The Jefferson County school board has adopted a revised bullying policy ahead of the 2026-2027 school year.
The policy, previously headed “Student Discrimination, Harassment, Bullying, Cyber-bullying and Intimidation,” now includes “Antagonistic Behaviors” as well. It was approved 6-0 on “first and final reading” Thursday – board member Danny Martin was absent – after board members voted to suspend the rules so that the revised policy would be in place before the next academic year begins. (Normally, it would have had to have two readings.)
“We went over this for three hours because we thought it was important to get it right,” said school board vice chair Doug Ibbetson, who serves as chair of the board’s policy committee.
He noted this was a “first step” at re-evaluating board policies, as the Tennessee School Boards Association is providing a full policy manual review for the board.
One change is that the policy now takes effect if the conduct is directed specifically at a student and “has the effect of creating a hostile educational environment” or “creates a substantial disruption to the education environment or learning process.”
The policy goes on to define a “hostile educational environment” as situations in which the targeted student “experiences significant interference with their ability to learn, participate in school activities or feel safe at school, as reported by the student, witnesses or parents.”
A “substantial disruption” is defined in the policy as including, but not being limited to, “fear of attending school, declining academic performance, emotional distress requiring counseling or increased absenteeism.”
The policy now notes that that the School District “shall not be responsible for actions caused by students or occurring to students when not on School District property or when not under School District staff supervision.”
Later in the policy, an example of hazing was added (“pantsing of a student”) to existing language as well as notation that coaches and other School District employees “shall immediately report any suspected hazing to the principal.”
“Expulsion” was added after “suspension” as one of the options for corrective or disciplinary actions for students who are found to have violated the policy, and “elementary” school principals were added to the list of principals/designees that must report the findings and any disciplinary actions taken to the director of schools and school board chair. Previously only middle, junior high and high school principals were listed.
Other additions to policy language include:
- “In cases where suspicions arise that a student may be in danger or may potentially be a danger to themselves or others, the School District will alert proper authorities and cooperate with authorities where requested.”
- “Alleged victims of the above-referenced offenses shall report these incidents immediately to a teacher, counselor or building administrator. All school employees are required to report alleged violations of this policy immediately to the principal/designee. All other members of the school community, including students, parents, volunteers and visitors, are encouraged to report any act that may be a violation of this policy.”
- Reports “may also be submitted through the district’s official online incident reporting tool called Tip Line through the JCS App, by email at contactus@jcboe.net, or phone call to your child’s school. All reports received through the online tool shall be treated as formal reports under this policy.”
The policy notes that the principal/designee at each school is responsible for investigating and resolving complaints. Investigations should be initiated within 48 hours of a report, and investigations should be completed and appropriate intervention taken within 20 calendar days from the receipt of the initial report.
Any delay in timing of the investigation or resolution should be reported by the principal/designee to the director of schools “in writing and provide detailed, specific documentation justifying the delay (including the exact reasons, dates and steps already taken.”
Director of Schools Tommy Arnold told school board members that both the board’s attorney and the Tennessee School Boards Association had reviewed the changes and had “no major concerns.”
“We had 12 folks give us public input that was very measured, very thoughtful and very welcome,” Ibbetson told The Standard Banner after the meeting. “Then, knowing this was an important policy, we had all the board members, not just the policy committee, send to Tommy their recommendations on what they would like to possibly see or have debated at the committee meeting, and we had like seven pages of deletions and new ideas. And because this was a policy, every time we change a word, a phrase or punctuation, we have to vote on it.”
Ibbetson added that the policy committee also wanted to make sure the new language was “enforceable” by the director of schools.
The entire policy that was adopted Thursday is available on the school board’s website, https://www.jc-tn.net/school-boards, under Unapproved School Board Packets in the 2025-2026 folder. The PDF is named “June 42026 Business Section.”
Until such time as the school’s website is updated, the previous version of the policy can be found on the school board’s website under Board Policies, then Students, then scroll down to policy 6.304.
The next policy committee meeting is set for 5 p.m. August 24, Ibbetson noted, and will be focused on all legislation passed during the Tennessee General Assembly’s last session.
Full coverage of Thursday’s School Board meeting will be in the June 11 edition of The Standard Banner.
