Counselors in schools consistently talk about bullying in schools, but one school in Missoula is now adding another strategy to help combat the issue.
The school board at Hellgate School recently called a special meeting to discuss why a student's parents pulled him from their school.
The parents say repeated bullying prompted them to remove the eighth grader, and now school officials are hoping that a new program will create better conditions for preventing bullying.
Hellgate Elementary school teaches about 1,300 students and staffs close to 150 employees. Superintendent Doug Reisig says there's bound to be some disagreements between all of them.
"There's going to be conflict. But conflict is far different than bullying. Repeated, hurtful acts over time designed to either threaten someone or shun someone. They're bullying activities and we want none of that."
So, Hellgate is bringing in the local chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute, (NCBI), to lead workshops to both students and staff about how to resolve conflicts while building a welcoming learning environment.
“What they will be able to provide us with is that expertise and that guidance, and the tools to help us get from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow” Reisig explained.
NCBI members will start with Hellgate's middle school in training that they say is both interactive and fun. The group has worked with several other Missoula area schools in similar workshops.
Reisig says it's important for schools to be proactive when it comes to bullying. “If in fact we have situations that are less than positive for any of our children, we need to try and take a look on how we can make it better for all of them.”
Hellgate Elementary School will begin their three hour workshops on December 1st in the Middle School. Once the students receive training, so will the staff and even the superintendent and ultimately, the school plans to train all grades of the school.
- Breanna Roy reporting from KPAX in Missoula
