Bellevue School District: School And Student Safety Resources And Steps Moving Forward

Bellevue WA

25 November, 2021

10:32 AM

Description

Press release from the Bellevue School District: November 24, 2021 As many in our community know, we have had a series of student-led protests over the past week at some of our high schools. Thank you to the student leaders and participants who helped ensure that the demonstrations were safe and that they allowed students to express their collective voices and share concerns in a responsible manner.   Students and parents have expressed: concerns over not feeling safe at school, a desire to feel heard, questions and concerns about mandatory reporting, and a need to understand how procedures are followed when students report sexual assault or harassment/bullying. Students have also shared that they want to have continued conversations with administrators and staff about how to heal and move forward.    We acknowledge that some members of our community experienced harm. Our intention is to improve our processes with students, staff and district leadership by trying new ways of learning from each other. Through these protests and subsequent feedback, our students are teaching us how to listen to their voices, hear from their peaceful protests, and work with them to address their concerns.  As more plans are made and shared with you as a result of this work, we encourage everyone to consider their personal role in the process of healing as a community. The resources shared below are ways in which we can all be a part of this process.  What Administrators are Doing  Response to Student Concerns  In light of the recent protests and concerns expressed by students, administrators were at schools providing extra support for students. Some ways we supported students this week and can continue to support are through:  Safe spaces created for students and staff where they can process feelings and discuss what is needed to heal and move forward.  Extra district staff present at schools for help as needed.  Additional counselor support at schools as needed.  Reading and responding to letters written during peaceful protests. The information shared will be used to inform next steps.  Discussions with students on Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying (HIB) reporting and the investigation process.  Coordination with PTSA for follow-up, planning and next steps, with more details communicated when available.  Reports and Allegations  We take all allegations and reports regarding safety very seriously and have policies and procedures that guide how we respond, to ensure that students feel safe in our schools. Those policies are listed in the student handbook, which families and students are asked to review each year.   Each policy provides compliance coordinators and other district staff with a framework necessary to ensure a complete response to each report of misconduct. The detail in each procedure is intended to provide clarity about the grievance or complaint process in each procedure so there is no confusion about how the district can work toward providing a resolution to each complaint.      Anyone may initiate a complaint under these policies and procedures. Reports may be filed in several ways:  The district's online reporting system, which may be accessed at: https://bsd405.org/help/report/   Contacting the district coordinator through email, phone, or US Mail  Title IX Coordinator: Jeff Lowell, (425) 456-4010 or [email protected]  Section 504/ADA Coordinator: Heather Edlund, (425) 456-4156 or [email protected]  Civil Rights/Nondiscrimination Compliance Coordinator Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or [email protected].   Harassment, Intimidation and Bullying Compliance Officer is Nancy Pham, (425) 456-4040 or [email protected].  Providing a report via US Mail to the following address: P.O. Box 90010, Bellevue, WA 98009  Providing a report in-person at the district's Educational Service Center (12111 NE 1st St Bellevue, 98005).  Filing a report with a trusted adult at a district school either verbally or in writing  Supports Moving Forward  Administrative staff are working with student leadership to continue to listen to their concerns and find ways to address the issues brought forth. Any and all concerns will be taken into account, and subsequent reporting will be guided by our board policies and administrative procedures, each of which are in compliance with federal and state statutes. We are committed to further centering the voices of students and ensuring that our learning environment supports their needs. What Parents Can Do  Families may feel concern over current issues as they relate to their students. We encourage you to keep the lines of communication open with your student(s) and ensure that they can express their thoughts and feelings with you. Additionally, you may wish to learn more and talk with your student about our policies and procedures around school safety. They are listed in the student handbook and include but are not limited to:  Misconduct  Can't see the table below? Click here to view the original story. School Safety  Can't see the table below? Click here to view the original story. If you have further questions or concerns, please contact your school leadership, district leadership, and/or your local PTSA. We are all working together to meet student needs.   What Students Can Do  The district acknowledges that students have been impacted by current events and wish to seek positive change. We are interested in hearing from you and partnering to address concerns and make appropriate changes. Some ways to get involved are to:   Report any misconduct through the channels listed above or through your school leadership and/or counselor.  Continue working with school leadership, student leadership (Associated Student Body, student affinity groups, etc.) and the district to share your needs.  Familiarize yourselves with the policies and procedures listed in the student handbook and above, to help gain understanding of how we currently address school safety issues. School staff are also available to help support this.  Consider your digital footprint. Although social media may be a good outlet for expressing yourself, sharing certain information can harm confidentiality and the integrity of investigations that require it. Learn more about digital citizenship below.  Other Resources  Sexual Assault Education, Prevention and Treatment  King County Sexual Assault Resource Center – Focus on education, prevention and community resources  24/7 Resource Line: 888-998-6423 – Free and confidential, call for help or information 24 hours a day  Ayuda en Español: 425-282-0324 – Gratis y confidencial. Llame de lunes a viernes 8 am.-5 p.m.  KSAC Toolkit for Parents – Help in having important conversations about sex, relationships, values and safety  UW Medicine Harborview Abuse & Trauma Center – focus on treatment  A Safer Family. A Safer World. Preventing Child Sexual Abuse  Books for Children on Sexual Development and Sexual Abuse Prevention  Coping after the Violent Death of a loved One  Crime Victims rights  Criminal Justice System  Dating Bill of Rights  Facts About Child Sexual Abuse  Sexual Assault: a Resource for Young People  Internet Safety for Teens  Things Families Can Do to Cope with Trauma  Things Families Can Do to Cope with Trauma – in Spanish  Supporting A Loved One After Sexual Assault  What is Sexual Harassment?  Student Wellness and Well-Being  Counseling at BSD  Well-Being Resources for Students and Families  Mental Health Resources for Students and Families  Digital Citizenship  BSD offers the Common Sense Media curriculum to help parents and students understand their roles in digital media and how to navigate common challenges.   Parents – Topics of Concern  Parents – Guides on Specific  Apps  Parents – Guide to Parental Controls  Students and Parents – Harassment and Cyberbullying (questions by age groups)  Students and Parents – Privacy and Internet Safety (questions by age group)  Students and Parents – Online Etiquette, Character Strength and Life Skills (questions by age group)  Students – Digital Citizenship Curriculum (by age group)  This press release was produced by the Bellevue School District. The views expressed here are the author's own.