The Tenafly Public Schools is committed to the physical and emotional safety of our students. We believe that every student has the right to thrive in a learning community where he or she feels safe from threats of harassment, intimidation and bullying. To this end the Tenafly School District prohibits any acts motivated by harassment, intimidation or bullying (HIB) based on real or perceived characteristics as defined by the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.
The New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights, PL 2010, Chapter 122, effective September 1, 2011 states that “Harassment, intimidation or bullying” means any gesture, any written, verbal or physical act, or any electronic communication, whether it be a single incident or a series of incidents, that is reasonably perceived as being motivated either by any actual or perceived characteristic, such as race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, or a mental, physical or sensory disability, or by any other distinguishing characteristic, that takes place on school property, at any school-sponsored function, on a school bus, or off school grounds that substantially disrupts or interferes with the orderly operation of the school or the rights of other students and that:
a) a reasonable person should know, under the circumstances, will have the effect of physically or emotionally harming a student or damaging the student’s property, or placing a student in reasonable fear of physical or emotional harm to his person or damage to his property;
b) has the effect of insulting or demeaning any student or group of students; or
c) creates a hostile educational environment for the student by interfering with a student’s education or by severely or pervasively causing physical or emotional harm to the student.
We expect all members of our school community to abide by our district’s HIB Policy and encourage each to report incidences of harassment, intimidation or bullying by completing an
HIB Incident Form for Families. Upon receiving a report of the alleged HIB, the School Safety Team will take the appropriate steps in response, in accordance with the New Jersey Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act.
