Westminster*

Not all Orange County schools use the same technology, procedures Dave Bridgewaters and codes to record bullying or harassment incidents. Sergio Contreras Response to Finding 1: The District agrees partially with this finding. The District Mary Mangold agrees that not all Orange County schools use the same technology and procedures to Andy Nguyen record bullying or harassment incidents. Different districts use different databases and internal procedures to track bullying complaints. With regard to the codes used to Jo-Ann Purcell record bullying or harassment incidents, prior to July 1, 2012, Education Code section 48900(r) defined bullying by reference to sexual harassment (Education Code section 48900.2), hate violence (Education Code section 48900.3), and harassment, threats and intimidation (Education Code section 48900.4). The law did not contain a stand-alone definition of bullying. However, as of July 1, 2012, Education Code section 48900(r) provides a stand-alone definition of the term "bullying." (AB 1156) Although county districts vary in practice, the Westminster School District has recorded incidents of bullying into its student database for several years, as well as, posting anti-bullying posters in key areas at each school site. Site administrators have been trained and instructed to record all bullying incidents into the record of the student who engaged in bullying behavior, as well as, in the record of the student who was targeted. Staff also documented the prosocial interventions that were provided for each student. The newly established definition provided by Education Code 48900(r) will improve our districtwide consistency for response and interventions, which will also improve school climate for students. Re: Westminster School District's Response to 2011-12 Orange County Grand Jury Report, "Anti-Bullying Programs in Orange County Schools"

New legislation takes effect July 1, 2012, and broadens the definition of "Bullying." Response to Finding 2: Westminster School District agrees that AB 1156 provides a broader definition of "bullying" than was contained in prior law. The District has updated its discipline and bullying policies based on the new laws and education codes. The updated policies include explicit definitions of bullying and cyber-bullying, directions for staff to immediately intervene, and accountability for required trainings for all staff and students.

Education Code section 234.1 requiring posting of anti-bullying/anti-harassment policies in prescribed areas was not evident in all schools visited. Response to Finding 3: Westminster School District has required its schools to post both anti- bullying posters and anti-harassment policies/posters for several years, even though only recently did we create a separate bullying policy based on the recent passing of AB1156. We have added a systemic accountability measure to ensure both anti-discrimination/anti-harassment and anti- bullying policies are posted in all prescribed areas (schools offices, including staff lounges and pupil government meeting rooms).

Based on witness testimony, confidentiality was not maintained in a bullying incident as prescribed in California Education Code section 234.1 Response to Finding 4: The Grand Jury report does speak of a specific bullying incident that involved the alleged breach of confidentiality, thus we cannot verify or disagree. However, we concur with the spirit of the concern addressed in Finding 4. It is essential that confidentiality be protected for all parties involved. Westminster School District will train staff in procedures that ensure the safety and confidentiality of students involved in bullying incidents.