Social Worker

 

CARBON COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ONE POLICY – JICFA BULLYING POLICY

General Policy Statement It is the policy of Carbon County School District #1 to maintain a learning and working environment that is free from bullying based on a person’s race, color, sex, national origin, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and economic status. The School District prohibits any and all forms of bullying because it violates the basic right of students, and staff to be in a safe orderly learning environment. This policy seeks to promote positive interpersonal relationships between all members of the school community. It shall be a violation of this policy for any student or staff member to bully another while attending school or school sponsored events. It shall also be a violation of this policy for any school staff member to tolerate bullying during school or at school sponsored events.  For the purpose of this policy, the term “school staff” includes board members, school employees, agents, volunteers, and contractors or other persons subject to the supervision and control of the District. The School District will promptly and thoroughly investigate reports of bullying, whether of a physical or of a non physical form. If it determines that bullying has occurred, it will act appropriately within the discipline codes of the District and will take reasonable action to end the bullying. Any information relating to a reported incident of bullying, intimidation or harassment is considered confidential and will not be disclosed other than as necessary to effectively implement this policy.  

Definition of bullying for the purpose of this policy, bullying consists of repeated *systematic abuse and harassment of a person or persons by another. Bullying may be characterized by 7 elements: 1.  A desire to hurt or harm motivates the perpetrator 2. This desire to hurt or harm results in hurtful or harmful action(s) taken by the perpetrator. 3.  A formal or informal power imbalance exists between the perpetrator and the victim. 4. The action(s) taken by the perpetrator are manifestations of the unjust use of power. 5.  The perpetrator enjoys carrying out the action(s). 6.  The victim has a sense of being oppressed. 7.  The perpetrator typically repeats the hurtful or harmful actions against the victim.  

Examples of bullying may be either physical or non-physical acts. It may, or may not, involve criminal behavior. If criminal acts, or suspected criminal acts, have occurred, staff must contact the appropriate criminal authorities as required in law and policy.  

Duty to act:  Students who experience bullying are encouraged to report it to any adult employee of the District. Any employee of the District who observes bullying or receives reports of it is required to act immediately to protect the alleged victim and to immediately forward an Incident Report to the Principal for prompt investigation as required in site procedures. Staff who fail to protect alleged victims and/or to immediately submit an Incident Report to the Principal according to the site procedures are subject to disciplinary measures, up to and including termination. Upon initial report of bullying a school administrator will be notified within 24 hours. Investigation will proceed within 48 hours which may include completing a bullying report, interviewing victim, interviewing potential witnesses, or any other action determined valuable to resolve the conflict. The investigation will conclude within 5 school days.  

Sanctions for bullying once an investigation has concluded, if bullying has occurred, sanctions will be taken against the perpetrator. For students, these sanction(s) must be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident(s) and may include suspension and/or expulsion or other discipline in accordance with accepted common sense application of the district discipline policies. For staff, sanction(s) must be appropriate to the seriousness of the incident(s) and may include termination or other common sense discipline in accordance with contract provisions or other policies of the District. Notification will be provided to all parties to the extent permissible by law and other governing policies. This notification will occur within 48 hours of conclusion of the investigation. Appropriate consequences will be administered to any student or staff member found to be responsible for bullying.   

Retaliation Prohibited

Retaliation or reprisal against any person who reports bullying incident(s) is strictly prohibited. Retaliation includes, but is not limited to, any form of intimidation, reprisal, or harassment used against a person who reports incident(s) of bullying in good faith. Disciplinary action against any person who retaliates or engages in reprisal of reporting such behavior(s) may include sanctions up to and including expulsion/suspension for students and termination for staff engaging in such prohibited conduct.  

False Reporting Students and staff are prohibited from knowingly or willfully falsely accusing one another of bullying. Disciplinary action up to and including expulsion/suspension for students, and termination for staff shall be taken if they make such knowingly false reports.  

*It is vital to understand that a single incident may meet this definition if it is egregious, violates criminal law, or involves unreasonable harm to the victim.

 

 

Disclosure Statement

 

Marnie Garner is the guidance counselor at Rawlins High School.  Diane MacPherson is the social worker.  These staff positions are designed to assist students with academic, career/college, social-emotional issues, as well as crisis management. Marnie Garner is a Certified School Counselor who earned a Master's Degree in Guidance and Counseling from City University of Wyoming and a Bachelors's Degree in education from the University of Wyoming. Diane Macpherson is certified Social Worker who earned her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in social work from the University of Wyoming.

Rawlins High School counselors/social workers clearly define and maintain professional, legal ad ethical boundaries with clients/students and those they supervise. They will adhere to the Code of Ethics of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), and abide by all District, State and Federal Law/Regulations governing sound practice.

Student Rights:

1. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect, as an individual who has personal needs, feelings, preferences and requirements.
2. You have the right to diversity sensitive treatment in all aspects of your roll as a student at RHS.
3. You have the right to be fully informed of all services available to you including purposes, goals, and techniques used.
4. You have the right to be fully informed of you rights as a student and of all rules and regulations governing your conduct as a student.
5. You have the right to refuse services for social-emotional issues offered by the school counselor.
6. You have the right to appropriately voice opinions, recommendations, and grievances in relation to policies and services offered with fear of restraint, interference, coercion, discrimination or reprisal.
7. You have a right to confidentiality with the exception of reasonable belief that you or someone is in danger of being harmed.  However, a record of interactions (not content) will be available at parent's request.
8. You have the right to visit the guidance counselor's office if you have academic, career/college, or social-emotional concerns.

 

Guidance Counselor Office Procedures:

1. When you enter the office, please be seated in the front office and wait until someone assists you.
2. When possible, please present a pass from your teacher excusing you from class.
3. Mrs. Garner or Mrs. MacPherson will issue you a pass to return to class when time is completed. Please return to class promptly.
4. Please turn in scholarship applications to the appropriate folder and indicate the need for transcripts.

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