SRC will vote next week on tougher anti-bullying rules

The School Reform Commission will vote next week on a tougher anti-bullying policy, following up on Superintendent Arlene Ackerman's promise yesterday to build a "culture of peace" in city schools by revamping programs that tackle safety.

The revised anti-bullying and harassment policies will clearly outline the procedures by which students, guardians and school personnel can identify and report problems.

The existing policies do not detail steps that students can take to report abuse.

The language in the policies was revised by a panel of state board officials and will be included in the district's Code of Student Conduct, which is disseminated to students annually.

Staff members who witness or receive reports of harassment from students are required to notify the school's principal. Once alerted, the administrator must inform the student of his or her right to file a complaint and then investigate.

If allegations of bullying or harassment - which include hitting, kicking, racial slurs and verbal, written, graphic or physical conduct related to an individual's gender, race, color or sexual orientation - are proven, the guilty party will be disciplined in accordance with the student Code of Conduct, the policy states.

If the behavior continues and is not addressed by the school, students or their parents are advised to call the district's bullying hot line at 215-400-7233.

Violating either policy can result in suspension or a transfer.

Commissioner Johnny Irizarry suggested that the district's general counsel, which will serve as the oversight body for the policies, should track the reporting of abuse by categories, such as race and gender.

"If we're going to do something about that [bullying], then we really need to know where the problem is in Philly, in particular," he said.

* In other news: A federal education-jobs bill, signed by President Obama last month, can help save or create more than 500 school-based positions in Pennsylvania, said the district's chief business officer, Michael Masch.

The bill provides $10 billion to states to retain or create school-related jobs for the next two academic years. Pennsylvania stands to receive $388 million, Masch said.

Each state is responsible for disbursing money to its school districts by using either the state's Title I allocation formula, or its Basic Education Subsidy formula, he said. Using the latter, Masch estimated that Philadelphia is slated to receive about $98 million over the next two years.