School violence prompts bullying policy revision

School staff members will receive lectures on their legal responsibilities to stop bullying.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20100421/NEWS02/4210357/1003/NEWS02       # # # # School violence prompts bullying policy revision  •  Rutland Herald  •  By Josh O'Gorman STAFF WRITER - Published: April 21, 2010  •  SPRINGFIELD — School staff members will receive lectures on their legal responsibilities to stop bullying.  •  Monday night, the School Board briefly addressed its policies regarding bullying and violence, a discussion that stemmed from a pair of alleged assaults that occurred at the high school during the week of April 5. In one incident, a male student was left with cracked ribs. In another incident, a male student threw a sharp object at a female student and cut her.  •  In addition, there was a third incident during the same week at River Valley Technical Center in which a male student allegedly threatened a female student with a knife.  •  School Board Chairman Scott Adnams said the district was already in the process of reviewing its bullying policies when the incidents occurred, and the district is developing a protocol to notify police when an assault occurs. During the most recent events, police were notified by the parents of the alleged victims, not school officials.  •  Addressing what he called the "unevenness of adult intervention" during the incidents, Director of Curriculum Development Vincent Hawkins said the district will have staff members meet with an attorney in May to learn more about their legal culpability when an assault takes place.  •  "People need to understand it (violence and bullying) is not acceptable and we'll do everything we can to stop it," said board member Sam Coleman.  •  Monday's meeting was the second meeting in three days to address violence at the school. For two hours Friday night, the School Board met in executive session to discuss two items: "Student Issue #1" and "Student Issue #2". However, when they returned to open session, board members declined to take action.  •  Springfield Police Chief Douglas Johnston said the three cases remain under investigation and he expects the investigations will conclude next week with criminal charges being filed.  •  "We're still wrapping up, interviewing a few more witnesses, but based on what I've seen I anticipate there will be citations issued," Johnston said.  • Johnston said the citations would be for White River Junction District Court and not Family Court.  •