 | MESPA Home > MN Bullying Prevention Initiative & Bookstore > Governor's Task Force | | | Governor's Task Force | | July 19, 2012
MN Rework of Anti-Bullying Law Takes Shape
The preliminary report from the gubernatorial task force states that Minnesota needs an anti-bullying law that supports victims, calls for
constructive discipline and teaches children and adults alike to
recognize and stop the behavior. The
Task Force for the Prevention of School Bullying (with four ex-officio members including MESPA member Curt Carpenter, principal Clear Springs Elementary, Minnetonka) approved the
draft July 17.
The panel stopped short of recommending statutory
language but is offering a set of criteria from the U.S. Department of
Education for legislators to consider. Among them: defining bullying and
describing its effects; laying out the scope of local and state
authority; identifying vulnerable groups while protecting all children,
and setting guidelines for prevention, response and reporting.
Members
will consider amendments July 23-27, and further revisions are likely
before Aug. 1, when the final report is due on Gov. Mark Dayton's desk,
said co-chairman Walter Roberts, professor of counselor education at
Minnesota State University, Mankato.
(Summarized from StarTribune. To read the entire article, click here.)
February 24, 2012
Governor’s Bullying Prevention Task Force
On February 24, Governor Mark Dayton's office announced the members of a Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. The governor said in a statement: “Bullying causes severe suffering and harm to the children, who are its victims; and we must do more to stop it. Children and parents in Minnesota should have confidence that their schools are safe places for learning and are free of harm or intimidation. The work of this Task Force is critical to ensuring that a healthy and nurturing school environment exists for every child in our state.”
Originally, the 15-member task force did not include any principals, but was expanded to include four ex-officio members: an elementary principal (Curt Carpenter, Clear Springs Elementary, Minnetonka, representing MESPA), a secondary principal (from MASSP), a school board member (from MSBA), and a teacher (from Ed MN). For a list of the original task force members, visit the governor's Web.
April 6, 2012
Update on the Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying
Update from Curt Carpenter (principal, Minnetonka, MESPA representative on the task force): "The second meeting of the task force took place at the Minnesota Department of Education on April 16. The group is comprised of caring and dedicated political, community, and school leaders from all over the state of Minnesota.
Next steps include agreement on the definition of bullying and listening sessions with students and parents in Rochester on April 26, St. Cloud on May 1, and sessions in Mankato, Duluth, and the Twin Cities on dates in May to be announced soon. Thanks very much to the 176 MESPA members who responded to the bullying prevention survey last week. The results were very helpful for the task force and will continue to help shape our work as we move forward."
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RESULTS_SchoolBullying_PreventionSurvey_.pdf
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| Task Force Progress |
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| Survey Questions | The following survey went out to MESPA members on April 9, 2012 -- with responses gathered by April 13. Curt Carpenter presented the tabulated results as background input for the Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying. - Do you currently have a formal program to reduce/prevent bullying in your school?
- If yes, what is the name of the program and do you feel it has been successful?
- If no, what is the main reason you have not implemented a program?
- Is there any feedback or information you'd like to share with the Governor's Task Force on the Prevention of School Bullying?
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| Survey Responses | If you would like to read the survey results (from 23% of active members MESPA, an incredible response rate), scroll to the PDF below.
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