A Note to Parents: The following is the White Oak School's official policy written for students:
Reports of bullying or retaliation may be made by staff, students, parents or guardians, or others, and may be oral or written. Oral reports made by or to a staff member shall be recorded in writing. A school staff member is required to report immediately to the Head of School or designee any instance of bullying or retaliation the staff member becomes aware of or witnesses. Reports made by students, parents or guardians, or other individuals who are not school or district staff members, may be made anonymously. The school makes a variety of reporting resources known to the school community: Incident Reporting Forms are available in the school’s Main Office and in its Student Services Office; reports of bullying (using the Incident Reporting Forms or any other format) should be sent directly to the school’s Head of School or to the school’s Curriculum Director.
Reports may also be made by telephone: Head of School (413) 562-9500 and Curriculum Director (413) 562-9500 (X224). In addition, reports may also be submitted via email: Head of School: jmichalski@whiteoakschool.org; Curriculum Director: crodak@whiteoakschool.org
Use of an Incident Reporting Form is not required as a condition of making a report. The school: 1) includes a copy of the Incident Reporting Form in the beginning of the year packets for students and parents or guardians; 2) makes it available in the school’s main office and other locations determined by the Head of School or designee; and 3) posts it on the school’s website.
At the beginning of each school year, the school provides the school community, including administrators, staff, students, and parents or guardians, with written notice of its policies for reporting acts of bullying and retaliation. A description of the reporting procedures and resources, including the name and contact information of the Head of School or designee, is incorporated in student and staff handbooks, on the school website, and in information about the Plan that is made available to parents or guardians.
A staff member must report immediately to the Head of School or designee when they witness or become aware of conduct that may be bullying or retaliation. The requirement to report to the Head of School or designee does not limit the authority of the staff member to respond to behavioral or disciplinary incidents consistent with school policies and procedures for behavior management and discipline.
The school expects students, parents or guardians, and others who witness or become aware of an instance of bullying or retaliation involving a student to report it to the Head of School or designee. Reports may be made anonymously, but no disciplinary action will be taken against an alleged aggressor solely on the basis of an anonymous report. Students, parents or guardians, and others may request assistance from a staff member to complete a written report. Students will be provided practical, safe, private and age-appropriate ways to report and discuss an incident of bullying with a staff member, or with the Head of School or designee.
Before fully investigating the allegations of bullying or retaliation, the Head of School or designee will take steps to assess the need to restore a sense of safety to the alleged target and/or to protect the alleged target from possible further incidents. Responses to promote safety may include, but not be limited to, creating a personal safety plan; pre-determining seating arrangements for the target and/or the aggressor in the classroom, at lunch, or on the bus; identifying a staff member who will act as a “safe person” for the target; and altering the aggressor’s schedule and access to the target. The Head of School or designee will take additional steps to promote safety during the course of and after the investigation, as necessary.
The Head of School or designee will implement appropriate strategies for protecting a student who has reported bullying, cyber-bullying, or retaliation, a student who has witnessed bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation, a student who provides information during an investigation, or a student who has reliable information about a reported act of bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation.
a. Notice to parents or guardians. Upon determining that bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation has occurred, the Head of School or designee will promptly notify the parents or guardians of the target and the aggressor of this, and of the procedures for responding to it. There may be circumstances in which the Head of School or designee contacts parents or guardians prior to any investigation. Notice will be consistent with state regulations at 603 CMR 49.00.
b. Notice to Another School or District. If the reported incident involves students from more than one school district, charter school, non-public school, approved private special education day or residential school, or collaborative school, the Head of School or designee first informed of the incident will promptly notify by telephone the Principal or Head of School or other designee of the other school(s) of the incident so that each school may take appropriate action. All communications will be in accordance with state and federal privacy laws and regulations, and 603 CMR 49.00.
c. Notice to Law Enforcement. At any point after receiving a report of bullying or retaliation, including after an investigation, if the Head of School or designee has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor, the Head of School will notify the local law enforcement agency. Notice will be consistent with the requirements of 603 CMR 49.00 and locally established agreements with the local law enforcement agency. Also, if an incident occurs on school grounds and involves a former student under the age of 21 who is no longer enrolled in school, the Head of School or designee shall contact the local law enforcement agency if he or she has a reasonable basis to believe that criminal charges may be pursued against the aggressor.
In making this determination, the Head of School will, consistent with the Plan and with applicable school policies and procedures, consult with other individuals the Head of School or designee deems appropriate.
C. Investigation. The Head of School or designee will promptly investigate all reports of bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation and, in doing so, will consider all available information known, including the nature of the allegation(s) and the ages of the students involved.
During the investigation the Head of School or designee will, among other things, interview students, staff, witnesses, parents or guardians, and others as necessary. The Head of School or designee (or whoever is conducting the investigation) will remind the alleged aggressor, target, and witnesses that retaliation is strictly prohibited and will result in disciplinary action.
Interviews may be conducted by the Head of School or designee, and any other staff members as determined by the Head of School or designee. To the extent practicable, and given his/her obligation to investigate and address the matter, the Head of School or designee will maintain confidentiality during the investigative process. The Head of School or designee will maintain a written record of the investigation.
Procedures for investigating reports of bullying and retaliation will be consistent with school policies and procedures for investigations. If necessary, the Head of School or designee will consult with legal counsel about the investigation.
D. Determinations. The Head of School or designee will make a determination based upon all of the facts and circumstances. If, after investigation, bullying or retaliation is substantiated, the Head of School or designee will take steps reasonably calculated to prevent recurrence and to ensure that the target is not restricted in participating in school or in benefiting from school activities. The Head of School or designee will: 1) determine what remedial action is required, if any, and 2) determine what responsive actions and/or disciplinary action is necessary.
Depending upon the circumstances, the Head of School or designee may choose to consult with the students’ teacher(s) and/or other staff, and the target’s or aggressor’s parents or guardians, to identify any underlying social or emotional issue(s) that may have contributed to the bullying behavior and to assess the level of need for additional social skills development.
The Head of School or designee will promptly notify the parents or guardians of the target and the aggressor about the results of the investigation if bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation is found, what action is being taken to prevent further acts of bullying, cyber-bullying or retaliation. All notice to parents must comply with applicable state and federal privacy laws and regulations. Because of the legal requirements regarding the confidentiality of student records, the Head of School or designee cannot report specific information to the target’s parent or guardian about the disciplinary action taken unless it involves a “stay away” order or other directive that the target must be aware of in order to report violations.
E. Responses to Bullying.
1. Teaching Appropriate Behavior Through Skills-building
Upon the Head of School or designee determining that bullying or retaliation has occurred, the law requires that the school use a range of responses that balance the need for accountability with the need to teach appropriate behavior. M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O(d)(v). Skill-building approaches that the Head of School or designee may consider include:
2. Taking Disciplinary Action
If the Head of School or designee decides that disciplinary action is appropriate, the disciplinary action will be determined on the basis of facts found by the Head of School or designee, including the nature of the conduct, the age of the student(s) involved, and the need to balance accountability with the teaching of appropriate behavior. Discipline will be consistent with the Plan and with the school’s code of conduct.
Discipline procedures for students with disabilities are governed by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), which should be read in cooperation with state laws regarding student discipline.
If the Head of School or designee determines that a student knowingly made a false allegation of bullying or retaliation, that student may be subject to disciplinary action.
3. Promoting Safety for the Target and Others
The Head of School or designee will consider what adjustments, if any, are needed in the school environment to enhance the target's sense of safety and that of others as well. One strategy that the Head of School or designee may use is to increase adult supervision at transition times and in locations where bullying is known to have occurred or is likely to occur.
Within a reasonable period of time following the determination and the ordering of remedial and/or disciplinary action, the Head of School or designee will contact the target to determine whether there has been a recurrence of the prohibited conduct and whether additional supportive measures are needed. If so, the Head of School or designee will work with appropriate school staff to implement them immediately.
When appropriate, the school will make arrangements for the provision of counseling or referral services for targets, aggressors and appropriate family members of involved students. Community-based counselors will be provided in cases of trauma or emergency, and collaboration with referral services will be provided to address longer-term needs.
A. Parent education and resources. The school offers education programs for parents and guardians that are focused on the parental components of the anti-bullying curricula and the social competency curricula used by the school.
B. Notification requirements. Each year the school informs parents or guardians of enrolled students about the anti-bullying curricula that are being used. This notice includes information about the dynamics of bullying, including cyber bullying and online safety. The school sends parents written notice each year about the student-related sections of the Plan and the school's Internet safety policy. All notices and information made available to parents or guardians are in hard copy and electronic formats. The school posts the Plan and related information on its website.
Acts of bullying, which include cyber bullying, are prohibited:
(i) on school grounds and property immediately adjacent to school grounds, at a school-sponsored or school-related activity, function, or program whether on or off school grounds, at a school bus stop, on a school bus or other vehicle owned, leased, or used by a school district or school; or through the use of technology or an electronic device owned, leased, or used by the school, and
(ii) at a location, activity, function, or program that is not school-related through the use of technology or an electronic device that is not owned, leased, or used by the school, if the acts create a hostile environment at school for the target or witnesses, infringe on their rights at school, or materially and substantially disrupt the education process or the orderly operation of the school.
Retaliation against a person who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying is also prohibited.
As stated in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, nothing in this Plan requires the school to staff any non-school related activities, functions, or programs.
Aggressor is a student or a member of a school staff who engages in bullying, cyberbullying, or retaliation towards a student.
Bullying, as defined in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, is the repeated use by one or more students or a member of a school staff of a written, verbal, or electronic expression or a physical act or gesture or any combination thereof, directed at a target that:
Cyberbullying, is bullying through the use of technology or electronic devices such as telephones, cell phones, computers, and the Internet. It includes, but is not limited to, email, instant messages, text messages, and Internet postings. See M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O for the legal definition of cyberbullying.
Hostile environment, as defined in M.G.L. c. 71, § 37O, is a situation in which bullying causes the school environment to be permeated with intimidation, ridicule, or insult that is sufficiently severe or pervasive to alter the conditions of a student’s education.
Retaliation is any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment directed against a student who reports bullying, provides information during an investigation of bullying, or witnesses or has reliable information about bullying.
School Staff includes, but is not limited to, educators, administrators, counselors, school nurses, cafeteria workers, custodians, bus drivers, athletic coaches, advisors to extracurricular activities, support staff, or paraprofessionals.
Target is a student against whom bullying, cyberbullying, or retaliation has been perpetrated.
Consistent with state and federal laws, and the policies of the school, no person shall be discriminated against in admission to the school or in obtaining the advantages, privilege and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, or homelessness. Nothing in the Plan prevents the school from taking action to remediate discrimination or harassment based on a person’s membership in a legally protected category under local, state, or federal law, or school or district policies.
In addition, nothing in the Plan is designed or intended to limit the authority of the school to take disciplinary action or other action under M.G.L. c. 71, §§ 37H or 37H½, other applicable laws, or school policies in response to violent, harmful, or disruptive behavior, regardless of whether the Plan covers the behavior.
White Oak School hereby represents and warrants that it does not discriminate on the grounds of age, race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, and homelessness.
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Updated 7/7/25
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