RENO, Nev. – The Washoe County School District Board of Trustees has unanimously approved an anti-bullying policy, opening a 13-day public review and comment period.

“The Board of Trustees is committed to providing safe, respectful, and hazing-free environments within its schools, buses and other facilities, and at Washoe County School District-sponsored events,” the district’s mission statement states.

The policy is as follows:

The District prohibits hazing on its property and in its programs and activities. No employee or student may condone, permit, direct, encourage, or participate in hazing.

Anyone who witnesses hazing or fails to report knowledge of hazing may be considered a participant.

Just because the person being bullied has permission or consent does not mean it is okay.

“The reason we’re bringing this forward now is … to ensure that our schools have a safe and respectful learning environment,” said WCSD Chief General Counsel Neil A. Rombardo. “… It’s kind of a quasi-acceptance, and that has to stop.”

District A administrator Jeff Church asked about one of the board’s policy definitions of hazing.

“Any situation that exposes the individual to extreme stress, such as sleep deprivation, enforced exclusion from social contact or coercive behaviour that causes pain or physical discomfort or negatively affects the individual’s mental health or dignity.”

Church wondered who decides whether this is bullying and how it is defined?

“It’s up to the investigator to apply our harassment criteria…” responded Judy Prutzman, director of the Division of Civil Rights Compliance. “Of course, it’s a case-by-case situation.”

“Hazing is currently considered prohibited conduct within the district’s athletic manuals…” Prutzman said. “Hazing would (now) be prohibited within any school organization, including athletics.”

Rombardo said the multi-step process requires substantial evidence.

“The goal is not to avoid the investigation, because we owe our students a fair trial,” Rombardo said. “So the goal is to have a trial.”

Alex Woodley, District E administrator, read part of the district’s definition of hazing.

“… coercive conduct that causes pain, physical discomfort, or an adverse impact on the mental health or dignity of an individual,” Woodley read to the board. “That is sufficient for me.”

District G Trustee Diane Nicolet commented on the policy.

“I look at this as a 50,000-foot view,” Nicolet said. “The devil is in the details. That’s the administrative regulations, which I assume — because I know the strength of this leadership team — will include reflection on confidentiality of the reporting structure, as well as training.”

The church read out the policy objective.

“It appears to be limited to situations that are initiation-related or related to a student organization,” Church said.

“Hazing or intimidation is usually done by one group against another group,” Prutzman said.

Prutzman said the overall safe and respectful learning environment is board policy 5700.

“I appreciate it very much,” said District B Trustee Colleen Westlake. “I think we need to protect the students that this happens to.”

Westlake also wants support and guidance to help the students who cause this behavior in others.

Rombardo said that in addition to confidentiality and training, there is support for the policy from both sides.

Other definitions of hazing in the policy include:

· Any physical activity such as whipping, beatings, branding, forced gymnastics, exposure to the elements, forced consumption of food, liquids, drugs or other substances, or any other cruel treatment or other forced physical activity that is likely to have an adverse effect on the person’s mental or physical health.

· Any behavior that is mentally embarrassing, intimidating or ridiculous and that causes psychological distress, including but not limited to activities such as performing public stunts and pranks, undermining morale or humiliating games and activities.

· Any expectation or command that forces an individual to perform an act that violates state or federal law or school district policy, or that is contrary to his/her true morals and/or beliefs (indecent behavior or public profanity).

For the draft policy, visit https://washoeschools.diligent.community/document/dcbf774d-d128-433c-a30e-9a2c5c5390d3/