USD 235 to monitor bus-riding students for possible bullying

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

UNIONTOWN -- USD 235 officials have put a plan in motion to monitor district school buses for possible bullying behaviors.

During their regular monthly meeting on Monday, the USD 235 Board of Education voted to approve the $17,626 purchase of an electronic surveillance system from the Missouri-based American Digital Security Company. This will be the first time that USD 235 has used video surveillance to monitor student activity on school buses, USD 235 Superintendent Randy Rockhold said.

This purchase of new security equipment is part of the district's anti-bullying policy that school officials began developing last fall as required by state law. The equipment purchase is also part of a recent effort by school officials to boost security measures in the district, Rockhold said.

"When we completed our research on bullying, students and parents indicated the bus was a prime location for bullying type behaviors," Rockhold said. "We are going to try to put multiple things in place to limit negative behaviors."

The bus surveillance monitors, cameras and digital recording systems will be installed on four district buses very soon, and will automatically monitor all activity on each bus as soon as the vehicle is turned on. Two cameras that will be installed on each bus will monitor all student activity on the bus. The data gathered will then be stored on a digital video recorder hard drive for later review by district personnel, Rockhold said.

On Monday, the board also approved a change in the 2008-09 Uniontown Junior Senior High School handbook that notifies all parents and students in the district of the installation of the video surveillance equipment on the four district school buses. The change also states that the buses may be equipped with video surveillance systems, Rockhold said.

USD 235 and other districts statewide were required by Jan. 1 to adopt anti-bullying policies as required by Senate Bill 68, legislation passed by the Kansas Legislature and signed by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius last May. The policies prohibit bullying on school property, in a school vehicle, and at any school-sponsored activity or event. USD 235 officials updated that district's policy last fall to help better protect its students from bullying incidents. USD 234 also approved and implemented an anti-bullying policy last fall.

District anti-bullying plans also outline disciplinary procedures that follow reported incidents of bullying, and also training and knowledge that district staff and personnel must have when dealing with incidents of bullying. The legislation also outlines procedures necessary for reporting, documenting and investigating any acts of bullying. Anti-bullying policies define bullying as any behavior that creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for students or staff members.

The board also conducted the following business on Monday:

* Reviewed and approved the minutes of the February board meeting.

* Approved the February treasurer's report.

* Approved the finalized 2008-09 school calendar.

* Heard administrative reports from Rockhold, West Bourbon Elementary School Principal Marianna Daugherty and UJSHS Principal Tracy Smith.

The board also conducted an executive session to discuss personnel matters and to evaluate Rockhold's job performance.