Preventing Bullying and Conflict Resolution
ECSD has established measures to prevent bullying in The District schools, including, but not limited to the following:
- Each school site has established clear rules for
student conduct and implements strategies to promote a positive learning environment. Beyond building expectations tied to consequence outlined in the Code of Conduct, students in each classroom contribute toward creating a Treatment Agreement.
A Treatment Agreement is a collaborative agreement between a teacher and students that establishes how they will treat each other in the classroom. It's a social contract that helps students and teachers develop a sense of accountability and ownership in how they interact with each other.
-Providing information to students, through student handbooks, The District and school websites and social media, and other age-appropriate means, about ECSD and school rules related to bullying, mechanisms available for reporting incidents or threats, and the consequences for engaging in bullying.
-Sites conduct assessments of bullying incidents and, if necessary increase supervision in areas where bullying occurs often such as playgrounds, hallways, cafeterias, etc.
-Teaching all students
social and emotional skills and establishing classroom and school-wide practices that promote relationship-building, including teaching all school stakeholders to speak out when they see or hear bullying, degrading language, and bias or prejudice.
Prevention is at the heart of resolving bullying instead of waiting to respond once a more violent episode occurs or once many incidents escalate to a tragedy.
StopBullying.gov offers resources to schools on educating students about bullying as well as techniques for keeping lines of communication open between students and staff. But parents can play a key role in this effort.'
Dignity for All Students
The New York State Dignity for All Students Act was signed into law on September 13, 2010 and was placed in effect for all public schools on July 1, 2012. The intent of the Dignity Act is to provide all students in New York State public schools a learning environment that is free of discrimination and harassment.
Students who experience harassment and/or discrimination may also experience problems with grade failure, behavioral problems, poor attendance, and social problems with peers because of the difficulty that they are experiencing.
The Elmira City School District takes these issues seriously and is committed to safeguarding the rights given to all students under state and federal law, as well as to promoting a safe, healthy, orderly and civil school environment. The district’s administration, faculty and staff are dedicated to creating and maintaining a safe learning environment for all of our students.
Read more about the Dignity for All Students Act and find a contact list of coordinators by building here.
Report a Concern
Students are encouraged to notify school staff when they are being bullied or when they suspect another student is being bullied, and provided means to report threats or incidents anonymously and confidentially via Anonymous Alerts.
Learn more about Conflict Resolution and how to Report a Concern to a trusted school staff member here.