Schools

Bullying Decreased During First Semester at Mentor Schools

There were three fewer incidents reported during the first semester than the same period last year

The amount of bullying incidents at Mentor Schools decreased during the past year, according to a recent report.

There were 11 incidents during the first semester, compared to 14 at the same time during the previous school year. According to a report from Assistant Superintendent William Porter, bullying is defined as "any intentional written, graphic, verbal, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once."

Porter presented the report to the Mentor Board of Education at its February meeting. The Ohio Department of Education mandates that all districts provide bullying reports and statistics on a semi-annual basis.

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The ODE states that an act is considered bullying if it produces mental or physical harm for another student; and is so severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student.

Porter said the events during the first semester involved inappropriate physical contact and threatening language. At least two occurred on a school bus and some involved unspecified electronic devices.

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Porter warned that other events may have occured, but were not classified as bullying because they did not develop into a pattern.

"One of our continued goals is to quickly identify these acts in all of our schools, and to assertively address that, so it does not repeat," the report reads. "I think our entire staff, certified and classified, has developed a heightened awareness of early intervention so that it doesn’t often rise to the higher levels we are obligated to report today."

Porter said the work to decrease bullying will never be complete.

"That is something that will remain squarely on our radar as a major feature of overall student safety and security," he wrote.


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