For administrators at Warsaw Community School Corporation, bullying is certainly a problem to be dealt with, but dealing with that problem must also align with the school corporation’s mission.
“Our mission is to inspire and equip all students to continuously acquire and apply knowledge and skills while pursuing their dreams and enriching the lives of others,” says Lorinda Kline, a member of WCS’s Strategic Planning Core Team and Dream Council.
“If your life has purpose, you don’t bully,” Kline says. “When you get down to it, how can we help the bully. Our goal is for all students to strive.”
WCS, like all other area school corporations, was affected by the state of Indiana’s recent updates to the state mandated bullying policies. Also like area schools, WCS monitors students while on school property, with officials noting students and staff alike are trained to respond to bullying issues should they arise.
Amy Sively, who works in Human Resources for WCS, explains that in fourth grade students go through extensive training on how to recognize and report bullying. She says students at every grade level are also given some training each year. Of course, staff is rigorously trained on bullying policies, and any incidents staff and faculty are aware of are reportedly dealt with.
“It’s not about punishment,” says David Robertson, WCS’s chief academic officer, and former principal of Jefferson Elementary School. “It’s about developing character.”
“You’re never going to stomp out every bad decision,” adds Kline. “Everybody has value. How do we help them grow and have a thriving life? We care about each kid, and we want them to have their dream.”
WCS strives to achieve this with the corporation’s diverse course offerings and programs. From the Warsaw Area Career Center to the Washington STEM Academy, WCS has developed a variety curriculum to engage each and every student. “Our goal is: if a kid has a dream, we’ll get them started on that path,” Sively says.
But WCS isn’t totally free of bullies. Robertson says it’s not a pervasive issue at Warsaw schools, and the schools are keeping better numbers on bullying incidents since HEA 1423 was signed into law in 2013. At times it’s still like a game of Whack-A-Mole to address bullying.
“If we don’t know about it, we can’t solve the problem,” says Robertson. WCS wants it to be clear that students can go to any teacher, administrator, coach or counselor with a problem. Students or parents can also report incidents at the Safe Schools Hotline, (574) 371-5024, and even some of corporations school buildings have tip lines.
Problems may also be reported to WCS’s peer mediators. “It’s so important for a student to report it immediately,” Sively says.
“Family is a key piece in all of this,” says Kline. The administrators try to be as transparent as possible with parents, letting them know that a plan is in place for addressing conflicts and explain the state’s new bully laws. Doors are always open. “We always want to grow and get better,” says Robertson.
Related Articles: