WOODFORD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS brought attention to anti-bullying month with a forum hosted by Superintendent Lori Jones involving the high school’s student leadership group and administrators leading anti-bullying programs. County Judge-Executive James Kay, Versailles Mayor Laura Dake and Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift issued a joint proclamation that declares October as Anti-Bullying Month in Woodford County. (Photo by Scott White)
About mid-September, the ongoing problem with both traditional and cyberbullying leapt from the school halls into the consciousness of Woodford County when Tim and Stephanie Grimes posted on Facebook about their frustration with high school officials and Central Office in how their child was continuing to be victimized by a bully who, though the subject of both a juvenile investigation and a school disciplinary proceeding, was allowed to remain in their child’s class.
Their story was also picked up by WKYT-TV.
In an interview, Superintendent Lori Jones said she was unable to speak directly about the matter, given strict confidentiality laws, but said she had met with the Grimes and understood their frustration.
But one thing she said she did relate to the Grimes was that bullying was at the top of her agenda as the new superintendent. The fruit of that declaration was rolled out on Monday, Oct. 27, during a proclamation event in the auditorium of the new high school.
The most important attendees, according to Jones, were the members of the superintendent’s “HIVE,” who also make up the high school principal’s student advisory committee —a group of student leaders who apply and include members from all four classes.
Also in attendance were the high school leadership team charged with developing an anti-bullying strategy and Woodford County High School Principal Tyler Reed, Don Offutt, a WCHS social worker, Tori Hundley, the WCHS youth services coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent Garret Wells.
Woodford County Judge-Executive James Kay, Versailles Mayor Laura Dake and Midway Mayor Grayson Vandegrift also attended and spoke to the students about their own personal experience of being bullied as students along with ideas for how to impact the problem. Kay, Dake and Vandegrift issued a joint proclamation making October anti-bullying month in Woodford County.
The student HIVE group, when it began its work this school year, took the issue of bullying to the high school and the administration as one of its highest priorities. This priority integrated with the work of the high school leadership team that was already underway, culminating in concrete initiatives.
In addition to the proclamation, the week of Oct. 27-31 has been designated as Kindness Week.
Though a district-wide initiative, the high school focus featured a unique initiative each day of the week, from giving three compliments on Monday, meeting someone new with a “buzz” of positivity on Tuesday, to attending a guest presentation by retired Bowling Green, Kentucky, detective Mike Lemon, an expert on cyberbullying. As Jones explained, part of the effort is educational and creating an environment that fosters kindness, but does not tolerate bullying in any form.
In November, the high school will conduct a caregiver awareness program for parents and student caregivers on the issue of bullying, with an emphasis on cyberbullying. The school already has posters and links on all of its webpages and student Chrome books for “S.T.O.P.!,” a tipline accessed by scanning a QR code or directly on the webpage, which allows students to report bullying, threats or concerning behavior.
In the next week, at the high school level, the school will be rolling out a new program on the inter-school website, accessible only by students, staff, teachers and administrators, titled “Jacket Connect,” which is similar to the middle school’s “Tiger Connect.” The program will include a link on the student hub that allows students to access “S.T.O.P.!” and other resources.
Offutt said there are other strategies and projects being scheduled to build a compassionate community, including a Thanksgiving food drive and a Christmas toy drive.
“We know through data that our students are aware of resources on anti-bullying as well as other issues like suicide prevention,” Offutt said.
Wells highlighted that “a big piece of this is awareness and education, which is a goal of Kindness Week.”
The HIVE group evidenced a clear understanding of the problem and the need to be proactive in making bullying unacceptable and supporting kids who were victimized.
“I think as students, it is our responsibility as leaders in the building to tell others to stop,” Erin Baker, a junior, said. “It is just really difficult, given there is a stigma not to tell. We just need to remember (that) sticking out and making a change risks being ostracized. But we are trying to make a better world.”
They also believe the adults in the building do a good job of creating a positive atmosphere and enforcing anti-bullying rules.
“Teachers handle situations or the concerns of peers, and I think they handle them appropriately, thoughtfully and thoroughly. I can’t think of a day that goes by when a counselor, teacher, administrator or other worker doesn’t ask how my day is going,” said Jordan Brickhouse, a senior.
Freshman Asa Wellman added, “I see teachers intervene and respond to bullying and even write kids up, so I think they are doing a good job.”
The complexities around the student discipline process, including how it interfaces with the juvenile criminal justice system, boxes administrators with a variety of state and federal laws. As Jones noted, this causes parents and students who have been victimized real frustration.
“What also makes it difficult is a lot of cyberbullying takes place off-campus, and we only have jurisdiction to discipline for on-campus conduct,” Jones said.
Even so, Jones said this process is always being evaluated to protect all those involved.