A quick look into the VUSD Anti-Discrimination Policies show a good plan and process for threats and complaints relating to harassment and bullying within the district.
The Bullying Prevention Plan is specific in respect to intervention. We think VUSD and Superintendent Vodicka should consider the following.
1. Collect real-time threats and complaints from students and teachers using technology. This will allow data to aggregate and summarize trends with specific threats along with the students that are creating the most issues. In addition, by integrating technology to collect this data, there's less dependence on staff leaving and entering the district. The data is independent of relationships. It's important to collect and intervene.
2. Less reliant on students reporting actions (self-reporting). More reporting of actions by teachers, staff and parents using technology. An early warning system that allows wellness staff to intervene quicker.
3. As mentioned, aggregated data and trending information will allow the district to drive additional policies to make meaningful change.
When districts are this diverse (summary of student breakdown below), it's essential to have the data collection part of the prevention program in place.
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VUSD Overview
Vista Unified School District - California
With 29 schools serving more than 22,000 students from preschool to 12th grade, Vista Unified School District is one of northern San Diego County’s largest educational agencies. The district stretches 39 square miles across most of Vista, a large portion of eastern Oceanside, some unincorporated areas and small slivers of Carlsbad and San Marcos. In addition to the campuses district administrators oversee, Vista Unified also includes one of the county’s largest adult-education programs with about 20,000 enrolled each year and another 3,000 students in four charter schools sponsored by the district.
The district serves a diverse population of students, including more than 3,000 in its special education programs and more than 6,000 who are learning English as a second language. Enrollment has declined over the last several years from about 26,000 students in 2000 to more than 22,000 in 2012.
Student demographics breakdown:
58 percent qualify for free lunch 24 percent English learners 10 percent homeless 60 percent Hispanic 28 percent white 4 percent African American 3 percent Asian 3 percent two or more races 1 percent Filipino 1 percent Pacific islander
