After two high-profile suicides of teen girls in Dolores and Montezuma counties last year, local school districts were pressed to update their policies on bullying and suicide prevention.
The Dolores School Board approved policies JICDE-Bullying Prevention and Education and JICDD-Violent and Aggressive Behavior on June 7.
In Dolores’ 2015-2016 student handbook, bullying is “subject to appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, expulsion and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.”
They lay out action steps against aggressive and violent behavior.
The board also passed definitions of violent behavior, bullying prevention policies and guidelines for at-risk students.
Mancos School District Re-6 lists similar policies in its 2017-2018 student handbook. Disciplinary steps are:
Classroom discipline for pushing or shoving.School detention after school or during lunch for harassment/bully or sexual infractions.In-school suspension or Saturday school for threats, harassment or bullying infractions.Out-of-school suspension for assault or harassment/bully or sexual infractions.Expulsion for criminal assault or harassment/bully or sexual infractions.
Classroom discipline for pushing or shoving.School detention after school or during lunch for harassment/bully or sexual infractions.In-school suspension or Saturday school for threats, harassment or bullying infractions.Out-of-school suspension for assault or harassment/bully or sexual infractions.Expulsion for criminal assault or harassment/bully or sexual infractions.Montezuma-Cortez Schools last revised its bullying, violent and aggressive behavior and suicide policies in 2013, according to the latest data on the website, but no concurrent disciplinary actions.
