Policies and Notices

Bullying policy

It is the policy of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Math and Science Academy that any form of bullying behavior, whether in the classroom, on school property, to and from school or at school sponsored events, is expressly forbidden. Harassment, intimidation or bullying means any intentional written, verbal, graphic, or physical act that a student or group of students exhibited toward other particular student more than once and the behavior both:

● Causes mental or physical harm to the other student; and is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student.
● Harassment, Intimidation or Bullying also means electronically transmitted acts i.e., Internet, cell phone, personal digital assistant (PDA) or wireless hand-held device that a student has exhibited toward another particular student more than once and the behavior both:
○ Causes mental or physical harm to the other student/school personnel;
○ and/or is sufficiently severe, persistent or pervasive that it creates an intimidating, threatening or abusive educational environment for the other student/school personnel.

● In evaluating whether conduct constitutes harassment, intimidation or bullying, special attention should be paid to the words chosen or the actions taken, whether such conduct occurred in front of others or was communicated to others, how the perpetrator interacted with the victim, and the motivation, either admitted or appropriately inferred. A school-sponsored activity shall mean any activity conducted on or off school property (including school buses and other school-related vehicles) that is sponsored, recognized or authorized by the Indiana Board of Education. Transportation of Indiana Math and Science Academy students covered by this policy in rental vehicles or in privately-owned vehicles to or from school-sponsored activities shall be subject to this paragraph.

Types of Conduct Affected By This Policy

Harassment, intimidation or bullying can include many different behaviors including overt intent to ridicule, humiliate or intimidate another student or school personnel. Examples of conduct that could constitute prohibited behavior are:

● Physical violence and/or attacks;
● Threats, taunts and intimidation through words and/or gestures;
● Extortion, damage or stealing of money and/or possessions;
● Exclusion from the peer group or spreading rumors;
● Repetitive and hostile behavior with the intent to harm others through the use of information and communication technologies and other Web-based / online sites (also known as "cyber bullying"), such as the following:
○ Posting slurs on Websites where students congregate or on Web logs (personal online journals or diaries);
○ Sending abusive or threatening instant messages;
○ Using camera phones to take embarrassing photographs of students and posting them online;
○ Using web sites to circulate gossip and rumors about other students;
○ Excluding others from an online group by falsely reporting them for inappropriate language to Internet service providers.

All students have the right to feel that they are physically, emotionally, and intellectually safe.

● Therefore, if at any time you feel you are the subject of harassment, hazing, threats, or other intimidating behavior, you should immediately speak to an administrator about the problem. The situation will be investigated as soon as possible. All reports like this will be kept completely confidential.
● Similarly, if you are concerned about the safety of another student who seems to be the subject of harassment, hazing, or threats, you should immediately speak to an administrator about the problem. The situation will be investigated as soon as possible. All reports like this will be kept completely confidential. **To read the complete IMSA Anti-harassment and Anti-bullying policy, please request a copy from the Main office staff.

McKinney-Vento (Homeless) Student/Families