Jonathan Alder’s Board of Education will consider a revised policy on bullying. Superintendent Doug Carpenter provided a draft to board members on Dec. 10. The board could finalize the policy as early as their next meeting on Jan. 14.
Plans for the revision began last year when the Ohio Department of Education asked each school district to make sure their policies covered all types of student bullying, from fist fights on playgrounds and verbal comments on school property to bullying via electronic means.
Jonathan Alder’s new policy also would cover bullying that begins off of school grounds via the Internet or phone, then spreads to the school, Carpenter said.
“You will always have some kids who do dumb things who don’t mean to be bullying anyone and nothing comes of it. However, there’s also the types of bullying that can end up with much more than just a fist fight on the playground,” Carpenter said.
He added that he does not feel there is a big concern about electronic bullying at Jonathan Alder, but school administrators will distribute a bullying survey to students at all grade levels over the next few weeks or months.
“The survey should show us if our students think bullying is a problem within the district,’’ Carpenter said.
In other action, the school board set new speed limit reduction times for school zones in front of the high school and junior high buildings. The new times are 7:15 to 8 a.m. and 2 to 2:45 p.m. to make each school zone speed limit consistent.
The board presented school board member Jim Phillips with a clock-plaque for his years on the board. The Dec. 10 meeting was the last for Phillips, who orig-inally was appointed to fill an unexpired term on the board in July 1994. Chris Blacka, elected in November, will fill his seat when the board reconvenes in January.
“Jim has been an integral part of our success here at Jonathan Alder through all of his years on this board,” Carpenter said.
Phillips provided many hours of his family time toward district and school projects, including efforts that go beyond board expectations.
“He has been right there with district through all these years of bond levies, building plans and plans for the future,’’ Carpenter said.
