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Hugs Free As Schools Comply With Anti-Bullying Law

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By MARILYN BROWN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 1, 2008

TAMPA - A small group of students offered free hugs at Middleton High School today to promote kindness and caring.

The effort is part of an international tolerance movement, says the Middleton student who started the local effort, Molly McConnell.

Today was chosen, she said, because it is the deadline for all school districts to have an anti-bullying policy to comply with a new state law.

Although other school boards, including Pinellas County's, recently approved anti-bullying policies that comply with the new law, Hillsborough County has yet to do so.

A new policy against bullying and harassment has been drafted but won't be voted on by the school board until Dec. 9, said Nelson Luis, the district's director of administration. The district has had a defined bullying policy since 2001. It was revised to meet the new law and has been sent to the state Department of Education for review, Luis said.

The new policy is much like the current one, but "this gives us more teeth," said Lewis Brinson, the district's assistant superintendent for administration. "It's more specific, more structured, more defined."

If approved by the board, more training starts for staff when the policy kicks in for the second semester, Brinson said.

Bullying or harassment may still involve one incident or repeated incidents, but dealing with them and reporting them to the state no longer is optional, Brinson said.

McConnell said the new policy definitely is needed on a statewide basis, and she hopes efforts such as Hug Day can help. The Free Hug movement is a big item on YouTube, featuring video of worldwide participation.

"It's about being a community here," said McConnell, president of Middleton's Gay-Straight Alliance. Student huggers asked permission to hug, then gave the students stickers to wear, noting they had been hugged.

Bryan Bishop, 18, was hugged by Cathy Waters, student intervention specialist.

"I think its funny," said Bishop, who grinned and kept grinning as he shared hugs with several other students in the cafeteria during lunch. "I was in a bad mood, so I think it's a good idea."

PROPOSED STATE POLICY

AFFECTS: Students, adult staff, parents and visitors.

INCLUDES: Cyberstalking, cyberbullying, teasing, social exclusion, public humiliation, destruction of property, theft, physical violence, threat, intimidation and sexual, religious or racial harassment by a student or adult.

WHERE: At a school site, during a school-related or sponsored event, on a school bus or at a bus stop or through a school computer.

REPORTING: All school employees are required to report instances to the principal. Students, parents, visitors and volunteers are encouraged to report instances. Investigation must be done within 10 days and a parent or guardian notified the day the investigation begins. The district must report all incidents to the state.

CONSEQUENCES: Students may face behavior intervention, suspension or expulsion. Adult employees may face loss of certification. Visitors may be reported to outside law enforcement.

COUNSELING: Required for the bully, the victim and the parents if appropriate.

TRAINING: Must be provided for all employees.

Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 @tampatrib.com.

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