Anti-Bullying

Hazing and Bullying Policy

On August 16, 2012, the Milford School Board approved additions to its Hazing and Bullying policy, file JFCF. The Board has added the requirements from recently passed House Bill 116, the “Jessica Logan Act”. The policy now states that “Students found responsible for harassment, intimidation or bullying by an electronic act may be suspended." Another addition to the policy specifically states that students could face suspension for acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying on a school bus.

Milford Schools has trained our staff in the Olweus anti-bullying approach in grades K-9 and have received a grant to train our 10-12 staff as well. All staff has received basic training in anti-bullying procedures. The Olweus approach encourages those students or adults who are not directly involved in the bullying to stand up for the victim and to report the incident to teachers and administrators. The goal of OLWEUS is to create an environment within each of our school buildings in which bullying is not tolerated, and the students feel supported by each other and the school staff. We want every student in Milford Schools to feel safe at school and enjoy their experience without any fear of intimidation, harassment or bullying.

Reported Bullying Incidents

Pursuant to House Bill 276, the District is required to annually post the number of reported bullying and harassment incidents that occur in each of our buildings.

Reported Bullying Incidents

These incidents have been validated as meeting the definition of bullying. Disciplinary actions were taken in each of these cases. The consequences ranged from implementing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports and In School Suspension to Out of School Suspension and/or Expulsion. These actions reflected the individual severity of the situation and age of the student.

Stay Safe! Speak Up! Parent/Staff/Student Helpline

Milford Exempted Village School District is fully committed to curbing student bullying and school violence, and providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity, and equality among students. 

Milford Exempted Village School District is fully committed to curbing student bullying and school violence, and providing a positive learning environment for all students that enhances personal safety and promotes respect, dignity, and equality among students. We believe our schools play an important role in helping faculty, staff, and parents prepare students to be respectful and responsible citizens.

As part of our commitment, the district is initiating a new, integrated program developed by former school officials, that provides:

• Online and telephone reporting tools for students, parents, and staff.
• Student training regarding the need to speak up about safety and bullying issues.
• Staff training in recognizing and responding to incidents of bullying and violence.
• Administrative systems to manage incidents and document district and school response to reported concerns of bullying or violence.

The district will make every effort to handle and respond to every charge and complaint filed by students, parents and employees in a fair, thorough, and just manner. Also, every effort will be made to protect the due process rights of all victims and all alleged perpetrators.

Student/Parent Hotline

Students who believe they have been harassed, bullied, victimized by fellow students, or have other concerns which may jeopardize the safety of students, employees or school facilities, are asked to Speak Up! and promptly report the issue using our district’s new student/parent Hotline – accessible both online and by telephone.

Options to report an issue:

1.    Call 1-866-listen2me (1-866-547-8362) and talk with a live attendant. When the student talks with the live attendant, he/she has the option of being forwarded to one of the following national hotlines:

• 911-Urgent response
• National AIDS Hotline-AIDS / HIV
• National Runaway-Homeless/Runaway
• NINELINE Hotline-Relationship issues - peer/parent; alcohol/drug abuse
• RAINN-Sexual assault; domestic violence; physical abuse
• Suicide Crisis Center Suicide

2.    Call 1-866-listen2me (1-866-547-8362) and leave a voice message. 
3.    Click on the Stay Safe! Speak Up icon located at the top of the district home page and all school home pages.

Milford Exempted Village School District has contracted with a company called PublicSchoolWORKS to provide this service and to ensure you remain anonymous. If you use the telephone reporting system, the person you will be talking with is not affiliated with our district. The attendant will listen to your issue, complete a written report, and then, if you'd like, transfer you to a specialist or other support person.

After you finish your call or make your report online, the district will receive a confidential report from PublicSchoolWORKS.  Your issue will then be investigated by our district.

To ensure your information is sufficient, please give names, times and event details which you feel we should know.  Please try to provide as much information about the situation as possible.

If you have any questions, please contact your building principal.