It is the responsibility of all parents, students and other adults in the school community to be aware of incidents of bullying, harassment, and discrimination so that the school community and learning environment are safe. Resources and materials about prevention and awareness are available at http://www.escambiaschools.org/bullyinghelp 

Any person who has knowledge of bullying has an obligation to report the incident either through the on-line Report School Violence link located on the District’s web site home page at www.escambiaschools.org or to any District employee.

Bullying and Harassment Bullying means systematically and chronically (repeatedly) inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees. It is further defined as unwanted and repeated written, verbal, or physical behavior, including any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture by a student or adult that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational environment; cause discomfort or humiliation; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation which may involve, but is not limited to, the following:

1. teasing;

2. social exclusion;

3. threat;

4. intimidation;

5. stalking;

6. physical violence;

7. theft;

8. sexual, religious, or racial harassment;

9. public or private humiliation; and

10. destruction of property.

Harassment means any threatening, insulting, or dehumanizing gesture, use of data or computer software, or written, verbal or physical conduct directed against a student or school employee that

1. places a student or school employee in reasonable fear of harm to his or her person or damage to his or her property;

2. has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s educational performance, opportunities, or benefits; or

3. has the effect of substantially disrupting the orderly operation of a school.

Bullying and harassment also encompasses

1. retaliation against a student or school employee by another student or school employee for asserting or alleging an act of bullying or harassment. Reporting an act of bullying or harassment that is not made in good faith is considered retaliation. 

2. perpetuation of conduct listed in the definition of bullying or harassment by an individual or group on the basis of the victim’s real or perceived racial/ethnic origins, gender, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, religion, or disability with an intent to demean, dehumanize, or cause emotional or physical harm to a student or school employee by

• incitement or coercion;
• accessing or knowingly and willingly causing or providing access to data or computer software through a computer, computer system, or computer network within the scope of the District; or
• acting in a manner that has an effect substantially similar to the effect of bullying or harassment.
•  

Cyber-bullying

“Cyber-bullying” means bullying through the use of technology or any electronic communication, which includes, but is not limited to, any transfer of signs, signals, writing, images, sounds, data, or intelligence of any nature transmitted in whole or in part by a wire, radio, electromagnetic system, photo-electronic system, or photo-optical system, including, but not limited to, electronic mail, Internet communications, instant messages, or facsimile communications. Cyber-bullying includes the creation of a webpage or weblog in which the creator assumes the identity of another person, or the knowing impersonation of another person as the author of posted content or messages, if the creation or impersonation creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. Cyber-bullying also includes the distribution by electronic means of a communication to more than one person or the posting of material on an electronic medium that may be accessed by one or more persons, if the distribution or posting creates any of the conditions enumerated in the definition of bullying. 1006.147, F.S.

Cyberbullying is a very real and very substantial part of today's internet culture. If you or anyone you know is a victim of cyberbullying or cyberstalking, please alert the proper authorities so that it may be stopped and resolved.

Cyberstalking is defined by engaging in a course of conduct to communicate, or to cause to be communicated, words, images, or language by or through the use of electronic mail or electronic communication, directed at a specific person, causing substantial emotional distress to that person and serving no legitimate purpose.