School Board Toughens Up Anti-Bullying Policy

The amended section of the Lakewood City Schools’ bylaws and policies will now include clarified language that covers cyber-bullying, texting and dating violence.

Already proactive on anti-bullying efforts, with similar policies on the books, the Lakewood School Board OK’d a measure on Monday night that brings the district in-line with the state policy on the issue.

Board vice president Ed Favre called the new measure is a “housekeeping” issue.

“It’s kind of a moving target,” he said. “Whatever the next piece of technology is out there, someone will be using that to intimate.”

“No matter what you do, you have to do more.”

The board unanimously approved the change.

“We’re very vigilant about this,” added board president Betsy Shaughnessy.

Earlier this year, the board passed a similar measure, which targeted dating violence.

A few years ago, Garfield Middle School began a rigorous anti-bullying program to curb the trend before students get to the high school.

The following school year, Harding Middle School followed suit.

“The old-fashioned bullying of the big kid picking on the little kid — that is still out there,” Favre said. “Our staff does a good job of handling this.”