The Sixty-second Legislative Assembly of North Dakota passed a bill in 2011 requiring each school district to have a policy related to the prevention of bullying in public schools. The law requires that the policy be in place by July 1, 2012. Furthermore, the law requires that specific groups be provided opportunity for input in development of the policy.

West Fargo Public Schools' policy committee has reviewed the policy developed and suggested for adoption by the North Dakota School Boards Association. The policy meets all provisions of the law. The committee now wants to provide opportunities for input prior to revising and recommending it for first and second reading by the Board of Education in March.

The policy references the law in defining bullying, so the legally-prescribed definition of bullying will be a part of the policy, and will be printed in our handbooks.

Links to the draft policy, and to a copy of the statute defining bullying and outlining the policy requirements, are located at the bottom of this message.

If you review these documents and would like to provide input, please do so by February 29 via email: info@west-fargo.k12.nd.us.

Respectfully,

David Flowers, Superintendent

• Draft Policy on Bullying
• ND Century Code on Bullying