Bullying is a serious issue that affects many students in Dulles, Virginia. The Virginia Department of Education has model policies and guidelines on bullying and cyberbullying that every school board must implement. This includes training for mental health professionals on topics related to LGBTQ+ students as well as procedures for preventing and responding to bullying, harassment and discrimination based on gender identity and expression. According to Professor Hopkins from the University of Pennsylvania, the erosion of local networks and the decline of local news have caused an “anti-expert” tension in our politics.
Gina Patterson, executive director of the Virginia Association of School Boards, states that they are joining boards on a daily basis because of the nature of the issues raised, although in many cases, districts follow state laws. For example, students and staff are required to wear masks in Virginia, and the state requires districts to have policies that protect transgender students. Matt Walsh, a conservative political commentator, rented a house in the county to call the board “child abusers” because of its policy on transgender people. Fight for Schools, a parent organization founded by a former Justice Department official during former President Trump's tenure, announced that it was trying to remove five of the board members. This has changed the way the county along with others in the fast-growing suburbs of Northern Virginia now votes. Kay Douglas, principal consultant for the Texas Association of School Boards, states that we must start by defining the district's vision and then talking about “how will the performance of all students be improved”.
Douglas says school boards tend to “hide” when there's a lot of tension, but that's “exactly what not to do”. Interrupting meetings is “depressingly easy” according to Laats. It is essential for school boards to understand their role in responding to bullying incidents as well as creating an environment where all students feel safe and respected. This includes implementing model policies from Virginia Department of Education which include training for mental health professionals on topics related to LGBTQ+ students as well as procedures for preventing and responding to bullying harassment and discrimination based on gender identity and expression. It is also important for school boards to ensure safety remains a priority even if they are not legally responsible for enforcing court orders. In conclusion it is essential for school boards to understand their role in responding to bullying incidents as well as creating an environment where all students feel safe and respected.
This includes implementing model policies from Virginia Department of Education which include training for mental health professionals on topics related to LGBTQ+ students as well as procedures for preventing and responding to bullying harassment and discrimination based on gender identity and expression.
