MONROE - Kurt Ellefson, Monroe, and 30 other residents packed into the school board meeting Monday night, calling for a more stringent bullying policy.
Ellefson and his wife, Teri Ellefson, have been working with the district on their concerns over bullying education. Ellefson, a physical education teacher at Black Hawk, commended the district for meeting with him, but he stressed the need to have a consistent plan.
"Bullying can have a devastating effect on a child," Ellefson said. "The bullying policy must be stringent, and it can't be a policy that is approved by the board and then placed in a file cabinet."
Bullying is defined as a deliberate behavior through words or actions intended to cause fear, intimidation or harm.
Joe Monroe, the district's director of pupil services, said during his annual report that there has been a team of district officials working on a revamped district-wide bullying policy.
There were 106 cases of bullying reported in the district last year including some via the internet. That's 37 less bullying cases then were reported in 2010-11.
"I think if we are being honest in our district and community, this hasn't received as much attention as it should have, whether it's the school or kids not wanting to share their feelings," Monroe said. "I'm not going to say bullying is down, because the data may be inaccurate. This is a community issue. It's not just a school or parent issue."
Monroe updated the board on the district's proposed new efforts in bullying education. The district plans to use three targeted areas including curriculum, awareness and prevention to educate students. Monroe said bullying policies at each school have been inconsistent. He said the district is considering using guidance lessons, with students working in groups on bullying prevention projects like posters, public service announcements and hands-on projects across the curriculum.
"We fully understand what we did before met the intent of the law, but it wasn't enough," Monroe said. "We have to have curriculum that is on-going and not just one or two lessons."
The district is also considering a prevention program called "Time to React" as well as a technology program, "Talk About It." Monroe said one of the focuses this year may be social-emotional screening through various surveys to help students who may need support.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said the district can and will do more in helping out with bullying prevention.
She said a human growth and development committee also will be involved in developing education about bullying.
Ellefson and his wife, Teri Ellefson, have been working with the district on their concerns over bullying education. Ellefson, a physical education teacher at Black Hawk, commended the district for meeting with him, but he stressed the need to have a consistent plan.
"Bullying can have a devastating effect on a child," Ellefson said. "The bullying policy must be stringent, and it can't be a policy that is approved by the board and then placed in a file cabinet."
Bullying is defined as a deliberate behavior through words or actions intended to cause fear, intimidation or harm.
Joe Monroe, the district's director of pupil services, said during his annual report that there has been a team of district officials working on a revamped district-wide bullying policy.
There were 106 cases of bullying reported in the district last year including some via the internet. That's 37 less bullying cases then were reported in 2010-11.
"I think if we are being honest in our district and community, this hasn't received as much attention as it should have, whether it's the school or kids not wanting to share their feelings," Monroe said. "I'm not going to say bullying is down, because the data may be inaccurate. This is a community issue. It's not just a school or parent issue."
Monroe updated the board on the district's proposed new efforts in bullying education. The district plans to use three targeted areas including curriculum, awareness and prevention to educate students. Monroe said bullying policies at each school have been inconsistent. He said the district is considering using guidance lessons, with students working in groups on bullying prevention projects like posters, public service announcements and hands-on projects across the curriculum.
"We fully understand what we did before met the intent of the law, but it wasn't enough," Monroe said. "We have to have curriculum that is on-going and not just one or two lessons."
The district is also considering a prevention program called "Time to React" as well as a technology program, "Talk About It." Monroe said one of the focuses this year may be social-emotional screening through various surveys to help students who may need support.
Monroe School District Superintendent Cory Hirsbrunner said the district can and will do more in helping out with bullying prevention.
She said a human growth and development committee also will be involved in developing education about bullying.