NJSBA has created job descriptions for two positions that are required by the new Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act.
The new law anticipates that these new functions – “district anti-bullying coordinator” and “school anti-bullying specialist” – will be performed by existing staff members.
“When a school guidance counselor, school psychologist, or another individual similarly trained is currently employed in the school, the principal shall appoint that individual to be the school anti-bullying specialist,” the law says regarding the role of the school anti-bullying specialist. “If no individual meeting this criteria is currently employed in the school, the principal shall appoint a school anti-bullying specialist from currently employed school personnel.”
Similarly, the law states that the superintendent will appoint a district anti-bullying coordinator, and that “The superintendent shall make every effort to appoint an employee of the school district to this position.”
Signed in May, the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act contains many requirements that will affect all New Jersey public schools.
Duties of Positions NJSBA’s job descriptions can be helpful to focus the appointees on the essential duties of their new assignments.
For example, the anti-bullying specialist must chair the safety team that is required to be created in each school; lead the investigation of incidents of harassment, intimidation and bullying in the school; and act as the primary school official responsible for preventing, identifying and addressing incidents of bullying. School safety coordinators are responsible for strengthening the district’s policies to prevent, identify and address bullying; collaborate with anti-bullying specialists in the district, the board of education and the superintendent; provide data to the state Department of Education regarding harassment, intimidation and bullying; and meet at least twice a year with school anti-bullying specialists to discuss and strengthen procedures and policies to prevent bullying.
For additional information on the required anti-bullying positions, or any other job descriptions, contact NJSBA policy consultant Dave Bosted at dbosted@njsba.org. |
