Board Weighs Bullying, Concussion Policies

The Montville Township Board of Education, at its regular monthly meeting last Tuesday night, passed on first reading a bullying policy aimed at stopping harassment of township students by fellow students.

The policy was one of several passed on either first or second reading by the board, including policies on athletic training in summer heat, and the return to sports action by athletes following a concussion.

Assistant School Superintendent Dr. Beth Godett, who is in charge of administering the school policies, said the bullying policy is based on a state bullying law and has been in effect for several years.

"This is a more detailed policy than what we have had in the past," Godett said.

Under the policy, the board prohibits acts of harassment, intimidation or bullying of a pupil. The definition of harassment, intimidation or bullying, according to the policy, means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, as defined under state law as a single incident or series of incidents against a student based on a perceived characteristic such as race, religion, ancestry, etc.

The policy adds that the board expects all Montville Township public school pupils to respect one another.

Godett admitted she did not know how serious a problem bullying is in township schools.

"Each school principal is more aware of the problem," she said, noting that the policy, as originally designed, called for school principals to report such matters to the school administration once a year. That has been updated to twice a year—in the fall and spring—under the updated policy.

"This is designed to insure protection of our students, as well as adults," Godett said. "We all have a responsibility to be respectful toward one another."

The concussion policy, also passed on first reading, protects "the safety, health and welfare of pupils participating in school-sponored interscholastic athletic programs and cheerleading. The board believes a concussion testing and return-to-play policy for student-athletes or cheerleaders suspected of sustaining a concussion will protect the student-athlete or cheerleader from risk of more serious health problems.

Like the bullying policy, the concussion policy has been in effect for some time, but has been updated to include cheerleaders, Godett said.

The heat acclimazation policy sets a standard to protect the safety. health and welfare of athletes, cheerleaders and marching band members during periods of intense heat, especially in the summer months when such students are preparing for the fall sports season.

Both the concussion and heat policies were updated with guidance from a the high school's athletic physician and trainer as well as a physician from the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, Godett said.

"We want to be sure of the safety of out athletes, cheerleaders and marching band members to the best of out ability," Godett said, adding, "i played the glockenspiel and that gets very heavy.

"It gets hot out there," she said.