PHOTO COLLAGE BY BELLEFONTE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT Pictured in the collage above are Bellefonte Area School District buildings. The district is looking to strengthen its anti-bullying policies in the future with new recommendations.

BELLEFONTE — The Bellefonte Area School District is taking a proactive approach to enhancing its response to bullying with a series of new recommendations aimed at ensuring student safety and fostering a positive school climate.

At the Feb. 18, 2025, Board of Directors meeting, Superintendent Dr. Roy A. Rakszawski presented a comprehensive report to the Board of Directors outlining key areas for improvement.

Among the key recommendations is the implementation of a standardized district-wide reporting system, ensuring that all incidents are documented, investigated thoroughly and reviewed for consistency. This system will provide a clear and accessible way for students, parents and staff to report bullying while also allowing the district to track trends and enforce accountability.

Recognizing the importance of staff training, Rakszawski is also proposing annual, mandatory anti-bullying education for all staff, including substitute teachers and volunteers.

“Every adult who interacts with our students needs to know how to recognize, respond to and report bullying,” said Rakszawski. “A well-trained staff is essential in protecting students and preventing harmful behavior.”

The recommendations also emphasize improving parental communication and involvement. Under the new plan, parents of both the victim and the alleged bully will be notified of reported incidents. Additionally, a formal appeal process is offered to parents who wish to challenge a bullying determination.

The district is looking to incorporate targeted behavioral interventions for repeat offenders. The proposed plan includes the development of specialized intervention programs designed to help students exhibiting bullying behaviors understand the impact of their actions and develop healthier social skills. These interventions, paired with consequences, aim to hold students accountable while providing them with the support they need to change their behavior.

A critical component of the recommendations is clarifying the distinction between bullying and conflict. Stakeholder discussions revealed that students, parents and staff often struggle to differentiate between the two, leading to inconsistencies in reporting and response. The district plans to provide clearer definitions and training to ensure appropriate action is taken in each case.

To ensure long-term accountability, the district also appointed a district-wide anti-bullying coordinator. This individual oversees training, leads annual school-level self-assessments and consults with administrators on complex bullying cases. Additionally, improved data collection will allow the district to better track bullying incidents, identify trends and respond appropriately.

While the 2025 report acknowledges that Bellefonte schools already have strong preventative programs in place, including PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports), Rakszawski stressed that a more structured and transparent approach to handling reports of bullying is necessary.

“Even a single incident that is overlooked can have lasting consequences for a child,” he said. “We are committed to making sure that no report falls through the cracks.”

The proposed changes are incorporated into an administrative regulation tied to the existing bullying policy to ensure proper enforcement and oversight.

Visit tinyurl.com/administrativeregulation to see the revised Bullying/Cyberbullying Administrative Regulation with changes marked in bold text.

Rakszawski will provide a follow up presentation to the Board of Directors at an upcoming meeting to include a bullying survey analysis and a summary of reported bullying incidents this school year as well as a summary of self-assessment results.

Bellefonte Area School District

318 N. Allegheny St., Bellefonte, PA 16823

www.basd.net