School district puts in place plans to address bullying issue

A month after hearing from concerns about bullying in the Vandalia School District from a parent, the district is holding a community presentation on bullying.
The bullying education program will be held next Tuesday, from 5:30-7 p.m., in the Vandalia Community High School gym.
Nancy Beem of the Community Resource Center will speak on four topics:
• Bullying vs. conflict
• Peer conflict resolution
• Proper reporting
• Resources/sources
The program is open to parents and students in grades K-12, as well as the general public.
Also, district officials announced this week that district administrators are currently evaluating several anti-bullying programs.
Programs that allow online reporting of bullying and student conflict to immediately go to the respective building administration and counselors for review.
Once a program is selected, it will be used throughout the district.
The individual schools are also working to address the bullying issue.
At the high school, Positive Behavioral and Interventions Supports lessons are being presented, English classes are watching movies about bullying and doing follow-up work on them, and staff is working with students on discipline and social behavior issues.
At the junior high, students are watching a video on bullying and holding a discussion afterward, bullying and character issues are being presented to all students and the school is holding an assembly on bullying.
Vandalia Elementary School is holding Bully vs. Buddy lessons in each classroom, hosting a bullying awareness presentation by SAFE (Sexual Assault & Family Emergencies), holding mini-lessons on bullying awareness and hosting a student assembly on bullying.