Bullying is defined as a single significant act or a pattern of acts by one or more students directed at another student that exploits an imbalance of power and involves engaging in written or verbal expression, expression through electronic means or physical conduct that satisfies the applicability requirements that: a) has the effect or will have the effect of physically harming a student, damaging a student's property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person of damage to the student’s property; b) is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive enough that the action or threat creates an intimidating, threatening, or abusive educational environment for a student; c) materially and substantially disrupts the educational process or the orderly operation of a classroom or school; or d) infringes on the rights of the victim at school.

WISD has procedures concerning bullying that (1) prohibits the bullying of a student; (2) prohibits retaliation against any person, including a victim, a witness, or another person, who in good faith provides information concerning an incident of bullying; (3) establishes a procedure for providing notice of an incident of bullying to (a.) A parent or guardian of the alleged victim on or before the third business day after the date of the incident is reported; and (b.) A parent or guardian of the alleged bully within a reasonable amount of time after the incident; (4) establishes the actions a student should take to obtain assistance and intervention in response to bullying; (5) sets out the available counseling options for a student who is a victim of or a witness to bullying or who engages in bullying; (6) establishes procedures for reporting an incident of bullying, including procedures for a student to anonymously report an incident of bullying, investigating a reported incident of bullying, and determining whether the reported incident of bullying occurred; (7) prohibits the imposition of a disciplinary measure on a student who, after an investigation, is found to be a victim of bullying, on the basis of that student’s use of reasonable self-defense in response to the bullying; and (8) requires that discipline for the bullying of a student with disabilities comply with applicable requirements under federal law, including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (20 U.S.C. Section 1400 et seq.). Students, parents/guardians, and staff can report bullying through the app tip411 and, or Safety Alert Forms that are located on each campus.  Stop Bullying at School.

WISD Freedom from Bullying Policy

The district provides annual training to employees, as required by law, in prevention and recognizing sexual abuse, trafficking, and all other maltreatment of children. Any person who has cause to believe that a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect has a legal responsibility, under state law, to immediately report the suspected abuse or neglect to an appropriate authority. As defined in state law, child abuse and neglect include both sex and labor trafficking of a child. The following individuals have an additional legal obligation to submit a written or oral report within 48 hours of learning of the facts giving rise to the suspicion of abuse or neglect: (1) any district employee, agent, or contractor who suspects a child’s physical or mental health or welfare has been adversely affected by abuse or neglect; (2) a professional who has cause to believe that a child has been or may be abused or neglected or may have been a victim of indecency with a child. A professional is anyone licensed or certified by the state who has direct contact with children in the normal course of duties for which the individual is licensed or certified. 

In accordance with the law, district officials shall be prohibited from 1. Denying an investigator’s request to interview a child at school in connection with an investigation of child abuse or neglect; 2. Requiring that a parent or school employee be present during the interview; or 3. Coercing someone into suppressing or failing to report child abuse or neglect. District personnel shall cooperate fully and without parental consent, if necessary, with an investigation of reported child abuse or neglect.

Human Trafficking Hotline

WISD has developed practices and procedures for suicide prevention. This includes providing parents with information on identifying risk factors, accessing resources for treatment or support provided on and off-campus, and accessing available student accommodations provided on campus. WISD has a procedure for providing notice to parents/guardians of students who are identified as at risk of attempting suicide. During the notification of parents/guardians of a student who is at risk of attempting suicide, parents are provided with counseling resources and alternatives. Parents are also given procedures and support for the return of a student to school following hospitalization/residential treatment or following suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800)-273-TALK (8255)

• Crisis Text Line Text HOME to 741741

• Suicide & Crisis Hotline

Dating violence is defined as the intentional use of physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse by a person to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control another person in a dating relationship as defined by Section 71.0021, Texas Family Code. Dating violence is a pattern of coercive behavior that one partner exerts over the other for the purpose of establishing and maintaining power and control. 

The policy of Waxahachie ISD is that all students and employees are free from bullying, harassment, and dating violence. All charges of bullying, harassment, and dating violence are to be taken very seriously by students, faculty, staff, administration, and parents/guardians. The district will make every reasonable effort to handle and respond to every charge and complaint filed by students and employees in a fair, thorough, and just manner. Every reasonable effort will be made to protect the due process rights of all victims and alleged perpetrators. 

Students who believe they have been harassed, bullied, or otherwise victimized by fellow students or WISD employees are encouraged to promptly report such incidents to the campus principal or other campus professionals. To the greatest extent possible, complaints shall be treated as confidential. Limited disclosure may be necessary to complete a thorough investigation. A student or parent/guardian who has a complaint alleging bullying, harassment, or dating violence may request a conference with the principal or the principal’s designee. Complaints will be documented and investigated in accordance with WISD policy and guidelines. Any staff member who observes an incident that involves physical or sexual assault or threats will report the incident immediately to the principal. Any staff member who learns of an incident or threat may submit a Safety Alert Form on behalf of the victim.