The Guilford County Board of Education (the “Board”) acknowledges the dignity and worth of all students and employees and strives to create a safe, positive and caring learning and working environment that facilitates student achievement. It is the policy of the Board to maintain an environment that is free from discrimination, harassment, and bullying in all of its educational programs and employment activities.

Any employee who has witnessed or who has reliable information that a person has been subjected to bullying, harassment, or discrimination, has a duty to report.

Students, parents, volunteers, visitors, and others are strongly encouraged to report any actual or suspected incidents of discrimination, harassment, or bullying of others. Reports may be made anonymously.

DEFINITIONS: 

Discrimination: any act or failure to act, whether intentional or unintentional, that unreasonably and unfavorably differentiates treatment of others based solely on their membership in a socially distinct group or category or on a personal characteristic.

Harassment or bullying​ behavior is conduct intended to intimidate, discredit, injure, or disturb another person or group of persons.

GCS Board Policy

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must include:

1. Be intentional: The behavior must occur on purpose.
2. An imbalance of power: People who bully use their power to control or harm others. Power imbalances could be physical size, gender, verbal skills, age, physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity.
3. Repetition: The behavior happens more than once.