Wareham Public Schools administrators are getting ready to roll out a new bullying prevention plan in response to a new state law regarding bullying in schools.

The law, enacted in May, mandates that all incidents of bullying, cyber-bullying (bullying through the use of electronic devices like cell phones and the Internet), and retaliation (harassment of a student because of something they know or an action they took) be reported to school staff-members, said Director of Student Services Robert Louzan in a presentation to the School Committee on August 11.

Louzan said the law was "much-needed," and that the "cyber-bullying" aspect was particularly unique because cyber-bullying may not happen during the school day or even on school grounds. But, "if [cyber-bullying] impacts a student's performance in school [or] functioning in school, then it is both investigated and potentially disciplined," he said.

The law requires that every school district create a bullying prevention plan by December of this year. Among many aspects, the bullying prevention plan will include definitions of, and statements prohibiting, bullying.  It will also provide procedures for staff to follow in reporting bullying as well as procedures for responding to and investigating incidents, and it will define disciplinary measures that will taken against students who bully.

A pamphlet will be sent to parents at the beginning of the school year which will inform them about the law, what can be done to prevent bullying, and what to do if they suspect an instance of bullying.

"We have the opportunity to take the bull by the horns and do something major" in the prevention of bullying, said School Committee member Rachel Gillette. "We need to."