Decatur, GA — City Schools of Decatur has made a mid-year update to its student code of conduct and restorative practices handbook to clarify that cyberbullying can be investigated by the school and make sure there is clear alignment between the code and state laws on bullying, Superintendent Maggie Fehrman said in her weekly newsletter.

The code was updated to say that the term bullying also applies to acts of cyberbullying that occurs through electronic communication, whether it originates on school property or with school equipment, if the communication:

– is directed specifically at students or school personnel,

– is maliciously intended to threaten the safety of those specified or substantially disrupted the orderly operation of the school, and

– creates a reasonable fear of harm to the students’ or school personnel’s person or property or has a high likelihood of succeeding in that purpose

“This update clarifies that acts of cyberbullying that occur on a students’ personal electronic equipment and/or off-campus can be investigated by the school,” Fehrman said. “If a student(s) is found in violation of bullying/cyberbullying, the student(s) involved will receive consequences in line with a bullying violation. Georgia is very clear that after three documented incidents of bullying, a student will be taken to a disciplinary hearing.”

Anyone can report bulling or cyberbullying, intimidation or harassment to a teacher or administrator or to the CSD Office of Equity and Student Services.

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