Mentor Public Schools' fourth vision statement is to "provide a safe and secure environment in which students can grow academically and socially." To this end, the school district has implemented a coordinated, research-driven program to prevent harassment, intimidation and bullying in our schools. In accordance with Mentor Board of Education policy 9.34 the district provides semi-annual reports to the board regarding the number of harassment, intimidation and bullying incidents in the school district to help measure the effectiveness of our efforts. The data from these reports will be posted here.
According to board policy 9.34, "harassment, intimidation, or bullying" means any intentional written, graphic, verbal, or physical act that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both:
- Causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and
- Is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for the other student.
Such conduct can take many forms and can include many different behaviors having overt intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate another student. Examples of such conduct include, but are not limited to:
- Physical violence and/or attacks.
- Verbal taunts, name-calling, and put-downs, including taunts based on ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or other protected and/or individual characteristics.
- Threats and intimidation (through words and/or gestures).
- Extortion or stealing of money and/or possessions.
- Exclusion from the peer group.