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Bullying and Harassment

The ADM Community School District is committed to providing all students, employees, and volunteers with a safe and civil school environment in which all members of the school community are treated with dignity and respect. Bullying and/or harassment of or by students, employees, and volunteers is against federal, state, and local policy and is not tolerated by the board.

While formal processes are in place for students, parents, and staff to file a complaint about bullying and harassment, individuals who are unclear about how to report an incident, file a complaint, or respond to an incident, should seek help from a trusted adult or supervisor.

ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook:

ADM has developed an Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook to provide ADM students, parents, and staff members with clear definitions of social behaviors that include harassment, bullying, peer conflict, and mean/rude behavior, as well as information about how to respond, report, and get help. Several key portions of the handbook are included on this website. However, students and parents are encouraged to review the handbook in full.

View ADM Anti-Bullying and Harassment Handbook 

Social Behaviors:

Students and staff at ADM and all schools experience and observe a wide variety of social behaviors and incidents throughout each school year. These behaviors and incidents can range from kind words and actions to student conflict, incidents of mean and rude behavior, and actions that constitute bullying or harassment.

The social behavior scale below has been developed to help promote common vocabulary and definitions of behaviors that students, parents, and staff may experience, observe, or be informed about throughout the school year.

Bullying Defined:

The legal definition of bullying is outlined in Iowa Code 280.28. In order to meet the legal threshold to be considered bullying, the following must occur:

How To Get Help:

Students should take the following steps to seek help if they are experiencing the following social behaviors.

Peer Conflict Mean/Rude Behavior Bullying Harassment
Use conflict- resolution skills to talk it out :

  • I-messages
  • Perspective Taking
  • Agree on a solution
  • Move on!
 Focus on your circle of control

  • Walk away/ignore
  • Use an I-message to share how you feel (I felt… when you…I need….)
  • Do not engage
  • Do not bully back or retaliate
  • Note possible witnesses
  • Report to a trusted adult
  • Do not engage
  • Do not retaliate
  • Note possible witnesses
  • Report to a trusted adult
How To Get Help How To Get Help How To Get Help How To Get Help
  • Talk to a trusted adult
  • Talk with your parents
  • Ask your school counselor for support
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Tell a trusted adult 
  • Talk with your parents
  • If something happens at school, get help right away
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Report to a trusted adult ASAP
  • Talk with your parents
  • Complete Complaint Form (See Next Section)
  • If something happens at school, get help right away
  • Save text messages or screenshot digital evidence
  • Report to a trusted adult ASAP
  • Talk with your parents
  • Complete Complaint Form:(See Next Section)

Complaint Form:

Per ADM Board Policy 108.00R(1), complaints shall be filed within 180 days of the event giving rise to the complaint or from the date the Complainant could reasonably become aware of such occurrence. Use the following steps to file a complaint:

Students, parents, or staff members may file a complain using the following form:

Google Doc: ADM Anti-Bullying / Harassment Complaint Form

PDF: ADM Anti-Bullying / Harassment Complaint Form             

How To File A Complaint

A Student Believes They Are Being Bullied or Harassed A Parent Believes Their Student is Being Bullied or Harassed A Staff Member Observes a Student Being Bullied or Harassed
Option 1: Get Help From Staff

  • A student informs a staff member of their complaint.
  • The staff member will ensure that the student meets with a building administrator to fill out the complaint form (linked above)
  • The staff member will ensure that the completed complaint form is filed with a building administrator.

Option 2: File Complaint On Own

  • A student may fill out the complaint form (linked above) on their own and file it with a building administrator.
 Option 1: Get Help From Staff

  • A parent informs a staff member of their complaint.
  • The staff member will direct the parent to fill out the complaint form (linked above)  and submit it to a building administrator or to meet with an administrator to fill out the form together.
  • The completed complaint form will be filed with the building administrator.

Option 2: File Complaint On Own

A parent may fill out the complaint form (linked above) on their own and file it with a building administrator.

 Option 1: Meet With Administrator

  • A staff member who is uncomfortable completing the complaint form (linked above) should meet with a building administrator to discuss and complete the complaint form together.
  • The completed complaint form will be filed with the building administrator.

Option 2: File Complaint on Own

  • The staff member may fill out the complaint form (linked above) on their own and file it with the administrator on behalf of the alleged victim.

Note: If a staff member is unsure if the behavior observed is bullying, harassment, or discrimination they should meet with an administrator to discuss the situation of concern.

 

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