it needs to be consistent throughout the year.”
McDonald noted that Oct. 25 is labeled Unity Day on the calendar.
“How do we relate to each other better so that we don’t have that void, that lack, that inappropriate way to connect?" McDonald asked. “Because sometimes it starts because they want to connect, they just don’t know how.”
