State requires schools to name a 'bullying tzar'
The stories in some Utah schools this year have been difficult to hear — stories of bullying and hazing.
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — The stories in some Utah schools this year have been difficult to hear — stories of bullying and hazing.
Unfortunately, some of those stories have led to high profile tragedies. In Davis County, it was Izzy Tichenor, and in Tooele, it was Drayke Hardman. Both their families said the students took their own lives after being the targets of bullying.
In the wake of these cases, the state has made some significant changes to the rules regarding how schools and school districts handle cases of bullying.
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The Utah State Board Of Education will now require school districts and charter schools to appoint what could be considered a bullying tzar, who will be the point person for all bullying complaints that a school or district receives. The person will be specially trained on how and why kids are bullied and will investigate each report and make sure parents are kept informed during the investigation.
Amy Steele-Smith, a prevention specialist for the board, said in the past, overworked administrators would oversee investigating reports of bullying. She said sometimes their other duties may have made an investigation more challenging. Now, she said, an expert, will take on that role.
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Steele-Smith said the new position will allow districts to collect more and better data on who and how children are being bullied. For students, Steele-Smith said knowing someone is there just for them can be a relief.
“They are really able to see that the unjust things that happen in their environment are being taken care of by the adults that are there to protect and take care of them,” she said.
If you or someone you know feels hopeless or in crisis, resources are available.
- National Suicide Prevention 24-hour lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
- Crisis Line serving Davis, Morgan and Weber Counties: 801-625-3700
- Crisis Line of Utah County: 801-226-4433
- Provo Crisis Line: 801- 373-7393
- Crisis Line serving Salt Lake, Summit and Tooele counties: 801-261-1442
- Utah students can talk or text with a counselor through the SafeUT app.
