United 304 Bullying Reporting Process
Students are encouraged to immediately report bullying. A report may be made orally or in writing to any district staff member with whom the student is comfortable speaking. All school staff members are available for help with a bully or to help make a report about bullying. Anyone, including staff and parents, that have information about actual or threatened bullying is encouraged to report it to the building principal, counselor, or any staff member.
Students, parents, and school personnel are encouraged to immediately report bullying to any school personnel within United Schools. Direct contact to the offices can be made to:
Maggie Wallace, United North Elementary Principal: 309-482-3332
Patrick Coate, United West Elementary Principal: 309-734-8513
Nicole Cole, United Intermediate Principal: 309-734-8511
Brian Higbee, United High School Principal: 734-9411
brian.higbee@u304.org
Anonymous reports are accepted by calling the contact listed above and specifically indicating that you would like to remain anonymous. However, formal disciplinary action cannot be taken solely on the basis of an anonymous report.
Response to Bullying Reports:
Upon receipt of a report of bullying, United Intermediate School, United North and West Elementary Schools will investigate whether such reported act of bullying is within the permissible scope of its jurisdiction.
Consistent with Federal and State laws and rules governing student privacy rights, the parents or guardians of all students involved in an alleged incident of bullying will be notified of such, along with threats, suggestions, or instances of self-harm determined to be the result of bullying, within 24 hours after the school’s administration is made aware of the student’s involvement in the incident. As appropriate, the school’s administration shall also discuss the availability of social work services, counseling, school psychological services, other interventions, and restorative measures. The school shall make diligent efforts to notify a parent or legal guardian, utilizing all contact information the school has available or that can be reasonably obtained by the school within the 24-hour period.
Further, the administrator or report manager will promptly investigate and address the report of bullying by doing the following:
Making all reasonable efforts to complete the investigation within ten school days after the date the report of the incident of bullying was received, taking into consideration additional relevant information received during the course of the investigation about the reported incident of bullying.
Involving appropriate school support personnel and other staff persons with knowledge, experience, and training on bullying prevention, as deemed appropriate, in the investigation process.
Notifying the principal, school administrator, or his/her designee of the report of the incident of bullying as soon as possible after the report is received (if the principal or administrator is not the person who received the report).
Consistent with federal and state laws and rules governing student privacy rights, providing the parents and guardians of the students who are parties to the investigation information about the investigation and an opportunity to meet with the principal, school administrator, or his/her designee to discuss the investigation, its findings, and the actions taken to address the reported incident of bullying.
The principal, administrator, or his/her designee may implement interventions to address reports of bullying. This includes, but is not limited to, school social work services, restorative measures, social-emotional skill building, counseling, school psychological services, and community-based services. Additionally, United Intermediate School, United North and West Elementary Schools shall provide the victim with information regarding services that are available within the district and community, such as counseling, support services, and other programs.
Reprisal or retaliation against any person who reports an act of bullying is prohibited. Such reprisal or retaliation will be treated as bullying for the purpose of determining appropriate consequences. No person will be subject to consequences for making a good-faith report of bullying. However, making a false accusation of bullying as a means of retaliation or as a means of bullying is prohibited and will be treated as bullying for the purpose of determining appropriate consequences.