The Avon-by-the-Sea Board of Education prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation, or bullying of a pupil. A safe and civil environment in school is necessary for pupils to learn and achieve high academic standards. Harassment, intimidation, or bullying, like other disruptive or violent behaviors, is conduct that disrupts both a pupil’s ability to learn and a school’s ability to educate its pupils in a safe and disciplined environment. Since pupils learn by example, school administrators, faculty, staff and volunteers should be commended for demonstrating appropriate behavior, treating others with civility and respect, and refusing to tolerate harassment, intimidation, or bullying.

For the purposes of this Policy, the term "parent," pursuant to N.J.A.C. 6A:16-1.3, means the natural parent(s) or adoptive parent(s), legal guardian(s), foster parent(s), or parent surrogate(s) of a pupil. Where parents are separated or divorced, "parent" means the person or agency which has legal custody of the pupil, as well as the natural or adoptive parent(s) of the pupil, provided such parental rights have not been terminated by a court of appropriate jurisdiction.

Students are expected to conduct themselves in keeping with their levels of development, maturity and demonstrated capabilities with proper regard for the rights and welfare of other pupils and school staff, the educational purpose underlying all school activities and the care of school facilities and equipment consistent with the Code of Student Conduct. Standards for student behavior are developed to produce an atmosphere that encourages students to grow in self-discipline. The development of this atmosphere requires respect for self and others, as well as for school district and community property on the part of pupils, staff, and community members.

Pupils are expected to behave in a way that creates a supportive learning environment. The district believes the best discipline is self-imposed, and it is the responsibility of staff to use instances of violations of the Code of Student Conduct as opportunities to help pupils learn to assume and accept responsibility for their behavior and the consequences of their behavior. Staff members who interact with pupils shall apply best practices designed to prevent or remediate student conduct problems and foster students’ abilities to grow in self-discipline.

Definition

P. L. 2010, CHAPTER 122, Assembly, No. 3466 (corrected copy) approved January 5, 2011 and as used in this act:

“Electronic communication” means a communication transmitted by means of an electronic device, including, but not limited to, a telephone, cellular phone, computer, or pager.

“Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents that is:

1. Reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as: race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic; and that

2. Takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored functions, on a school bus, or off school grounds, and that

3. Substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students; and that:

1. a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property; or that

2. has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students in such a way as to cause substantial disruption in, or substantial interference with, the orderly operation of the school; or

3. creates a hostile educational environment at school for the student; or

4. infringes on the rights of the student at school by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.