A proposed bill about bullying in schools attracts the attention of many - WIBW

TOPEKA, Kan (WIBW) -- The Senate Committee on Education heard a proposal for schools to be more open about bullying.

“Our goal with SB 410 is to get school districts to publish everything that they’re doing as far as bullying prevention in their districts and in their buildings,” Executive Director of Equality Kansas Thomas Witt said.

The bill would require districts to publish their policies and reporting process on bullying to their district and individual school websites, and include it in training materials.

Supporters of the bill said many students have trouble reporting their bullying experiences.

“They’ll try to report a teacher or an administrator, or to a social worker, and often get the run around. So having really clear procedures and policies about who they need to report to, what happens when they report, what the follow up looks like is going to help our students be able to advocate for themselves where they don’t have to call in an expert to do that for and with them,” Chapter Director of GLSEN Kansas Liz Hamor said.

However not everyone is on board.

“You know it probably seems a little startling. Why would a school board association oppose a bill about bullying?” Advocate and Outreach Specialist for the Kansas Association of School Boards Leah Fliter said.

Fliter said the bill needs work.

“It’s a piecemeal sort of premature approach to a comprehensive report that has been developed after months of study and testimony from across the state,” she added.

She hopes the legislature will wait to hear from them before passing the bill.

“Those recommendations center around social and emotional health, bully prevention, helping students, helping teachers, helping staff understand bullying. How we can combat it, and a much more holistic approach,” Fliter added.

It is not known when the task force on bullying will have its recommendations.

The senate bill would also require annual reports to the State Board of Education on bullying incidents and how they were resolved. Many advocates said better records would help deal with bullying.

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A proposed bill about bullying in schools attracts the attention of many - WIBW
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