Schools take on bullying, online

HUTTO, Texas (KXAN) - A central Texas school district is making an extra effort to stop bullying. Hutto Independent School District added a new page on their website where anyone can go and report a case of bullying.

The district says bullying is not a growing concern in their schools, but the new online tools are meant to keep it that way and prevent bullying from becoming a problem.

"With bullying becoming such a major issue, we wanted to make sure that anyone who was a victim of it, who saw it, that had anything to do with it--a parent that knows about it--has a way to come and report it and get the information to us," said Hutto ISD Public Information Officer, Emily Grobe.

The district's pro-active approach takes students and parents straight to their website.

On Hutto ISD's home page, a tab labeled "stop bullying" will connect users to downloadable forms, where they can report concerns.

"I think it's excellent. I mean, a lot of companies and organizations have an ethics line or whatever that you can report something in a safe way, and maybe have some follow-up on it. Hopefully it won't be abused. You worry about that no matter what," said parent Shawna Jirasek.
    
And that's something school leaders are taking into consideration, especially since the form can be turned in anonymously.

"The biggest worry that we have is somebody reporting bullying, that's not bullying, as a way to to get their friend in trouble or get a way with somebody because they got into a tiff or a fight," Grobe said.
    
So, the forms are designed  to identify false reports. And, teachers and administrators went through training to help distinguish between what is bullying--and what's not.

The school district hopes their efforts have a far-reaching effect.

"We want them to have the character to stand up for somebody that might be weaker, to stand up for somebody that might be in a tough situation, and be able to do the right thing," Grobe said.

Those efforts go a long way with parents.

"My oldest daughter had had some issues with bullying at the other school where we were, so we wanted to get my youngest one in a better environment" Jirasek said.

Right now, students or parents have to print out the online forms and turn them in to a school administrators, but the district is working to make the whole system electronic, so the reports can be sent in electronically.